One of the biggest problems in raising awareness for water use is accountability of water consumption from the user perspective. To put in simple words: How can a platform know who consumed water? How much did he consumed and for what reason?
Both in a domestic and in a public building scenario such micro level of information can lead to very useful insights on water consumption and in turn it could provide users with many benefits such as specific targeted advises like “Close the tap when brushing your teeth”. But the main question remains the same. How can we engage users in reporting their water usage without this becoming an obligatory task they will have to complete for a research program but rather builds into them as a habit.
Obviously we can’t expect people to log in their usage after each time they use some water, especially if it is for trivial reasons such as washing their hands or face. We can’t expect from them to run to a computer, tablet or even their mobile and insert I have just used the bathroom tap for 5 minutes to wash my face. So… how could we make the process easier…?
Obviously mobile phones are the most ubiquitous device and the one which is most possible for a person to carry with them when they use water. In a few years this could be our smartwatches, smart taps, connected mirrors or whatever other device. So the question becomes a bit more specific. “How can a mobile phone app (and potentially a smart watch app) become a habit and engage users to reporting their water usage?”
Basic requirements are that the process should:
• Provide a clear and engaging call to action that triggers the process
• Be fun and informative at the same time
• Require minimal (or even better no) effort to achieve
• Build gradually as a habit for users without feeling intrusive
• Use some rewards that would help in engagement
Therefore we designed two alternative (and somehow complimentary also) scenarios of such a tracking system. The storyboards that follow describe these two alternatives. Both scenarios are set-up in a university building, trying to encourage students to become more water aware. One exploits the use of public displays that are leading students to use a mobile app and the other exploits the use of QRCodes in combination with a mobile application. Take a moment and have a look at them while asking yourself.
What would it take for you to download the app and track your own personal consumption? Is the simple QRCode enough or will the public display convince you easier?
Would you use the mobile app to track your personal consumption at home too or just in public spaces (e.g. school, office, etc)?
And finally… would you publish your good consumption behavior to a social media?
We would very much like to hear your thoughts and ideas. You can send them to info@waternomics.eu or comment on our social media accounts
