Blog 5: Response to Blog ​

Specific blog I am responding to: Blog

Thank you for your feedback! Regarding your initial concern about patrons "having trouble using e-devices," I would appreciate clarification on whether the issue is related to a lack of access or a lack of familiarity with e-devices. If you are referring to the former, a study conducted at USC indicates that 94% of individuals experiencing homelessness own a cell phone. Additionally, public libraries across the country provide free internet access, ensuring that all patrons in the United States can use our app.

If your concern pertains to the latter interpretation, we have also brainstormed ideas on how to address this. One possible solution is to include a feature that displays images of available food items to overcome language barriers. Furthermore, another possible solution is to include a Google Translate feature within the app, enabling users to translate content into their native language.

While we do not claim that our app completely resolves the issue of food pantries lacking sufficient supplies, we aim to offer a solution for administrators to assess the actual demand for specific items. This would allow them to make informed decisions when stocking their inventory, allocating resources more efficiently. Rather than accumulating items that may not be in demand, they can focus on providing what users truly need.

Additionally, our team has also researched and discussed what to do in the case where users don’t receive their desired items. In this instance, we are considering using a wishlist feature. With this feature, users can input the food item they wanted but did not receive. When that specific item is back in stock, users who missed out previously will have priority access to it.