‘Recycling Assistant: Better Ask Me’ is an artificial intelligence-based app that transforms sustainable living by making recycling enjoyable and approachable. The software recognises recyclables from user-uploaded photographs using cutting-edge image recognition, assisting with appropriate disposal. Beyond categorisation, it provides useful information for cutting waste and promotes environmentally friendly behaviour with a community space and rewards system. With ‘Recycling Assistant: Better Ask Me’, take a smooth step towards a more environmentally friendly way of living where sustainability and technology meet.
Name: Ojaswin Kohli
Student number: 47533101
The ‘Recycling Assistant: Better Ask Me’ app delivers:
AI-Powered Waste classification: By utilising cutting-edge image recognition technology, users can take pictures of waste items using the app’s scan feature, which makes use of the device’s camera. The app then uses the user-uploaded images to instantly recognise and classify different recyclable materials. The fundamental component of the application’s image recognition technology is a highly efficient Convolutional Neural Network model that performs the task of image classification.
Educational Content: Gives users actionable insights and suggestions on recycling, reducing waste, and living a sustainable lifestyle, as well as daily advise on how to reduce waste and live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Moreover, users can share recycling-related information, advice, and success stories on a dedicated space of this app.
User Dashboard and Rewards System: Users are rewarded with points for proper recycling actions, which encourages them to reduce waste and recycle more. It also engages users in daily and weekly challenges, such as recycling ten aluminium cans in a week, recycling two plastic bottles each day, and and so on. Furthermore, the app has a dashboard that serves as a personal log for users to track their recycling efforts and see the actual results of their actions through data.
The MVP for ‘Recycling Assistant: Better Ask Me’ is built around fundamental features that encourage recycling practices through an intuitive and engaging user interface. It includes AI-powered waste identification/classification, allowing users to upload photographs for instant waste classification, focusing on common recyclable materials such as plastics, metals, and paper. The software provides recycling guidance with instructions based on the type of waste material. User accounts and profiles track recycling progress and goals, alongside a community space for sharing suggestions. A rewards system incentivizes proper recycling with points.
Usability: The software is designed to be easy and accessible to users of all ages, allowing them to quickly learn about and benefit from its features.
Maintainability: Uses a modular architecture enabling updates and integration of new features.
Testibility: Uses extensive testing techniques to guarantee the app’s reliability and effectiveness, especially for the accuracy of AI recognition and UI features.
‘Recycling Assistant: Better Ask Me’ will be evaluated from a variety of perspectives:
User Feedback: Measure usability and impact by analysing app usage patterns, user retention rates, and satisfaction surveys.
AI Performance: Regular testing phases are conducted to assess the accuracy of the image recognition system, with updates based on user feedback and technology improvements.
Environmental Impact Assessment: To measure the app’s overall contribution to improved sustainability through higher recycling and decreased waste, we will compile user data on recycling rates and the decrease in waste mismanagement.