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Meghan's ideas - Revised Proposal List

Rough rank from most interest or realism (to least and less)

Proposal ONE: APOPO - Sniffer Animal Monitoring System

## Objective: 
Develop and pilot a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) micro-location and physiological monitoring system (integrating geo-data and physio-monitoring sensors) for a team of APOPO sniffer animals to precisely map their search paths and performance metrics in the field.

Purpose

To improve the efficiency, safety, and operational protocols of APOPO's sniffer animal programs (landmines, TB, or wildlife trade) by providing handlers and researchers with precise, data-driven insights into animal performance and search coverage.

Target Audience

APOPO animal handlers, trainers, and R&D support staff [^1]

Revenue Model

Freeware (Leveraged for grants and hackathons to secure funding for later development stages).

Proposal TWO: Pet Nutrition - Crowd-Sourced Data Platform

## Objective: 
Build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) data collection platform (via web and/or mobile app) to successfully gather crowd-sourced feeding, health, and behavioral data for a minimum of 500 dogs and/or cats over a 3-month period.

Purpose

Create a large, normalized, ***agentic*** dataset that can be utilized by AI/LLMs to generate exponentially better, evidence-based insights for pet owners and veterinarians regarding pet food efficacy, health outcomes, and behavior.

Target Audience

Pet food producers, pet food and treat suppliers, pet owners, and veterinarians. [^2]

Revenue Model

Subscription (Charge a minimal monthly fee for pet owners, but consider charging companies and doctors larger fees for access to subsets of structured data).

Proposal THREE: OpenExo - Open-Source Modular Exoskeleton Application

## Objective: 
Develop a functional software module/library (e.g., for motion control, sensor data processing, or user interface) to support one defined biomechanical function of the OpenExo, targeting either diabetes wound care support or scoliosis motion guidance.

Purpose

Contribute high-quality, tested, open-source code that will accelerate the biomedical community's research and development of affordable, modular exoskeletons, thus potentially improving patient care and quality of life.

Target Audience

Biomedical community (Test patients, university researchers, and doctors).

Revenue Model

Freeware (Leveraged for grants and hackathons to secure funding for later development stages).

Proposal FOUR: APOPO - High-Precision Micro-location Tracker

## Objective: 
Design and build a prototype micro-location hardware and software system capable of recording a sniffer animal's position with sub-centimeter accuracy in a controlled test environment, and integrate this data with a basic mapping interface.

Purpose

Introduce high-precision spatial data into APOPO's mine clearance operations, which will allow for more efficient field-stripping and reduced demining time, ultimately saving lives and returning land to communities faster.

Target Audience

APOPO animal handlers, trainers, and support staff [^1]

Revenue Model

Freeware (towards grants and hackathons for later development stages, then transitioning to Purchase or Subscriptions for sale to other NGOs, research facilities, or commercial scent-detection services).

Proposal FIVE: Code Crew - Job Search Readiness App

## Objective: 
Develop and launch an MVP mobile/web application that provides students with a clear, module-by-module timeline of job search steps, integrated with tools for tracking applications and interview readiness, achieving a 90% student engagement rate within the first cohort.

Purpose

Significantly increase the likelihood of student job placement within four weeks of graduation by providing a structured, engaging, and early-start guide to the tech job search process.

Target Audience

Code Crew High School and adult students and CC staff members for activity enhancement or replacement.

Revenue Model

Freeware (Leveraged for grants and hackathons to secure funding, with plans to expand and offer a licensed Purchase or Subscription model to other non-profit bootcamps and educational programs).

Proposal SIX: Outdoor Afro App (OA) - Memphis Content Boost

## Objective: 
Implement a data aggregation and initial content generation tool that utilizes web scraping and community feedback to populate the Outdoor Afro app with a minimum of 20 high-quality, verified Memphis outdoor resource listings and an initial content-based rating.

Purpose

Showcase and promote Memphis’s outdoor and related health resources to the local African American community and national OA users, thereby increasing local engagement and encouraging a focus on well-being

Target Audience

Metro Memphis' African American community and nation-wide Outdoor Afro app users considering where to vacation [^3]

Revenue Model

Donation (Propose a one-time donation to Outdoor Afro in return for the ability to use the project on LinkedIn, personal websites, and portfolios to demonstrate coding and social impact skills)

Proposal SEVEN: Zooniverse

Objective

Develop a research project for which hospital patients at St. Jude and elsewhere can contribute as citizen scientists.

Purpose

Identify a research project that can be done from bed through windows (birds &/or insects) to promote mental and ecological health

Target Audience

Identify a research project that can be done from bed through windows (birds &/or insects) to promote mental and ecological health

Revenue Model

(Note: A specific Objective and Purpose are not listed in the original quote for Zooniverse, so this section is maintained for structure, but is incomplete.)

MC notes

[^1] ## Objective: Develop and pilot a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) micro-location and physiological monitoring system (integrating geo-data and physio-monitoring sensors) for a team of APOPO sniffer animals to precisely map their search paths and performance metrics in the field. Support Apopo's mission for mines, illegal wildlife trade, or tuberculosis with micro-locational data and ML or AI for possible interpretations and variables; geo-data, physio- and enviro-monitoring, and emerging tech

[^2] Professional, experienced nutritionist supports idea

Brainstorming sub-sections or roles

  • Crowd-source collection by form into data files;
  • QR to website with engaging intro to gain pet owner to download app or register;
  • short and long survey for initial info collection from pet owners;
  • branding with CSS;
  • image and other short-form to submit can content - amount/weight;
  • consistency (pate, stew, etc.), smell rating; pet reaction;
  • Gamification or other ways to encourage more data from pet owners;

[^3] Outdoor Afro app (OA) boost for Memphis content (and ratings)

  • Provide initial info from surveys of CC staff, students, alumni, and trusted sources to provide example info or agentic reference data to AI and/or ML and/or LLM
  • Scrape internet for locations and activities (not events, but regular or open access)
  • Scrape social media for ratings and other feedback on experiences by African Americans, then suggest initial rating
  • Transition form "suggested rating" with formula for transitioning to direct ratings in OA having 5:1 weight and minimum for transition to OA-only rating