2018 NASA Global Space App Challenge winners Team iNON and their app for fishermen

Last October 2018, a group from the Philippines won the “Galactic Impact” category of the 2018 NASA Global Space App Challenge.

Team iNON (It’s Now or Never”), composed of Rev Martin, Jeddah Legaspi, Herlan Leuterio, JR Del Rosario, JC Torreda, and Leandro Miguel de Guzman, made an app prototype which aims to help fishermen using real-time data from NASA.

“ISDApp is the first community app that aims to effectively communicate information sa ibang fishermen, particularly ‘yung scientific data ng NASA, gusto namin na maipakalat siya as information na useful para sa kabuhayan,” Legaspi, a member of Team iNON said in an interview with GMA News.

According to Martin, one of the leaders of Team iNON, what they plan to do is to utilize the smartphones of local leaders where the app will be installed. Based on data from NASA and other weather agencies, the app will form a text message about weather conditions, which will be sent to registered fishermen even before they start fishing.

“Mas maganda ‘yung meron silang on-hand information rather than isa-isang sabihan. ‘Yung purpose ng pagkuha ng data as much as possible, as real time as it can be, ‘yun ang mas importante. Ngayon kasi pabago-bago na ang panahon. It’s better for them to get the more accurate information. ‘Yun ‘yung pinakapurpose niya” he added.

While apps such as theirs requires the use of smartphones, they took into consideration the lack of advanced technology in rural areas. 

“‘Pag matatapos lang kami sa smartphones, based kasi sa research, mas marami pa ring analog phones. Mahirap kasi maabot ‘yung data sa smartphones sa coastal communities,” Legaspi said.

“We also believe in bridging the digital divide between the poor and kung ano nang merong technology ngayon,” Martin added.

Martin and Legaspi grew up in Malabon and Obando, Bulacan, respectively, both coastal areas which became the inspiration for their concept.

“Since naisip namin na pareho kaming nasa coastal communities and merong mangingisda na parang medyo left behind sa technology, we thought of something na makakatulong sa kanila using technology without them shelling out money,” Martin narrated.

Aside from delivering real-time information to fisherfolks, one of the objectives of their app is to translate into layman's terms the technical data they would gather.

“Naisip namin na sa app na ito, gagawin namin na ‘yung impormasyon na technical at accurate, mas papababawin namin ‘yung pagkaka-translate para madali siya  maintindihan,” Legaspi shared.

“In fact, ‘yung app gusto pa naming ma-develop into other dialects para kapag dumating ‘yung mensahe sa mga mangingisda as text message, mas madali nila ito maiintindihan at makakatulong sa araw-araw nilang pamumuhay,” she added.

Making it to NASA

Not all people get the chance to visit the Kennedy Space Center and present their ideas in front of scientists in NASA. Despite challenges such as finances for the trip, they made sure that they can pitch their ideas abroad.

“Upon winning the competition, nung nalaman na kasama kami sa finalist globally, we were approached by some organizations like Animo Lab and they are very much willing to incubate the app para matulungan kami na mag-develop siya and mapa-swim into reality ang ISDApp. We are coordinating with OSCA for the fishing communities in the country and the US Embassy has been very supportive to us,” said Martin.

While presenting their concept in NASA, Legaspi said a representative from Bangladesh approached them and said people look forward to our app.

“Sobrang na-appreciate din namin as a group ‘yung feedback na natanggap namin kasi may ibang organizers na nag-approach samin at sinabi nga nila na out of all winners, pinakanagsutuhan nila ‘yung gawa ng mga Pilipino kasi alam nila na mas magiging kapaki-pakinabang ‘yung impormasyon ng NASA na maitatawid namin para sa mga tao,” she shared.

Part as well of their prize in the competition is getting to watch a rocket launch, which some team members considered as the highlight of their trip.

“Since nung bata kasi ako, dream ko talaga yung makakaita ng rocket launch. Isa pa, yung pagiging astronaut, yun ang gusto ko sana,” team programmer JR Del Rosario said.

“Iba ‘yung experience pag nasa mismong harap ka. Ikaw na ‘yung pinakamalapit sa viewing area. Parang that day, na-realize ko na walang dreams na hindi natutupad. I-push mo lang ng i-push hanggang sa makuha mo ang gusto mo. Dreams really do come true,” he added.

For team member Herlan Leuterio, getting to meet Pinay NASA employee Josephine Santiago-Bond is also a highlight of their adventure. Santiago-Bond is the head of the Advanced Engineering Development Branch at the Kennedy Space Center.

“Kahit matagal na siya dun, di nawawala ‘yung Filipino hospitality na nadama namin sa kanya during our visit there.”

As of writing, ISDApp is currently in its development stage and the team hopes to launch the app, at least to pilot communities, before the year ends.

With the recognition received by the team from NASA, team iNON wants to show the world that technology is not just about breakthroughs, but it is more about making the lives of people easier and better.

“We at Team Inon believe that good technology becomes great kapag meron itong purpose, kapag meron itong puso,” Martin said.

“Naniniwala kami na ang laki ng maitutulong ng technology sa ating mga kababayan, mayaman man o mahirap, basta ang gumagawa ng paraan, ‘yung nag-iinovate, ay may passion to help. Meron silang ultimate purpose na makatulong, hindi lang para kumita, kundi magkaroon ng mas magandang kinabukasan ‘yung mga kababayan natin.” —LDF, GMA News