iScan-U : Your Smart Eco-Friendly Connection Ally
Tags: devchallenge, twiliochallenge, ai, twilio
Published: 2024-06-22 07:10:46

Many businesses rely on printed business cards for marketing and networking and about [27 million cards](https://tinyurl.com/3hmn2e23) are printed on a daily. However, these cards can be wordy, contribute significantly to our carbon footprint, and are easily misplaced. Last year, at Uganda Innovation Week, I collected over 15 business cards. Upon returning home, I realized I had lost 7 of them, including vital connections. 

This experience sparked an idea to solve this issue for myself and potentially commercialize the solution. 

### What I Built
I developed **iScan**, a simple Flutter mobile app that allows users to scan QR codes, extract and summarize the information using Gemini Generative AI, and instantly receive the scanned info via Twilio SendGrid and Twilio SMS. This way, users don't have to worry about losing business cards anymore.

Here in Uganda, a few smart companies have QR codes on their business cards, unlike the Western world. My startup idea also involves educating businesses about the environmental impact of printed cards and promoting the use of digital QR codes for contact exchange. 


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/dnragb3q2ca3mwf3ck4f.png)

One QR code on a single flyer can reduce carbon footprint, save time, and cut unnecessary expenses on cardholders, printers, and design services. The potential applications of QR codes are vast—they can be printed on cups, clothing, and many other items.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/sinrcvb96chd2g2a3ijx.JPG)


Wait...people are already doing this? Yeah...but... I do have unique insights... ..... just buckle up! Meanwhile, try scanning the above QR Codes with any QR Scanner..👆

### Demo
Check out the demo of **iScan** currently:
{% embed https://youtu.be/aUTSiv0aXfo %}

### Twilio, AI & Features
iScan leverages Twilio's SMS and SendGrid email services to ensure the scanned business card information is instantly and reliably delivered to the user's phone or email. The integration with the Gemini API Generative AI helps to summarize the information, making it concise and easy to store.

Here’s how it works:
1. **QR Code Scanning**: The app scans a QR code from a business card.
2. **Information Extraction and Summarization**: The extracted information is summarized and a new sentence is constructed using Gemini API.
3. **Instant Delivery**: The summarized information is sent via Twilio SMS and SendGrid email to ensure it’s accessible anytime, anywhere.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/i4a58wsz7j3veevzkym9.png)

The user can also copy the scanned information for offline use (or if the user has no internet). The app features a sleek UI optimized for retina display, a selfie mode trigger, and a flashlight toggle for low-light conditions (handling blackouts or night events).

#### 📌 For More Information: 
So I had started on the mobile app development before announcing this challenge; I had to add just AI & Twilio. See GitHub ReadMe for acknowledgments and full documentation 🚀...

- [GitHub](https://github.com/Ronlin1/iScan)
- [Website](https://iscanweb.onrender.com/)
- [Try APK](https://tinyurl.com/ym9w4x56)

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8asqwuyqu120dtlo0nsi.png)

### Additional Prize Categories
- **Impactful Innovators**: Solving a real challenge
- **Twilio Times Two**: Used Twilio Sendgrid & SMS

By advocating for the use of QR codes on business cards, I hope to encourage companies in Uganda to adopt more eco-friendly practices. 

If I win, I plan to use the prize money to scale the project, enhance its features, and focus on marketing and expansion.

### More Capabilities & Future Scope
Beyond just business cards, iScan can scan any QR code, including Wi-Fi passwords, event tickets, digital menus, Product Packaging, Payments, user manuals, and more. 

I am currently adding a language translator in case one attends an international event. I have already experimented with Luganda translation using just Gemini prompts. 

### Conclusion
If you're someone who frequently attends tech events or meetups, you can relate to the frustration of losing business cards. With iScan, that worry is a thing of the past. Join me in making business networking greener and more efficient.

Ohh... the **U** is basically for Uganda - but QR Codes are global & scalable anywhere you go: I just want to target the Pearl of Africa first 🌟. This solution will heavily rely on Twilio Services.

Hold up! Before you go: Let's ; [eco-friendly connect here 😍](https://github.com/Ronlin1/)
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