Pointer — Find your family, effortlessly.
Family Compass is a fully functioning mobile prototype that enables family members to understand each other’s location through an intuitive arrow-based interface. Rather than relying solely on conventional maps, the app presents each person’s position as a dynamic arrow showing the exact direction and distance to that individual. This minimalist interaction allows users to immediately orient themselves without needing to interpret map geometry.
This approach directly addresses a critical limitation of existing family GPS apps:
in crowded environments—such as parks, festivals, shopping malls, or weekend events—map-based dots become difficult to interpret, making it hard to locate a child quickly in urgent situations. Family Compass bypasses this cognitive burden by providing a real-time directional cue that remains clear regardless of visual clutter, crowd density, or user orientation.
Built in Flutter using real GPS, compass sensors, and map integration, the prototype supports seamless switching between arrow view and map view when broader spatial context is needed. The design emphasizes cross-generational accessibility and emotional reassurance, supporting children, parents, and elders alike.
Future iterations will expand multi-device synchronization, hybrid cloud and peer-to-peer connectivity, and optional hardware accessories. The project positions Family Compass as a scalable platform for intuitive, human-centered location awareness—reimagining how families stay connected across distance and everyday complexity.