PBS NewsHour CPB
Invent Apps That Help Others and Build Empathy

Introduction

Have you ever heard the slogan “There’s an app for that”? Apple coined it back in 2009, in what we would now consider the early days of app technology. Since then, apps have become an everyday part of life. What apps do you use? What purpose do they serve? Do you use any apps that make your life easier?

Let’s go deeper. Can you think of an app that raises your awareness around important issues in your community? An app that improves people’s lives and builds empathy?

Smartphone home-screen image
A closeup image of a smartphone home-screen being in a person's hands.
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Understanding Others
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Sympathy is the feeling of concern or care for other people.

Empathy is the feeling that you understand someone else’s emotions and experiences, and that you are willing to walk in their shoes in order to better understand them.

what you'll do

In this interactive lesson, you’ll watch videos, read articles, and engage in activities related to specific disabilities and illnesses, the challenges people with different health conditions face, and how new technologies are helping people who have these conditions in their lives.

For the final project, you’ll invent an app that helps someone in your school or community and raises empathy for others. You’ll also create a 30-second “elevator pitch” to persuade someone to invest money in your app.