Orb
An AI learning browser for distraction free, structured learning.
- Role
- Builder, with Chima and Nkiru
- Type
- Team
- Year
- 2025
- Status
- Won
- Category
- Hackathons
- Main stack
- Electron, Next.js +4
Overview
Orb is an AI augmented learning browser, made for distraction free and structured learning. It is a real desktop app: Electron wraps a Next.js interface, and every web page opens in its own in app tab, so you never leave Orb to look something up.
You type into one search bar and Gemini reads your intent. It classifies the query as plain browsing, learning, a mind map or a chat, and Orb responds to match. Select any text on a page and Orb explains it using the context of the page you are on. A Quick Chat panel slides in from the side for questions on the go, and Live Mode lets Orb follow along while you watch a video and explain it in real time.
We built it as a team of three, Phemi, Chima and Nkiru, for Hack4FUTO 4.0 2025 and took first place.
Highlights
- •One search bar that classifies intent: browse, learn, mind map or chat.
- •In app tabs, so looking something up never pulls you out of the page you were reading.
- •Select text on any page and get an explanation that knows the page context.
- •A Quick Chat side panel, and a Live Mode toggle from the Tools menu.
- •Google search for results and Gemini for understanding.
- •First place at Hack4FUTO 4.0 2025.
A hard part
The problem
A learning tool fails the moment it pulls you out of what you are reading, and a separate chatbot window does exactly that.
How it was solved
Orb is the browser itself. Pages open in its own tabs, and only the selected text and the page context are sent to Gemini, so the explanation arrives right where you are reading.
Built with
- Electron
- Next.js
- React
- TypeScript
- Gemini
- Tailwind CSS
