TouchGrass AI: Using AI to Help People Get Off Their Screens 🌱
A project built for the MLH × DEV Writing Challenge
💡 What I Built
I built TouchGrass AI, a web project designed to encourage people to spend less time on their screens and more time exploring the real world.
The idea is simple: technology should not only keep us connected to our devices; it should also help us reconnect with the world around us.
I wanted to explore how AI could make outdoor activities and real-world experiences more interesting and accessible.
🎯 Why I Built It
We spend so much time scrolling, gaming, and watching content that we sometimes forget to step outside and enjoy the world around us.
I wanted to experiment with a project that uses technology to encourage healthier digital habits and inspire people to try something new.
⚙️ How It Works
TouchGrass AI is built as a web project using:
- HTML to structure the website.
- CSS to style the interface and make it visually appealing.
- JavaScript to add interactivity.
The goal is to develop the project into a helpful experience that encourages users to discover outdoor activities and take breaks from their screens.
AI integration: [Describe the open-source AI model, framework, or AI-powered feature you actually implemented. If AI is not integrated yet, explain your next step honestly.]
🛠️ How I Built It
I worked on the project using VS Code and explored how HTML, CSS, and JavaScript work together to create a website.
As a beginner in AI/ML and web development, I approached the project as an opportunity to learn by building something practical.
Some of the things I focused on were:
- Creating the website structure.
- Designing the user interface.
- Adding interactive functionality.
- Exploring how AI could improve the experience.
🚧 Challenges I Faced
One of my biggest challenges was turning a simple idea into a working project while still learning the fundamentals of development.
I had to think about how the website should look, how users would interact with it, and how I could make the concept useful rather than just another website.
This experience reminded me that building something meaningful starts with an idea, experimentation, and a willingness to learn.
📚 What I Learned
Through this project, I learned more about building websites, organizing a project, and breaking a large idea into smaller tasks.
I also learned that hackathons are not only about creating a perfect product. They are about experimenting, solving problems, learning new tools, and sharing what you discover.
🌍 Why Open Innovation Matters
Open-source tools and open-weight AI models can make experimentation more accessible to students and independent developers.
They can help builders learn from existing work, customize solutions, and explore new ideas without having to build every component from scratch.
My next goal is to explore how open-source AI can become a meaningful part of TouchGrass AI, while keeping the project accessible and useful.
🔮 What's Next?
I would love to keep improving TouchGrass AI by exploring features such as:
- Personalized outdoor activity suggestions.
- Recommendations based on available time and interests.
- More engaging and interactive user experiences.
- An open-source AI component, where appropriate.
These are future ideas, not claims about features already implemented.
🔗 Project Links
- GitHub Repository: https://github.com/Saloni2008apk/TouchGrass-AI
- Live Demo: https://saloni2008apk.github.io/TouchGrass-AI/
- Screenshots/Demo Video: [Add your screenshot, GIF, or video here]
🙌 Final Thoughts
TouchGrass AI is a small step toward exploring how technology can encourage people to engage more with the world beyond their screens.
I am still learning, experimenting, and improving, and I am excited to see where this project goes next.
If you have suggestions, feedback, or ideas for improvement, I would love to hear them!
Built with curiosity, creativity, and a desire to learn. 🌱
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