Archly: A Social app for archaeology fans

Archly is an idea that's been taking root in my mind for nearly a decade. There have been two or three unsuccessful attempts at bringing it to fruition due to lack of conviction in my concept and insufficient time and funds to continue its development. However, the idea persists, and now the time feels right to pursue it. Why?

• My skillset has expanded considerably since my last attempt over a year ago.
• I have a dedicated group of friends with the necessary skills and interest to help bring this project to life.
• I've discussed the idea with local archaeologists and several individuals involved in Web3 and who have interest in archaeology, receiving encouraging feedback that I previously lacked.
• There is now available funding and support for public goods like this, and for integrating cutting-edge tech into the app stack such as AR (GeoWeb), social protocols (Lens), encrypted messaging (XMTP), authentication and onboarding (Keyp), and decentralised & composable data (Ceramic), etc.

Why build it?

• It is a unique proposition: Having spoken to professionals in the field, there is not an app quite like it.
• It will provide a much-needed resource for people to discover more about the fascinating field of archaeology and history in general, bringing these communities together.

What exactly is it?

Archly is set to be an educational, social dApp designed specifically for archaeology and history enthusiasts. Key features will include:

Public-Facing App

• A publicly accessible resource for sites of historical interest, serving as a learning resource for all.
• A library of user-generated content (images, media files) for each site, with potential integration with external resources like Wikipedia.

Free Accounts for Signed-In Users

• Account creation through Keyp, giving users immediate Web3 capabilities.
• Geo Web Augmented Reality for immersive learning experiences, bringing archaeological sites to life. The app will be open-source, encouraging contributors to enhance site resources with additions like 3D models.
• LiDAR overlays for sites, enabling users to explore beyond the capabilities of satellite imagery (Google / OpenStreetMap).
• Insights into how many users have physically visited each site, along with ratings and other relevant stats.
• Capability to save favourite sites to a user's profile.
• Functionality to add research notes to a given site and share them.
• Ability to follow or 'friend' other users, comment on content and engage in encrypted chat.
• Features to mint NFTs upon physical site visits.
• An achievement system allowing users to mint NFTs for discovering new sites or visiting a certain number of sites within a year, among other achievements.
• Possible inclusion of ads to help cover infrastructure costs.
• A news section for latest updates and developments.

Premium Users

• The ability to offset carbon with NFT minting.
• The option to stream funds to selected charitable causes responsible for site maintenance.
• Special access for legitimate archaeology professionals and organisations to update news items and provide information on research and digs.

Milestones

Requirements

1. Conduct further market research to better understand user needs and expectations. Continue discussions with archaeology professionals regarding access to specific data, such as LiDAR.
2. Explore the tech stack in more detail to ensure it meets project requirements and supports planned features.

Design

1. Develop initial wireframes to clarify Information Architecture (IA), User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX). Invite users from the field to inform design decisions.
2. Design the UI, drawing from findings and feedback from the initial wireframe stage.

Prototype / MVP development

1. Build a functioning prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Recruit a small group of volunteers, both professionals and non-professionals, to test and provide feedback on features and UX.
2. Define app specifications based on feedback and insights gathered during testing.
3. Generate interest in the industry through subtle marketing efforts.

Build & Alpha / Beta Test

1. Further develop the MVP into an alpha version based on the specifications.
2. Recruit a larger group of testers for extensive alpha/beta testing, utilizing a whitelist to control access during these stages.
3. Identify potential bugs and areas for improvement through rigorous testing.
4. Implement improvements based on feedback received from the closed alpha/beta testers.
5. Launch the app on platforms such as Product Hunt for open beta testing, to promote it and garner more user feedback.
6. Amplify marketing efforts to raise awareness and attract potential users.

Launch

1. Publicly launch the app, ensuring readiness for user onboarding, support, and ongoing development based on user feedback and needs.

By supporting this initiative, you will be investing in a platform that cultivates a global community, fosters lifelong learning, and stimulates the exchange of archaeological knowledge. This project represents more than just an app; it's an instrument to democratise the study of archaeology and inspire the next generation of archaeologists.