The latest articles on DEV Community by Saloni Soni (@saloni_soni_be2196ef6fcb4). https://dev.to/saloni_soni_be2196ef6fcb4 https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4173012%2Fa0163257-113d-43b8-9d60-14f61523f114.png https://dev.to/saloni_soni_be2196ef6fcb4 en Saloni Soni Fri, 09 Oct 2026 17:20:00 +0000 https://dev.to/saloni_soni_be2196ef6fcb4/touchgrass-ai-using-open-source-ai-to-reconnect-with-the-real-world-hacktoberfest-2026-3kd7 https://dev.to/saloni_soni_be2196ef6fcb4/touchgrass-ai-using-open-source-ai-to-reconnect-with-the-real-world-hacktoberfest-2026-3kd7 <p><em>This is a submission for the <a href="https://dev.to/challenges/hacktoberfest-week1-2026-10-05">Hacktoberfest Open-Source AI Challenge Week 1: Touch Grass</a></em></p> <h2> What I Built </h2> <p>🌿 <strong>TouchGrass AI — Reconnect with the Real World</strong></p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Flmu266sgqirea8uz7z06.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Flmu266sgqirea8uz7z06.png" alt=" " width="800" height="533"></a><br> TouchGrass AI is a web project designed to encourage people to take a break from their screens and reconnect with the world around them.</p> <p>In a world where students and young people spend a lot of time online, I wanted to explore how technology could encourage more meaningful offline experiences.</p> <p>The project focuses on making it easier to discover outdoor activities, spend time in nature, and build healthier digital habits.</p> <p>🎯 <strong>Who is it for?</strong></p> <ul> <li>Students who spend long hours studying or using screens.</li> <li>People looking for ideas for outdoor activities.</li> <li>Anyone who wants to balance their digital life with real-world experiences.</li> </ul> <p>My vision is simple: technology should help us experience more of the real world, not keep us trapped behind a screen.</p> <h2> Demo </h2> <p>🌐 <strong>Live Website:</strong> <a href="https://saloni2008apk.github.io/TouchGrass-AI/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://saloni2008apk.github.io/TouchGrass-AI/</a></p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fccpcls2tetnqi3r45q0r.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fccpcls2tetnqi3r45q0r.png" alt=" " width="800" height="432"></a><br> Try the live website and explore the current features.</p> <h2> Code </h2> <p>💻 <strong>GitHub Repository:</strong> <a href="https://github.com/Saloni2008apk/TouchGrass-AI" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://github.com/Saloni2008apk/TouchGrass-AI</a></p> <p>The project source code is available in my GitHub repository.</p> <h2> How I Built It </h2> <p>I built TouchGrass AI as a web development project using:</p> <ul> <li> <strong>HTML</strong> — to structure the website.</li> <li> <strong>CSS</strong> — to design the interface and layout.</li> <li> <strong>JavaScript</strong> — to add interactivity.</li> </ul> <p>I am a first-year B.Tech CSE student specializing in AI and Machine Learning, and this project is part of my journey to learn how to build useful applications.</p> <p><strong>Open-source AI integration:</strong> [Add the name of the open-weight model, open-source AI framework, or local inference tool you actually used, and explain how it powers a feature in TouchGrass AI.]</p> <p>I want to explore how open-source AI can provide personalized outdoor activity recommendations and help people discover experiences beyond their screens.</p> <h2> Why Does Open Innovation Matter? </h2> <p>Open innovation makes technology more accessible to learners, students, and independent developers.</p> <p>Open-source AI gives developers the opportunity to study available models, experiment with different approaches, customize solutions, and learn from the wider community.</p> <p>For a student like me, open innovation lowers the barrier to experimentation and makes it possible to learn by building real projects.</p> <p>I believe the best use of technology is not just to create more digital experiences, but also to help people live better experiences offline.</p> <h2> My Agent Session </h2> <p>I don't have a shareable agent session to include yet.</p> <h2> Prize Categories </h2> <p>My primary submission is for the **Hacktoberfest . Open source AI Challenge </p> <h2> week 1: Touch Grass** </h2> <p>Built with curiosity, a beginner's mindset, and a goal of making technology more human. 🌱</p> <p>Thanks for checking out TouchGrass AI!</p> devchallenge hf26challenge