Innovation > Innovation
DE LA CRUZ & ASSOCIATES, Guaynabo / SUPERMAX ONLINE / 2021
Overview
Credits
Why is this work relevant for Innovation?
Puerto Rico, an island that has been hit by countless hurricanes throughout its history, will have for the first time a more precise tool to know their path and how to be better prepared for them before, during and after their arrival. The Eye Tracker will be the first tool to show the hurricane's eye trajectory in first person point of view, so that you'll have a more accurate idea about which areas it will affect the most. Also, The Eye Tracker will recommend the essential supplies you need based on your household composition, so you won't buy unnecessary things.
Background
Puerto Rico is located in the most active hurricane path in the world, but predicting a hurricane in a precise way is very difficult, since its trajectory is often erratic. On many occasions, the hurricane detours at the last moment and people don't have an accurate way of knowing whether it will hit their homes or how much they will be affected.
Also, when a hurricane warning is in effect , the supermarkets, pharmacies and hardware stores get extremely crowded with people stocking up at the last minute looking for food and supplies and often buying large quantities of basic necessities without thinking that other people will also need to buy them.
Describe the idea
Since satellite tracking models began in 1960, the visualization of hurricanes has been presented from a top view. The Eye Tracker is the first monitoring and prediction system that converts the data from the National Hurricane Center into a three-dimensional visualization that allows you to see the projected path of the hurricane eye in first person point of view from wherever you are, just like a GPS navigation system. Just by indicating your coordinates, the Eye Tracker will give you a prediction of the potential damage on your location, with real time information about the sustained winds speed, gusts, precipitation and translation speed. Based on this information, the Eye Tracker will recommend the amount of essential supplies you will need based on your household composition, which you can order online at the different SuperMax supermarkets.
What were the key dates in the development process?
Conceptualization of the Idea: March/2019
Development of the technology and technical feasibility with the UX Team: August/2019
Development of first person POV 3D models linked to the real time data of the National Hurricane Center and the SuperMax inventory: November/2019
First Prototype: February/2020
Second Prototype: August/2020
Describe the innovation / technology
The Eye Tracker is a mobile website that feeds on real-time information from the National Hurricane Center radars and converts, in real time as well, the data from its satellite's imagery into three-dimensional graphs in first person POV. The Eye Tracker uses your smartphone's gyroscope and accelerometer so that you can find the location of the hurricane's eye from wherever you are, as well as their translation speed and gusts projection simply by moving your device. By using The Eye Tracker, you can have a clearer idea about the path and impact the hurricane will have in relation to your exact location and how much time you have to be prepared. Based on all this information, The Eye Tracker will recommend the essential items you need to be safe and stocked according to the composition of your home and also gives you the option to order the supplies at the different SuperMax Online stores near you. The Eye Tracker is in its second phase of development and awaiting approval from the National Hurricane Center.
Describe the expectations / outcome
Our goal with The Eye Tracker is for this to become a new way of viewing and preparing for the hurricane season and minimize large crowds at the supermarkets for last-minute stockers. We currently have approval from our client SuperMax to continue developing the technology and are awaiting approval from the National Hurricane Center as an official preparedness tool. Our goal is that in 1 year after having the approval of the National Hurricane Center, at least 1 million Puerto Ricans will use The Eye Tracker during hurricane season.
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