Wednesday 3 July 2013

Implications and Evaluations of Solution Ideas

State your problem and solution idea(s) in your CPS project. Think about the implications of your solution idea(s). Finally decide whether to go ahead with the implementation of the solution idea(s). You may use the following criterion to help you in your decision making; innovativeness of idea(s), whether action is within your control and influence, feasibility and success rate, acceptance level by people involved.

Example 1
Problem: How can we reduce litter in public spaces?
Solution: Encourage people to keep a plastic bag with them wherever they go so that they can throw their own rubbish in it.
Implications:
1. There will be more rubbish because there will be more plastic bags being used and thrown.
2. People's habits and mindsets need to change which means an educational campaign might be needed.
Criterion:
Innovativeness - Not very
Control and Influence - No control, little influence with campaign
Feasibility and Success - Yes
Acceptance Level - Likely to be low
Decision - Look for another solution

Example 2
Problem: How might we reduce the crowdedness in the MRT train?
Solution: Increase the number of carriages
Implications:
1. Train stations would need to be longer to accommodate the increase in carriages.
2. Increase costs of buying more trains.
Criterion:
Innovativeness - Not very
Control and Influence - Not at all
Feasible - Not likely
Acceptance Level - Passengers yes, train authorities and government agencies not likely (at least not yet in the immediate future)
Decision - Look for another solution

13 comments:

  1. Problem: How to remove the impurities in the water.
    Solution: Create a portable purifier in form of a water bottle
    Implications:
    1) The water bottles will be heavy
    2) The cost of it will be
    Criterion:
    Innovativeness - Fair
    control and influence : high
    Feasible- Fairly likely
    acceptance level : quite high in most areas
    decision- select product

    ReplyDelete
  2. Problem: People throwing a lot litters at the beach
    Solution: Having a disco ball on top of the rubbish bin that will light up and spin every time a litter is thrown in.
    Implications:
    1. People may damage or steal the disco ball
    2. The battery cost of the disco ball for it to turn and light up every time a litter is thrown in might be a problem.
    Criterion:
    Innovativeness - Yes
    Control and Influence - Not really. Some people may still refuse to throw rubbish in if the rubbish bin is too far away from them.
    Feasibility and Success - Yes
    Acceptance Level - Yes, children might be fascinated with the spinning disco ball with lights.
    Decision - Use this solution but we have to experiment on it to see the people's reaction.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Problem: How can we reduce litter in beach?
    Solution: Reward people who throw their litter away; When they throw away the litter into the bin, at the top of the bin, a beach ball rotates and lights up to their entertainment
    Implications:
    1. The cost is particularly high as we need wires and sensors from the dustbin to the beach ball and furthermore, there needs to be lots of bins around beaches.
    2. People might tamper or vandalise the bin.
    Criterion:
    Innovativeness - Somewhat
    Control and Influence - No control, some influence (kids and people who like colourful and entertaining stuff)
    Feasibility and Success - Yes
    Acceptance Level - A certain group of people
    Decision - Trial a few first, then people who like this dustbin can donate to more future dustbins of this sort.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Problem: How to remove the impurities in the water.
    Solution: Create a portable purifier in form of a water bottle
    Implications:
    1) The water bottles will be heavy
    2) The cost of it will be
    Criterion:
    Innovativeness - Fair
    control and influence : high
    Feasible- Fairly likely
    acceptance level : quite high in most areas
    decision- select product

    ReplyDelete
  5. Problem: How might we (HMW) decrease the amount of pollutants such as oil which are spilled out into the lakes and seas from factories?
    Solution: Place a machine which scoops up all the pollutants and collect it so that they can reuse and recycle it to make new objects.
    Implications:
    1. It is costly.
    2. It would be a burden to some of the factory workers because they will need to do extra job for the pollutants.
    Criterion:
    Innovativeness - Not very
    Control and Influence - There is more control and it might be influential.
    Feasibility and Success - Yes
    Acceptance Level - Yes
    Decision - Stick with solution

    ReplyDelete
  6. Problem: How can we get people to save water when they shower?
    Solution: Add a stopper between the water tank of and the house water supply for every apartment in every HDB flat. When a water-related appliance such as a shower head is in use, the water should flow vigorously and at a certain speed through the pipe leading to that apartment. If this flow continues for more than 30 minutes without the water losing velocity, then the stopper will cut off the water flow to that apartment for 5 minutes.

    Implications:
    >One for every apartment is quite a lot to pay for and install...
    >Some people may have to use water for extended periods of time, such as for manual laundry washing or taking long showers to counter sunburn or odour.

    Level of innovation>Slightly innovative; works not only for shower heads but is also affected by other hydro-appliances.

    Effect/influence> People will most likely start to refrain from leaving taps of any kind and this may even encourage them to make sure that they turn a tap off fully instead of carelessly letting it drip!

    Feasible?>Not really. As mentioned before, quite a bit will have to be installed to make this island wide.

    Acceptable?> Nope. If for some reason the government decides to waste lots of money and effort on such a ridiculously unrealistic project, in return they will only get more complaints from angry citizens.

    Decision> Forget it. In fact, just let people waste all the water that they want to waste. Still a better way out of all this than any so- called 'solution'.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Problem: Lack of a constant supply of clean water to disaster-afflicted areas.
    Solution: Install a windmill capable of pumping water over a spot where a water source is believed to be located at.

    Implications:
    >The cost of the materials needed to build the windmill may be high
    >The affected people might try to dismantle the windmill for extra parts to be sold to smelters or to the black market at high prices
    > The supply of water might eventually run out
    > People might abuse this privilege and hog at the tap for a seemingly endless supply of fresh water, affecting others who might really need the water
    >water can quickly be available directly at the source of the disaster, may help save those sufferig from dehydration or sickness
    > The windmill can be linked to an electrical generator which can generate electricity
    Level of innovation:
    >Hmm... not that bad at all. Its like killing two birds with one stone; firstly, water can be drawn directly from the ground, and secondly, the wind can be used to power a generator which can help to produce electricity for the affected people and the volunteers who stay behind to help out.
    Effect/influence> Very great. Both the affected personell and volunteers wound not have to worry about the shortage of fresh water anymore! Plus, even after the volunteers leave, there will still be a constant supply of both electricity and water to help save the locals alot of time when they have to walk for quite a distance just to gather water from a well and most of the water would might have been lost by the time they actually get back home.
    Feasible?> Maybe. This project can be brought into life but the only downside to this is the lack of funds. A small fund-raiser can be hosted shortly before the project's commencement and the information about the project could be released to the public to let them know more about the situation. A small registration booth also can be set-up near the entrance to record the names of the potential volunteers and another to keep track of the funds raised.
    Acceptable?> Yes. If the locals are willing to co-operate together with the volunteers and lend a hand in the building of the windmill, the operation will be completed in a much shorter time and there will be less disagreements between the locals and the volunteers.
    Decision> The project it a go! Even though there are many different ways that one can bring water to a drought-stricken area, this is the most effective in terms of a long term solution. As for a cheaper alternative, one could just place a small dish of water directly exposed to sunlight for a certain amount of time. Unfortunately, even though this solution is much cheaper, fresh water will not be immediately available for human consumption, and the time needed will be too long. So, if this project was indeed proven to be effective, everybody would benefit from it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Problem: How might we (HMW) decrease the amount of pollutants such as oil which are spilled out into the lakes and seas from factories?
    Solution: Make a purifier
    Implications:
    1. It is costly.
    2. It might be troublesome for workers to put the purifier in the water.
    Criterion:
    Innovativeness - Not very
    Control and Influence - There is more control and it might be influential.
    Feasibility and Success - Yes
    Acceptance Level - Yes
    Decision - Stick with solution

    ReplyDelete
  9. Problem: How might we reduce water wastage when bathing?
    Solution:Create a sound sensor,so when the sound is constant for a certain amount of time, which means the person is probably idling in the toilet, the water will auto turn off.
    Implications:
    1.It will be costly.
    2.The maintenance will troublesome.
    Criterion:
    Innovativeness - Not very
    Control and Influence - It have to depends on the person whether they want to buy or not.
    Feasibility and Success - Yes
    Acceptance Level - Yes
    Decision - Stick with solution.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Problem: How could we produce electricity without causing pollution
    Solution: Use a battery and connect it to a motor. The motor spin and rub against the copper coil and create electricity, once electricity is created, turn of the battery and some of the power supply will be used to power the motor , and the remaining will saved.
    Implication:
    Costly
    Might not generate enough energy
    Might bnreakdown easily
    Inovativeness- OKOK
    Control and Influence-workable
    Feasibility and Success- YES
    Acceptance Level-Yes
    Decision-Use the above solution

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mr Lam, Me and Ian who are in a group decided to change our problem (final)

    Problem: How can we make it convenient for people to separate their rubbish into the rubbish bins in the carpark/lift lobby?

    Solution: In an high-rise home, there will be a chute in a utility backyard and it will have four compartments. The chute will work when one throws rubbish in one of the chutes. There will be air pressure from the chute to suck the waste from your home to the recycling bin in the lift lobby.

    Implications:
    1.
    2.

    Criterion:
    Innovativeness - innovative (also eco-friendly)

    Control and Influence - Our invention can influence many people to recycle as the invention is very simple and convenient to use.

    Feasibility and Success - Yes
    Acceptance Level - should be accepted
    Decision - Look for another solution .that is convenient

    ReplyDelete
  12. Problem: The numbers of litter in Singapore is increasing.What can be done to make it a better place

Solution: Have a place at bus stop,train stations,malls ect where when you recycle your rubbish you can earn points that can claim stuff

Implications:
1. People may be lazy
2.

Criterion:
Innovativeness - innovative (win-win situation) 

Control and Influence - People may work together to work towards a common goal to gain benefits 

Feasibility and Success - Yes
Acceptance Level - should be accepted
Decision - work on the current idea and improve it

    Abiel&Eden

    ReplyDelete
  13. Problem: How can we reduce the use of plastic bags?
    Solution: Encourage people to use a recycle cloth bag to prevent wastage.
    Implications:
    1. People may not be willing to purchase the cloth bags.
    2. People are too used to not bringing their own bags.
    Criterion:
    Innovativeness - Not very
    Control and Influence - No control, little influence with campaign
    Feasibility and Success - Yes
    Acceptance Level - Likely to be low
    Decision - Look for another solution

    ReplyDelete