TouchGrass AI: Using Open-Source AI to Reconnect with the Real World | #Hacktoberfest 2026

This is a submission for the Hacktoberfest Open-Source AI Challenge Week 1: Touch Grass

What I Built

🌿 TouchGrass AI — Reconnect with the Real World

TouchGrass AI is a web project designed to encourage people to take a break from their screens and reconnect with the world around them.

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.

The project focuses on making it easier to discover outdoor activities, spend time in nature, and build healthier digital habits.

🎯 Who is it for?

• Students who spend long hours studying or using screens.
• People looking for ideas for outdoor activities.
• Anyone who wants to balance their digital life with real-world experiences.

My vision is simple: technology should help us experience more of the real world, not keep us trapped behind a screen.

Demo

🌐 Live Website: https://saloni2008apk.github.io/TouchGrass-AI/

Try the live website and explore the current features.

Code

💻 GitHub Repository: https://github.com/Saloni2008apk/TouchGrass-AI

The project source code is available in my GitHub repository.

How I Built It

I built TouchGrass AI as a web development project using:

• HTML — to structure the website.
• CSS — to design the interface and layout.
• JavaScript — to add interactivity.

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.

Open-source AI integration: [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.]

I want to explore how open-source AI can provide personalized outdoor activity recommendations and help people discover experiences beyond their screens.

Why Does Open Innovation Matter?

Open innovation makes technology more accessible to learners, students, and independent developers.

Open-source AI gives developers the opportunity to study available models, experiment with different approaches, customize solutions, and learn from the wider community.

For a student like me, open innovation lowers the barrier to experimentation and makes it possible to learn by building real projects.

I believe the best use of technology is not just to create more digital experiences, but also to help people live better experiences offline.

My Agent Session

I don't have a shareable agent session to include yet.

Prize Categories

My primary submission is for the **Hacktoberfest . Open source AI Challenge

week 1: Touch Grass**

Built with curiosity, a beginner's mindset, and a goal of making technology more human. 🌱

Thanks for checking out TouchGrass AI!