OVERVIEW
PLANT GROWTH FACTORS Just like the human body requires optimum nutritional, environmental and various other optimum conditions for general well-being and growth, plants also need certain optimum conditions that promote their growth depending on the sources available for their survival. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Lighting Adequate light is perhaps one of the most important factors influencing plant growth and it is he quantity, quality and duration of light exposure is what matters. Various light sources can be used to provide light to the plants and the sources of light can be classified as natural and artificial sources. The natural source of light is the sun whereas the artificial sources include various types of lighting equipment. Lighting classification: • Full Sun - At least six hours of direct sunlight • Light Shade - About six hours of direct sunlight or lightly dappled shade throughout the day. • Partial Shade - About four to six hours of direct sunlight or moderately dappled shade throughout the day. • Full Shade - Less than four hours of direct sunlight or heavily dappled shade throughout the day Temperature Most plants prefer an optimal range of temperatures; the range may be wide, narrow, high, or low depending on the species. Some are susceptible to frost or cold damage while some require periodic extreme cold conditions. Plants are often classified by their cold and frost tolerances into “hardy”, “half-hardy”, “tender”, and “very tender” types. Humidity Moisture is a very important factor in growth of plants and is defined as the ratio of water vapor in the air to the amount of water in the air. The relative humidity in the air is used by the plants and is crucial for the transpiration of the plants. Transpiration is at its peak cutting hot, windy and dry days while transpiration slows down during cool and humid days.
Carbon dioxide and Oxygen The manufacturing of sugar by plants requires the presence of carbon dioxide and hence it is one of the vital elements for plant growth. It is a known fact that plants can use as much as 1500 parts per million of carbon dioxide. In case the natural carbon dioxide available in the air is not enough, there exist Carbon dioxide injectors that promote enhanced plant growth. Oxygen is essential for plant respiration and utilization of photosynthesis byproducts. NUTRIENT FACTORS Water Every species has their own water preferences and tolerances. Careful attention to the need for supplemental water can help you select plants that need a minimum of irrigation to perform well in the garden. Macronutrient The nutrients that are required by plants in larger quantities are termed as the macronutrients. There are six elements in the soil that are termed as macronutrients these are Nitrogen (N), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), and Sulfur (S). Micronutrient The nutrients that are required in smaller quantities by the plants are called the micronutrients. There exist eight elements, which are termed as the micronutrients. The seven micronutrients include iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), manganese (Mn), boron (B), copper (Cu), and chlorine (Cl).
PLANTWATCH SYSTEM
WHAT IS PLANTWATCH Plantwatch is a Garden Monitoring System that helps gardeners detect condition of plants in their gardens based on environmental and nutrient factors; and provide them with nescessary information to improve their garden health. Plantwatch is usable for both household and commercial gardens. HOW IT WORKS Plantwatch functions in 4 steps: 1. Examine climate condition to determine environmental factors. 2. Collect current nutrient factors information of user’s plants. 3. Utilize these information and match them with specific plant species requirement. 4. Notify user tasks needed to improve their plant health. SYSTEM COMPONENTS Plantwatch Detector Detector, a censoring stick-form device, examines nutrient condition of plant’s soil and transmits these information to the Smart Pad. Factors examined by the detector are: water, macronutrient (N, K, Mg, Ca, P, and S), and micronutrient (Fe, Zn, Mn, Mo, B, Cu, Cl). Detector comes in 2 forms (7in and 10in), run by solar energy, and can be used in individual plant pot or a ground-level area of similar plants. Plantwatch Smart Pad Smart Pad is a wifi handheld tablet that serves as a global device utilizing all system data. Smart Pad has 3 main functions: • Gather information detected from the environment (climate condition including temperate, humidity, sunlight exposure and air quality), and data received from the detectors (water, macro and micro nutrient condition) • Compile data and match them with specific plant’s requirement based on an input code • Compute necessary tasks for user based on processed data
Species Code Chart Species Code Chart is a table of systematic codes of plant species that Plantwatch system supports. When adding a new plant to the system, user will be asked to input a code of the plant found in this chart. This code helps the Smart Pad to match data with the right requirement for the plant. Plantwatch App The Plantwatch App lets user monitor their garden remotely on mobile devices. Though having similar interface, the app cannot function as a Smart Pad since it only acquires information that had been processed by the pad. SYSTEM DEMONSTRATION SMART PAD
Health Report Group: Window
Left Rose
Detector code: PW0327 Category: Shrub - Rosa Date added: July 14, 2012 Edit
ENVIRONMENT Macronutrients
NitrogenP
hosphorous
PotassiumC
alcium
Magnesium
Sulfur
Micronutrients
BoronC
opper
Chloride
Iron
Manganese
Molybdenum
Zinc
Notification - This plant is drying
USER
Beautiful Flower
GC000
DETECTOR
PLANT
MOBILE APP
SPECIFICATION 8 in
0.35 in
1.5 in
PW483
Signal Button with Imprinted Code Power Button
Screen Brightness Adjustment
10 in
Long Form
Short Form
7 in
10.5 in
Censoring Component Water-proof Rubber Duo-tone LCD screen
DETECTORS
SMART PAD
INTERFACE FLOWCHART
Sign-in
Home
5
New Plant
Dashboard
Health Report
Task
INTERFACE
GETTING STARTED
welcome to
At first launch, user is asked to sign in using their account ID, Password and a 4-digit PIN number provided at registering.
Account Access User ID: Password: Pin:
Upon purchasing, a user is required to register their Smart Pads with an associated account in order to have their garden data and purchase history automatically backed-up on plantwatch server.
Log in
A Smart Pad can only be used for one account. Disconnecting the device from an associated account will cause all existing detectors to lose connection with its central device. Therefore, sign-in is a one-time-only attempt without a sign-off option. Resetting a device can only be performed at the Plantwatch shop. However, user can monitor different gardens with different accounts on the Plantwactch mobile app.
HOME
8:53 AM
Home screen features climate data of current environment in one’s garden. These information include:
CURRENT CONDITION 9 AM
Temperature
1 0 AM
1 1 AM
1 2 PM
1 PM
• • • • •
Weather - 6 hour range Temperature - Celsius & Fahrenheit Sun Exposure - Full Sun/Light Shade/Partial Shade/Full Shade Air Quality - CO2 and O2 Humidity
From home screen user can navigate to 3 tabs:
Sun Exposure
42 F | 6 C
New Plant - Add a new plant into the system Dashboard - Global look of your garden
Air Quality
Humidity
Task - To-do list to improve garden health
51% 5
New Plant
Dashboard
Task
New Plant 1
Remember to WRITE YOUR PLANT’S NAME on this stick
New Plant
ADD NEW PLANT
User starts running plantwatch by adding new plants 1 INPUT IMPRITED CODE Remember to on your plantwatch detector YOUR to theWRITE system. By touching the “New Plant” icon one Added: PLANT’S NAME FR026,be DH315,taken DH316, DH317 the home screen, user will to the New Plant on this stick tab.
INPUT IMPRITED CODE on your plantwatch detector Use “,” and “-” to add multiple devices ex: “GC039, PW841” = add GC039 & PW841 “PW841-843” = add PW841 & PW842 & PW843”
GC000
+
GC000
+
FR026, DH315-7
On this tab, there is a step-by-step guide to connect the detector and place them into a plants’ soil. 2 Stick detector into the soil
2 Stick detector into the soil & PRESS SIGNAL BUTTON
& PRESS SIGNAL BUTTON
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
X
C
V
1. Connect detector(s) by inputting code(s) imprinted 3 INPUT PLANT INFORMATION on the button on the next screen Mutiple detectors can be inputted at once: using “,” Continue for devices with different codes (ex: typing “GC039, PW841” will add GC039 and PW841) or “-” for devices that are in a range of codes (ex: typing “DH315-7” will add DH315, DH316 and DH317). 1After 2 adding 3 4codes, 5 62 turns 7 8blue9 2 0indicating X C user V to
Q
W
E
R
T
Y
U
I
O
P
B
N
M
Qfollow W the E nexts R Tstep. Y
U
I
O
P
A
S
D
F
G
H
J
K
L
Z
A
J
K
L
Z
3 INPUT PLANT INFORMATION on the next screen
Continue
5
S
D
F
G
H
5
B
N
M
New Plant 1
Remember to WRITE YOUR PLANT’S NAME on this stick
843”
2. Stick detector(s) into the soil & press signal button. It takes a short moment for detector’s signal to be transmitted to Smart Pad. After Smart Pad receives signals from all detectors, step 3 will turn blue.
INPUT IMPRITED CODE on your plantwatch detector Added: FR026, DH315, DH316, DH317
GC000
+
3. Input plant information. “Continue” button will then be enabled. By that time user should have their plant’s name written on its detector in order to input right information on the next screen. User should also determine how to group their plants.
2 Stick detector into the soil & PRESS SIGNAL BUTTON 3 INPUT PLANT INFORMATION on the next screen
Continue
C
V
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
X
C
V
N
M
Q
W
E
R
T
Y
U
I
O
P
B
N
M
A
S
D
F
G
H
J
K
L
Z
5
Plant Info
Stages of inputting multiple plant info 1st plant inputted
Detector Code: PW841 Disconnect Date Added: JUNE 03, 2012
Previous
Finish
Next
Finish
Next
Finish
Next
GROUP Limit 10 characters. Ex: Backyard, Door, Plot 1, Plot 2, etc
After 1st plant inputted
NAME Limit 20 characters
Previous
CATEGORY CODE Look up plantwatch Species Code Chart
Last plant inputted
Previous Previous
Finish
Next
5
NEW PLANT INFORMATION At this stage user is able to input information for all the plants they had added in the previous step at once. Plants are shown in alphabetical order of their codes. Detector Code and Date are automatically added. User can switch or cancel connecting a detector by choosing “Disconect” right next to the code. Group Plant info starts with group name. Grouping helps users who have big garden or who place their plants in mutiple locations to identify and locate plants. Group names are suggested to be types of plant or locations (ex: Rose, Daisy, Window, Entrance, Balcony, Plot 1, Plot 2, etc.) Name Plant name is limited to 20 charcters including space. Two plant in a group cannot have the same name. Catergory code This code can be found in the Species Code Chart that came with the device. User has to look up codes that match the species of their plants. As a matter of fact, plantwatch only works with plant species listed in this chart. User should look for updated Species Code Chart regularly on the website or check with the saleclerk at purchase if their plants are supported. Upon finishing adding these information, user will be taken to the plant’s Health Report screen if only one plant is added. When multiple plants are added, user will be directed to the Dashboard.
Dashboard View by: Group | Health
Dashboard Edit Arrangement
WINDOW
View by: Group | Health
Done Editing
WINDOW
Left Rose
Left Lily
Left Rose
Right Rose
Right Lily
Right Rose
BALCONY
Left Lily Right Lily
BALCONY
Yellow Daisy 1
Yellow Daisy 2
Yellow Daisy 1
Yellow Daisy 2
Pink Petunia 1
Pink Petunia 2
Pink Petunia 1
Pink Petunia 2
Purple Petunia 1
Purple Petunia 2
Purple Petunia 1
Purple Petunia 2
5
5
DASHBOARD Dashboard is the most important feature of the Smart Pad. Users monitor their garden mostly by looking at dashboard where essential information of plant health such as water level, macro and micro nutrient condition is presented. Group view In this mode, plants are arranged in groups. By default, they are in order of date added.However, user can change this order by dragging plants around in the “Edit Arrangement” option. Plants can be switched within a group or move to another group. Health view Health view mode arranges plants in order of attention needed. This mode helps user keep track of plants that are not in healthy condition.
Dashboard View by: Group | Health
ATTENTION NEEDED Left Rose
Right Lily Group: Window
Pink Petunia 2
Group: Window
Purple Petunia 2 Group: Balcony
Group: Balcony
CONDITION CHANGE SOON Tomorrow Left Lily Group: Window
In 3 days Front LiLy 1
Front LiLy 2 Group: Entrance
Group: Entrace
5
Tasks
5
TASK
View by: Group | Task
Task screen is a to-do list of garden work needed. By default, tasks are listed in order of difficulty. Watering is the easiest task, adding macronutrient need more work and adding micronutrient is the most difficult.
WATER Window | Left Rose
MACRONUTRIENT Balcony | Pink Petunia 1 Low on Calcium
Balcony | Purple Petunia 2 Low on Nitrogen
Like dashboard, there is also an option to view tasks by group. This mode helps users to get tasks done in one place then move on to another.
MICRONUTRIENT Window | Right Lily Low on Iron
Today
Balcony | Pink Petunia 1 Low on Chloride
In 3 days
Next week
5
By predicting weather condition and plant nutrient condition, Smart Pad also lists out tasks needed to be done in the coming time ranging from 3 days to one week. Taking advantage of these prediction, users are able to plan ahead for garden work. To save energy, detectors only update plant’s data hourly. When a task is checked as completed, Smart Pad will direct the detector to run an imediate update.
Health Report Left Rose
Group: Window
HEALTH REPORT
Detector code: PW0327 Category: Shrub - Rosa Date added: July 14, 2012 Edit
Macronutrients
Nitrogen
Phosphorous
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfur
Micronutrients
Boron
Copper
Chloride
Iron
Manganese
Molybdenum
Notification - This plant is drying
5
Zinc
Health Report is specific condition report of an individual plant. While dashboard only shows sumarized information of macro and micronutrient, in this Health Report user can find detail information of these nutrient factors. In this screen view, there is an editting mode in which Smart Pad directs user back to the “Plant Information” screen where they can change plant’s name and group, switch or cancel a detector by editing detector code. Notification tells user task(s) needed to be done for the plant.
MOBILE APP
THE PLANTWATCH APP This app is a remote view of the Smart Pad. It adapts the interface of the Smart Pad though cannot function as one. The Plantwatch app only acquires information that the Smart Pad had processed in order for users to monitor their garden virtually. It cannot receive data from the detectors as well as detect climate condition at the garden. The Plantwatch app shows real-time climate condition at the monitoring garden as well as dashboard and plant health reports. Though having the Smart Pad’s interface, certain features are disabled on the Plantwatch App. Users are not able to add new plant or edit information via Plantwatch app. However, they can check tasks as completed and data will be transfered to the Smart Pad. While a Smart Pad can only work with its associated account, the Plantwatch app is accessible to multiple accounts. It also displays purchase history associated with an account in order to better assist user’s experience.