TRI-AQUA Ambient Water Consumption Monitoring Device
Contents Research
06 17 25 42 54
• Water Billing • Ways to Save Water • Comparative Research
Concept Development • • • •
The Concept The Five ‘W’s of UX Statement of Intent Personas
Design Development • • • •
Moodboard First Prototype Design Objectives & UI Final Prototype Development
Final Prototype • Assembly • Coding • Final Prototype Images
Evaluation • Evaluation • Conclusion • References
Preface This documentation supports my prototype, Tri-Aqua, which is an ambient water consumption monitoring device. I started this project as part of Personal Project 01, during that time I did extensive research to develop the concept that this project surrounds. To find out more about the background research done please refer to that design document, however further research has been covered here, and that has allowed me to ground the concept and focus on design development, the interaction and building of the final prototype.
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The Problem Water is our most valuable resource, every living creature relies upon it for sustenance and there would be no life on Earth without it. Although it seems abundant, covering two-thirds of the Earth’s surface, the reality is that certain inhabited parts of the World have no access to clean drinking water. In more developed societies that currently do not have issues sourcing clean water, they tend to inadvertently waste water (because it is taken for granted) or it is left as untreated sewage without efficiently re-cycling it back into the ecosystem. Conservation of water is crucial; by saving water in our homes we can better support relief efforts in countries such as Africa, where people are severely dehydrated and malnourished. Being a little more conscious of the
water we use, we can also protect the wildlife that live in rivers and wetlands. When the water levels in rivers fall, food sources for birds are lost and the oxygen level drops dangerously low for fish and other marine life, groundwater levels are now much lower than they were 25 years ago. Water transportation and treatment expends large amounts of energy, which negatively effects the environment. An additional factor is the heating water in our homes, it accounts for a large proportion of the total energy consumed. Water and sewerage are charged through a combination of standing charges and volumetric charges. Reducing water consumption results in savings both in water and sewerage costs.
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Research
- Water Billing - Ways to Save Water - Comparative Research
Water Billing On 1 April 2013 water companies hiked bills by an average 3.5%, while many consumers are already paying over the odds for water. Having a water meter installed could save them ÂŁ100s every year. It works in the same way as a gas or electricity meter, recording the amount of water used the bills are based on actual usage rather than a traditional flat charge based on the value or size of the property.
According to water industry regulator Ofwat, around 45% of customers in England and Wales already pay for metered water. As a rule of thumb, if there are more or the same number of bedrooms in a house than people, getting a water meter could definitely be financially worthwhile.
Ways to Save Water Below are some of the ways we can save water in our homes: -
• Steam your veggies rather than boiling them, its healthier and tastier.
• A quick shower uses far less water than a soak in the bathtub.
• Running your tap to temperature? Fill up empty bottles while you wait for it to heat up and use round the house to water plants or for the kettle.
• Instead of washing up as you go, save it up and do it in one go to minimise the amount of water used. • Covering garden plants with wood chippings or leaf mould reduces the need for watering, as they retain moisture for longer. Moving potted plants and houseplants out of the sun helps limit the amount of water they need once they’ve had their fair share of sunshine. • Get up close and personal with your other half and share your bath. Or put the kids in together to save water. • When you really get to the point you have to clean the car, use a bucket of hot soapy water and a watering can of clean water to rinse - no need to use a hose. • Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. • Turn off the tap when you shower, after initially wetting yourself, turn off the shower until you are ready to rinse clean.
• Get a dual-flush loo; use the small flush for oneses, or the stronger flush for bigger jobs! • Use dirty water from fish tank on plants - it’s rich in nitrogen and phosphorous. • Many water companies offer free save-a-flush bags that go in the loo, so you don’t use as much water. It’s good for the environment and saves roughly £10 a year. Filling up a one or two-litre drink bottle with water should do the same job. • Check your meter’s not increasing when you’re not using water. If it is, get leaks sorted. • Wait until you’ve a full load before using your washing machine or dishwasher. Some new washing machines use less than seven litres of water for each kilogram of clothes, while modern dishwashers can us as little as 10 to 15 litres of water a cycle.
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Comparative Analysis Grohe Ondus Digitecture The Grohe Ondus stands for intelligent design; an icon-based user interface that facilitates intuitive and effortless operation. It was created following the “Sensual Minimalism� philosophy, and is a fusion of simplicity and emotion. At Grohe they believe that technology should make things easier and reduce the complexity of everyday life and digitalisation contributes to creating new and highly fascinating worlds of wellness and comfort. Perfectly adjustable to the needs and desires of users, modern technologies facilitate a range of new experiences, and architecture too focuses strongly on realising customised user ideas. Grohe Ondus Digitecture aims at a very high level of comfort facilitated through digitalisation and combines it with a new impressive approach: as a system of modular elements for the bathroom, it integrates the architectural planning process right from the start. The elegant design vocabulary of this architectural concept is striking: it is built strictly on the simple 5 x 5 cm grid system common in architecture and thus tries to make comfort an integrated part of architecture, affording architects and users a high degree of creative freedom.
Grohe Ondus Digitecture allows the preferred combination of water temperature and pressure to be programmed and, via an intuitive interface, be memorised at the press of a button for the next time of use. When the pause button is pressed, the system temporarily stops the water flow for shampooing and then reactivates the water at the exact same temperature – taking a shower thus turns into a interactive and resourcesaving experience. Following a consistent design approach, Grohe Ondus Digitecture delivers both new solutions in architecture and novel user possibilities. The understanding of luxury too is surprising and fascinating, as the premium lifestyle collection comes complete with a Champagne bucket, integrated storage and vases, which aid the transition of the bathroom from a functional space for cleaning and grooming into a personal sanctuary of wellbeing.
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Every Drop Counts Water Meter The Every Drop Counts Water Meter is a device that not only water usage but also detects running, dripping & leaky pipes. It clamps onto the pipe so as not interfere with the water-flow system and has an easy and cost effective installation coupled with inexpensive (low cost per unit) components, which makes the meter a viable device. The system automatically relays all the relevant data to the detachable display. Information displayed includes how much water is being used and where, and also the temperature of the water. This is what the designer, Ulrik Svenningsen has to say about Every Drop Counts: “Imagine all European cities cutting their water consumption down by 20 percent within a few years. The Every Drop Counts meter is aiming for just that. Based on cost allocation technology that has proven to save between 20 and 30 percent of heating consumption where applied, combined with a known method for detecting water leakages this new concept for water metering has a host of advantages over traditional water meters.�
The device detects the temperature of the water by comparing it to the temperature of the room and then calculating the difference, rather than measuring the temperature of the water going into the pipes, which is usually close to constant. It detects leaks by using a microphone that can pick up particular sound signatures of dripping taps, etc. Thus through the use of very simple and cost effective equipment to gather data, the device provides the user with invaluable information about their water usage with the household.
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Water Light Graffiti French artist Antonin Fourneau most recent installation involved a giant wall of LEDs on which the audience could draw graffiti using water, without getting electrocuted! The installation encouraged passersby to sponge, spray, and otherwise soak a massive LED wall with wetted fingers, paintbrushes, spray cans, and super soakers. Thousands of LEDs were rigged to light up upon contact with moisture, allowing people to write messages or doodle on a massive scale.
After a few minutes, the LEDs dimmed, leaving a blank canvas for the next artist. The wall used standard LEDs, and the trick behind it was a relatively simple one: He designed a piece he dubbed “the flower” to catch droplets of water, then use them to conduct electricity to the lights. Fourneau says, “Water Light Graffiti is a wall for ephemeral messages in the urban space without deterioration. A wall to communicate and share magically in the city.”
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Water Photography In his continued experiments with water photography Markus Reugels has developed a method of releasing precisely timed water drops that collide to form pillar-like structures. The setup involves three perfectly synchronized valves and three individual gel-covered flashes that all fire in sequence with the camera’s shutter to create these beautiful images.
These liquid planet images have been taken by Reugels using large satellite photos as a backdrop and a highspeed camera that then captures the background’s refraction through the water drops. The perfectly timed shots result in spherical representations of the Earth, Moon and Jupiter.
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Concept Development
- The Concept - The Five ‘W’s of UX - Statement of Intent - Personas - Storyboard
The Concept The objective of this self-directed brief was to produce a design solution that indicated to users how much water they were consuming, and to make them mindful of whether it was more or less than average. The device would take into account how many individuals there were living in the particular household and produce a read-out of their water consumption. However I made the conscious decision not to make the output of this device numerical like most other energy monitors available. Although the system works well for utilities such as gas and electric, when it comes to water a more visual and ambient device would change how people think about water rather than just making them conscious of bills and trying to reduce their costs. In my research of other energy usage monitors I found they were similar in design and their interfaces lacked creativity. Thus, I looked for a symbol that I could base my design and the
interface of my device around and came across the alchemist symbol for water, which is an inverted equilateral triangle. This symbol works well because of its three corners, which I decided, could be points that indicate efficient, average and wasteful usage of water. Thinking of a novel way that I could express the output I thought of building a tubular triangular structure and filling it with water and having an air bubble that could move from point to point, much like a spirit level. Spirit levels are enclosed capsules of liquid that have a small bubble in them that reacts to the Earth’s gravitation pull. When a spirit level is placed on a flat surface the markers indicate its relationship with respect to gravity, this has an interesting analogy with balance in our global ecosystem and the water cycle. The concept thus is a triangular spirit level that would tilt from one corner to another to visually represent the user’s water consumption.
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The Five ‘W’s of UX Who, What, Where, When and Why are fundamental questions that must be addressed in the process of developing a strong concept in terms of user experience. Being able to accurately answer these questions can be the difference between a design that instantly resonates with a user and one that collapses conceptually in its vision and strategy.
target user is not limited to just the environmentally conscious, on the contrary, the device is there to enlighten everyone and evoke a renewed appreciation of our most precious natural resource. It is designed to first rouse curiosity and then educate and eventually change behaviour, thus it is perfectly suited as a learning tool for children and adults alike.
What is the problem that I am trying to solve?
Where can we improve on existing patterns and solutions?
To reduce the amount of water that we needlessly waste within our households, by increasing awareness of its value and highlighting the repercussions our current actions will have on the environment in the very near future. Also emphasize upon the fact that the harmful pollutants we pump into water and the rigorous chemical treatments we put it through to clean it again for safe consumption is simply unsustainable.
In the section, ‘Ways to Save Water’ I covered many of the patterns and bad habits we have unknowingly developed over time that can easily be changed by being a little more attentive. Most of the solutions to save water revolve around awareness and steps users can take to reduce their consumption. There are very few products that currently exist to help us save water overall. For example, the ‘Water pebble’ was designed for shower cubicles; there are several devices we can attach in our toilet cisterns to save water, and taps such as Grohe Ondus Digitecture, which are more efficient in usage. Few encompass overall consumption, and attempt to change behaviour through strong data visualisation.
Who is the target user? The target audience was primarily those people that are conscious of the impact that we have on Earth and who want to reverse the negative effect caused over decades, abusing a very delicate eco-system. However the
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When should I begin to get user feedback?
Why does my device solve the problem?
Consistently receiving user feedback for my design has been crucial in developing it in a seemly manner. After I finalised my proof of concept and made initial sketches, I requested feedback from my peers, as well as prospective target users such as friends and family (single and multiple occupants). After I built my first prototype I tested it and also received summative feedback from tutors and suggestions and criticisms from others that I took under advisement. The valuable feedback I consistently received drove development towards a more efficacious final prototype.
My solution to the problem is so effective because it provides users with strong visual feedback regarding their water consumption, its unusual structure and ethereal movement encourages positive change in a curious and almost playful manner. The conscious decision to stay away from a more numerical output for water consumption, which often perplexes users when using other such energy monitors, and instead having a graduated and colourful level they can follow, makes it easier to associate with.
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Statement of Intent To inform users of their water consumption, and encourage them to reduce usage where possible, thereby helping them financially as well as making them realise the environmental benefit this will have.
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Personas Anna Roberts is a nineteen-yearold student that has just started her second year at Sheffield University, she had to moved out of her University accommodation so she decided to moved in with three of her friends. They found a nice four bedroom flat with a private landlord. The flat is fitted with a water meter along with the other utilities. Anna has never had the responsibility of paying bills before as she lived with her parents and also because everything was included in her University accommodation. She is splitting all the bills with her friends and she has the responsibility of making sure the water bill is paid. Living on limited budgets they would all like to keep the cost of living as low as possible, so she took it upon herself to encourage others to turn taps off when possible, etc. Just as her other flat mate Sandra would turn off lights and switch off other gadgets when they weren’t being used. When Anna received their first water bill she found it to be excessive, so she decided to install the water consumption monitoring device in their flat so they could all keep tabs every few days whether their water consumption was decreasing or not, and whether the steps they were taking were actually having an cumulative effect. With the device indicating their consumption was very
high they tried to be conscious of their water consumption by limiting themselves to ten minute showers each during the week, and not flushing the toilet unless necessary. Gradually the device shifted to orange, this gave them encouragement and over the next couple of months they tried even harder and managed to get it to yellow, meaning they were now average with their water consumption. When the next water bill came, it was more manageable, and they were pleased because they were doing their part for the environment too.
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Neil King works as a data analyst for a building society, he is a bachelor and lives in an one bedroom apartment in Cambridge, he bought his place a couple of years ago now and he recently decided that he would like to buy a new car. Looking to lower his expenditure he found that the water bill he always paid for was actually a fixed bill, based on the size and location of his flat, and it was actually quite a lot of money he was paying out every quarter. Wanting to reduce it he called his water company and they suggested that he get a water meter installed, so it could be based on his usage rather than a fixed amount. Neil got the water meter installed and the company informed him that he should call them before his next bill and give them a read out. When it came to that time he called them up with his reading. The water company informed him that his bill was actually higher than when it was fixed. He was initially taken aback, but after some introspection he admitted to himself that he did actually waste water without really thinking about it. Upon doing a little research he came across the water consumption monitoring device and also tips on how he could save water, having the device regularly in his sights kept him mindful
of his usage, and when it came to the next bill it was much lower. Eventually he was so careful with his water consumption it consistently showed as being in the green region, this indicated that he was efficient with his water consumption, along the way he learnt the importance of saving water, the money he saved also helped him significantly.
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Storyboard
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In the Jeffries family, Kathy enjoys taking long baths almost everyday...
They tend to flush the toilet many times a day, even when its not really necessary to do so...
Adam leaves the tap running while he brushes his teeth...
Based on the couples usage of water, the device indicates that they are using more than they should for two people.
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They decide to change their ways, Kathy takes quick showers instead..
Adam turns the tap off while brushing his teeth, limiting it to only when he is using it...
they install a bag into their cistern, and flush only when it is necessary...
The device reflects the positive changes they have made, showing their lower consumption.
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Design Development
- Moodboard - First Prototype - Design Objectives - Rapid Prototyping Issues - User Interaction
Moodboard
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First Prototype
Triangle
Holder
Servos
Arduino
Clamp
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The Process The triangle for the first prototype built for Personal Project 01 was constructed using a clear rigid acrylic tube. The measurements were calculated, then the tube was marked out and cut using a banding saw, the three pieces were then sanded down, however despite many attempts at perfecting the angles for each the sections, there were still small gaps at the three corners of the triangle. Each side was then joined to the other using an epoxy adhesive; before the third side was joined the small steel ball bearing was put into the structure. The holder for the triangle was constructed from cutout sections of white foam board. The correct positions for the servos were calculated and then they were attached to each other before attaching them to the holder. The second servo was then clamped firmly to the work surface, and the prototype was then coded. The device was coded to indicate three positions, this was based on the three assumed states of water consumption: efficient, average and wasteful. The triangle was sat on the holder and with the two attached servos it was able to move across three planes. The structure was slightly unstable as the movements was quite jerky, however I did manage to document it in action, moving from one state to another, by recording it on a video camera.
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Design Objectives Overall I received positive feedback in my assessment for Personal Project 01, however it was mentioned that if I were to develop this project further it would be a good idea to have more than just three states of water consumption. Furthermore, that it would be an idea to consider how the device would function in households with more than just one person for example. Thus when I decided to redesign my prototype for my final project I took all the feedback that I received and went back to the drawing board to develop a more complete prototype with increased functionality and better user interaction. I tried to find a way in which I could still keep the interface as a triangular structure even though I wanted to add more states to it, as I felt the symbolism still worked well and its unusual shape for the interface made it more distinctive, rather than the typical rectangular and circular interfaces we are so accustomed to.
this system as a method of quantifying consumption for devices they have at home, insulation and efficiency in general. The addition of colour to my device would also increase its aesthetic quality and thus attract more people towards it. When trying to find a design solution in developing a more gradually moving indicator, I had the idea of filling the triangle with water and using an air bubble. However through experimentation and further research I found that to have the bubble move gradually through the triangle it could no longer be flat, because if it was flat, as the triangle moves from one extreme to another the bubble would behave similarly to the steel ball bearing, and go from one corner to the other, after the tipping point. But if the triangle were curved the gradual movement could be achieved, much like how spirit levels work.
Looking at a better way to quantify the states of water consumption in my device, I was drawn to the energy ratings chart. It was particularly appealing as people already relate to
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CAD Design - Curved Triangle (Top View)
CAD Design - Curved Triangle (Side View)
CAD Design - Holder (Side View)
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Rapid Prototyping Issues Many challenges were faced when I tried to build the curved triangle; the first method I explored was to heat the clear rigid acrylic tube in the oven to get it to curve. I pre-heated the oven to 200 째C and then leaving the oven door ajar, I held the tube inside the oven for 8 minutes, then using protective gloves and a curved surface to push the tube against, I attempted to bend the tube. This approach failed as every section that I tried to bend either formed kinks or melted on to the curved surface and was basically unsuitable to use for my triangle. Given the difficulties I faced trying to accurately line-up the corners of the flat triangle of the first prototype so they were flush against each other, the irregular curvatures of the these sections would also mean that it would be extremely difficult for me to join them so that it was a completely sealed structure, as well as being water tight
of course. I consulted plastic manufacturers such as Bay Plastics, and they were unable to assist me with building it or giving me any suggestions of how I could do it myself. Then I found out about a company called IPFL that did clear 3D printing, so I decided that this could be an option. I went about designing the triangle in SolidWorks and sent them the file. They got back to me saying that it would be difficult for them to do because it was a closed tubular structure, and they needed access to every surface to polish it to actually make it clear. So then I created a split in the triangle and sent them the updated file, however their quote for the job was more than expected and way over budget.
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Final Prototype Sketch
Triangle
Holder
RGB LEDs
Base Cover
Servos Arduino
Base
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User Interaction This ambient water consumption monitoring device works by indicating to users, based on their water usage at home, how efficient they are, along a colour-coded scale. The top left corner is green and it indicates an efficient usage of water, the colours then gradually change to yellow as we follow the triangle to the lowest point. If this is where the user’s water consumption is indicated to be on the triangle that means they are in the average zone of water consumption, so it is still possible for them to take steps to reduce how much water they use. After this point the scale continues upwards to the top right corner, the colours now get warmer and head towards the red zone. If the user’s water consumption is anywhere on this part of the scale, they should consider taking active steps to reduce how much water is being used in the household. The device receives information of the user’s water consumption directly from their water meter; the device is a convenient way of keeping user’s informed rather than them having to keep constant check. The only way they can currently to do this is by taking regular meter readings and then calculating how much water they have used from their last bill date. This can
be an arduous process for many users and thus discourage them from being mindful of their consumption. The device however monitors water consumption in real time, and produces a read out based on water consumed over the last week. Water consumption can be simulated on the prototype by turning the tap on in a clockwise direction (see next page). As the tap is turned on, the device starts tracking (in arbitrary units) how much water is being used. The further the tap is turned, the faster the flow of water, and the longer it is kept on, the more water is being used. On the side panel the user can select how many people live in that household, which will of course change what is considered to be efficient, average or wasteful consumption. When the tap is turned off and time passes, water consumption is considered to be reducing and this is reflected on the interface. Consumption is indicated on the interface by the position of the bubble in the triangle. The bubble’s position correlates to the scale on the base, going from green (efficient) to yellow (average) to red (wasteful).
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Consumption rating (backlit- bubble position highlighted)
User/s Selection Bubble
Tap (potentiometer)
Number of people in household
Annual water usage (cubic metres) low / average / high
1
45 / 66 / 100
2
55 / 110 / 136
3
82 / 136 / 175
4
110 / 165 / 210
5
136 / 182 / 245
6
155 / 200 / 265
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The Triangle Given the difficulties faced trying to curve the clear rigid acrylic tube, I decided to use more flexible PVC tubing. The material already had a natural curve to it, as a result of how it was stored, so I just had to cut the tubing into three 220mm sections. Rather than cutting the ends at a specific angle to join them together, which would have been very difficult to precisely do, I used clear acrylic baubles as joints that the ends would feed into. The baubles were splittable, so I marked out holes on the top half of the three baubles that need-
ed to be cut out, and then pierced them and filed the edges just enough for the tubes to tightly fit through. Then after assembling the structure I carefully sealed the joins between the baubles and tubes from both inside and outside of the baubles using a glue gun. After that I re-attached the bottom half of the baubles, and sealed them using plastic cement. The final step was to I make a tiny opening for the water to enter into it, and this could be closed using a blanking grommet.
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The Holder After sealing any leaks and ensuring the triangle was water tight, I went about building the holder for it. Although I could have 3D printed it, since I had all the measurements and it did not need to be clear like the triangle, I decided I would try to build it myself, given I had successfully managed to construct the triangle. I thought of a structure that would be able to grip each of the three baubles and through sketches I discovered that I needed a spoonshaped arm to hold each corner of the triangle. In my search I came across these tea strainers that were the correct
shape and size for the job. I attached the three strainers to the centre support, which I constructed from layers of thick card, and was able to create the holder shown below. The base (shown on the next page) was cut to specified dimensions, and a platform was attached to it that the servos then sat on, this gave them enough clearance for the free movement of the triangle and the holder.
The Holder
Triangle and Holder
Servos - Attached to the Base
Final Prototype
- Assembly - Coding - Final Prototype Images
Assembly Once the holder was attached to the servos using permanent fixers, I began the process of coding for the prototype. As explained previously in ‘User Interaction’, I wanted the system to function based on a model of efficiency. The first step was to calculate the range of motion and direction for the servos so the triangle would tilt in a manner that allowed the bubble to move along the efficiency scale. However I encountered an issue here, the servos I had were not powerful enough to bear the weight of the triangle and holder, in fact it was struggling without the triangle even on it. Therefore I decided to get more powerful servos, and managed to procure a pair that had three times the torque. Another problem had arisen amidst the process of building and testing my prototype, even though the triangle was watertight when I first built it, new leaks were constantly developing, despite my best efforts to seal them. With the triangle being in such close proximity to so many electrical components, I had to make the conscious decision to leave the triangle empty for the purposes of this prototype, as it posed a health and safety risk, and instead demonstrate the triangles position simply using LEDs along the scale.
Therefore I first mapped out the angles (in degrees) that each servo would move along the efficiency scale. Once this was done, and I managed to get the servos moving from an absolute efficient state through to an absolute wasteful state, it was a matter of controlling the movement using a potentiometer. Using float numbers I mapped the efficiency scale, so at the efficient state it was 1, at average it was 0 and at wasteful -1. Based on this the float numbers run once the potentiometer is turned, and the values decrease depending on how far it is turned and how long it is in that position. After that I wired the LEDs using varying resistors to attain the desired colour range for the efficiency scale, and got them to also turn on and off based on the float number values. Once the coding for the prototype was done I needed to house the LEDs and secure the wiring within a cover for the base. After measuring the dimensions of the base and the appropriate clearances based on the movement of the triangle, I laser cut a white Perspex sheet and bonded the planes together to create the base cover.
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The Code
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Laser Cutting
Base Cover
Tri-Aqua: The Final Prototype
Tri-Aqua: Prototype Video Stills
1 The States
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3
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Evaluation
- Evaluation - Conclusion - References
Evaluation Taking the concept of Tri-Aqua from Personal Project 01, with a clear statement of intent and solid background research already in place, I was able to focus on developing a refined prototype that could have the potential of actually being a marketable product people could use to monitor their water consumption. Having this device at home would have many benefits for the user, of which the most important would be saving money, reducing their carbon footprint and generally making them more aware of the impact their lifestyle has on the environment. After deciding on the improvements I wanted to implement into my final prototype I proceeded to build each of the components. I encountered a few roadblocks in the process, for which compromises were made, however none of them were too drastic, and the final outcome was still effective. Figuring out how to build the triangle probably took the most time, but once that was complete, a process from which I had already learnt a lot, I was able to gain momentum and rapid prototype the rest of the components. Overall I enjoyed the challenges of the build, and learned how to think laterally to achieve an innovative design solution.
There were a few things however that I initially wanted to include in my prototype but when it came to it I was unable to, due to certain limitations. Most significantly the inability to use fluid in the triangle, and for it to behave like a spirit level, and for the bubble to move along the energy rating/efficiency scale. Although I know through testing it that the system works, and the bubble moves as it should, however it was just too dangerous to have it holding liquid and being positioned over all those electronic components, with any possibility of leaks. Therefore I changed the way the triangle moved; instead I had it moving in an inverse direction, with the hope of filling it with a little bit of water that could then just move from point to point, similar to my initial prototype. Also I was unable to incorporate multiple user information input into device. For the purposes of this prototype, as a demonstrational tool, it would have over-complicated the system. Just showing a direct relationship between user consumption (simulated by turning the tap) and a visual output shown on the interface simply conveys what is trying to be achieved here. But this information would of course be crucial for the interface to accurately inform the
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user regarding a household’s water consumption. Despite the shortcomings of actually realising the prototype, I believe that the concept is still strong. Through further development, an actual functioning
product could be manufactured, and it would be evocative enough to change human behaviour, with regards to taking clean water for granted, and this would benefit both Mankind and Mother Nature.
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Conclusion After discussing my concept and demonstrating the prototype to a variety of prospective users, the feedback I received was that the device would really help anyone that is trying to down cut down on their utilities bills, and those that are concerned about the environment and realise that our current rate of consumption, particularly in the western world, is simply unsustainable. After much deliberation I came to the conclusion that this device would be most effective when situated in the living room. It is not intended to show users instant changes based on their immediate consumption, instead it monitors consumption over a longer period of time, perhaps a span of a week, since most of us get our water bills on a quarterly basis. It should be in the living room rather than in the kitchen or bathroom, where water is actually consumed, because the
living room is a space where people generally spend more of their time, so they can feel free to glance at the device to check what region their water consumption is in. The device’s unique design would also be a talking point when others come in contact with it, the device would serve as an educational tool and users would presumably be more open and insightful regarding the larger issue, thus having a greater impact and demanding changes to bad habits and taking water for granted. Aside from perfecting the prototype, this method of data visualisation could be applied to other utilities such as gas and electric, and could be far more effective than the numerically based energy monitors that are available in the market today.
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