Aplicación móvil para visibilizar la gastronomía típica del barrio Selva Alegre de Sangolquí

Abstract

The research project, titled “Mobile Application for the Visibility of Traditional Gastronomy in the Selva Alegre Neighborhood of Sangolquí,” arose from the lack of a digital platform to organize, centralize, and clearly disseminate the area's culinary offerings. While the Selva Alegre neighborhood boasts several restaurants and culinary ventures, the available information is scattered across social media and informal channels, hindering access to reliable data, limiting business visibility, and impeding growth. The main objective of this study was the design and development of a mobile application that centralizes gastronomic information for the neighborhood, thus facilitating the search, exploration, and evaluation of typical local establishments. The technological proposal employed tools such as Flutterflow and Firebase, which helped generate an efficient, scalable, and user-centered (UX) development process. This application was developed for the Android operating system, taking into account feasibility and scope criteria. The research was conducted using a mixed methodology, incorporating focus groups, field observation, and usability testing with potential users. These techniques identified real needs, evaluated the UX/UI interface, and validated the developed prototype. Furthermore, this project is grounded in the socio-critical paradigm, given the digital marginalization of small local businesses as a form of exclusion within the current technological context. The results demonstrated high acceptance of the application, highlighting its intuitive navigation, visual clarity, thematic filters, geolocation, and verified menus. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that mobile applications and multimedia design are tools that strengthen cultural identity, reduce the digital divide, and promote economic development.