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RailsConf 2018: Draw a Crowd by Brittany Martin Contextual Camouflage is an open-source gallery art installation built in RoR that guides visitors to anonymously report mental health disorders that affect themselves or their relationships. After users submit a disorder, they have the option to include anecdotes and demographic data for intervention researchers. The data is molded into an interactive real-time display using ActionCable. Come see how code can double as art and an educational tool.
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In her talk "Draw a Crowd" at RailsConf 2018, Brittany Martin discusses the development of "Contextual Camouflage," an open-source Ruby on Rails application designed to promote mental health education through anonymous user submissions. Brittany, a lead web developer at Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, frames the project as an interactive art installation that allows users to report their mental health experiences anonymously, aimed at aiding intervention researchers. Her presentation dives into several key aspects and development processes of the project: - **Background and Motivation:** Brittany recounts how Contextual Camouflage was conceived during the Steel City Code Fest 2017 hackathon, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness. She shares statistics indicating a significant portion of Americans suffer from undiagnosed mental health conditions, motivating the creation of this project. Personal anecdotes about her brother's experience with autism provide a deeper understanding of the topic's relevance. - **User Personas:** Understanding user needs was pivotal before development. Brittany describes several personas that influenced design decisions, including individuals dealing with anxiety and others unaware of mental health issues, highlighting the range of needs and motivations for using the application. - **Technical Goals:** The team set various technical objectives while developing the app, utilizing Ruby on Rails for backend functionality. Key components include geolocation features to ensure data is collected from users in specific locations, real-time data display via ActionCable, and robust, user-friendly UI enabled by libraries like Leaflet and Materialize. Brittany provides insight into using technologies for effective user interactions and aesthetic presentation. - **Community Integration:** Brittany ultimately emphasizes the importance of engaging the community by integrating the installation within Pittsburgh’s cultural district. The installation, launched in conjunction with RailsConf, aims to draw in the public for interaction and feedback, demonstrating the bridge between code, art, and community service. - **Future Directions:** She concludes with plans for the project's sustainability and expansion, discussing the potential for rolling out the installation to new cities and improving its documentation to facilitate onboarding of new contributors, especially for junior developers. Throughout, she motivates developers to choose impactful projects, build partnerships, and think creatively about technology’s real-world applications. Overall, Brittany's presentation not only illustrates the technical journey of creating Contextual Camouflage but also champions a compassionate approach to software development aimed at addressing critical societal issues.
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