E-Planter Concept

Our project aims to integrate Internet of Things (IoT) into the human interaction with plants. Specifically, we aim to increase human-plant interaction (HPI), which will be achieved through indirect framework system architecture. In other words, user will be interacting with objects and undertaking activity that benefit them and the plant, but does not necessarily come into direct contact with the plant. Picture someone regularly watering plants and moving the pot to allow sufficient sunlight for the plant, this kind of interaction is what we aim to achieve.

The direct result of this method would include increase HPI, increase life-span of indoor plants, and educating users on how to take care of plants. The long-term and hidden benefits however, are most significant. This includes decreased stress and increased concentration of user, increase emotional bonds with user, and other health benefits. Hence, together, the E-Planter would be the user’s “Green Friend” and bringing the user “closer to nature”.

 

Project E-Planter: Goals

The project to complete the E-Planter span across semester 1 and special term 1 & 2. In this time span, we would not be able to test with many users to achieve long-term results. However, there are several goals we have set in mind:

Goal 1: Technological and Scientific Innovation

Although it sounds absurd, we are eager to try out the technology and scientific methods discussed in the research journals. There are so many things that are unknown to us, and we would like to spend time getting our hands on experimentation, trial and error on several processes. This eagerness lies in our belief that what we are doing would one day be beneficial to the people around us.

Goal 2: Learning

We make it a clear goal to learn new things. Getting our hands directly on the project might be feasible. But we must learn new things and explore new opportunities. For instance, we would regularly hold meetings to share what we have learned and record it down in our notes. In this way, we would not miss the opportunity to employ what we have learned.

Goal 3: A new product

Recreating something others have made before sounds like a plan for us to get started. But that would not be interesting! That is why we constantly strive for new results! In our E-Planter specifically, we want to figure out a new system that would not require users to interact with plants via phone (which is what a lot of projects we looked at have been doing). We also want to put our focus on the user journey. That is why we find answers for questions like “How can we know if plants reduce people’s stress?” “How can we optimize the ability for plants to reduce stress?” “How can we increase emotional ties of Human-Plant?”