Born at InnoDays: IncluNet

IncluNet – An Inclusive Social Network for Everyone

At InnoDays #SocialInnovation 2024, the team tackled the powerful #SocialInclusion challenge posed by Caritas:
“How might we design interaction spaces to enable person-centered assistance for people with impairments and promote inclusion?”

From this question, the idea for IncluNet was born — a social network designed specifically to make digital interaction accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Traditional social media often relies heavily on text, creating barriers for people with disabilities or limited literacy skills. IncluNet breaks down these walls by focusing on audio and image-based communication. Users can share photos, create drawings, and even generate images using AI through voice commands. The app is highly customizable, offering features like adjustable scroll speed and color filters to accommodate different needs and sensitivities.

“During InnoDays, our diverse team of students combined our skills and creativity to develop a prototype that addressed real user needs. Inspired by the opportunity to create meaningful impact, we continued refining IncluNet after the event — rebuilding the app in React Native to enhance usability on tablets and preparing it for presentation at Jugend Innovativ 2024/25, where we were proud to win 2nd Prize nationally.”

Collaboration with organizations supporting people with disabilities allowed them to test new assistive technologies, such as eye control hardware, and gather invaluable feedback to enhance the user experience.

“Building a comprehensive social media app is a complex challenge, and while our small team covers programming, design, and market research, we recognize the need to grow and bring in more expertise. That’s why we’ve made IncluNet open source on GitHub, inviting developers and advocates alike to join us in creating a truly inclusive digital space.”

In short: IncluNet is the inclusive social network that modern apps forgot to be.