Ezi-Worm: Earth’s Creepy Crawlies + Tech
How can WE help people feel a part of a community garden without having to get down and dirty, or even those with physical disabilities who literally don’t have the physical capabilities to do so?
This was the question we initially asked ourselves as a group. After brainstorming different methods from automated watering (at the convenience of clicking a button wherever they are) to even zen gardens (partaking in creating some sort of art piece with sand), the idea of heading down the path of sustainability was the best option. Now we have it, vermicomposting, most commonly produced through the method of worm farming. Not only is it sustainable, but rather quite efficient in producing almost instant results.
What better way to contribute to a garden than to offer up organic wastes produced from one’s daily intake. To summarise the concept, Ezi-Worm provides an insight to the community whenever the worms are in need of nutrients, i.e. organic waste, at the convenience of their own kitchen bench using a small interface that lets people know the capacity, as well as the interior temperature/humidity of the worm bin. This concept hopes to assist in notifying people to make their contributions if ever they decide to head out and potentially making a quick pit stop to the community garden for a potential social gathering.
What do we, as concept creators, hope to gain from this probe?
Firstly, the data collected from Ezi-Worm includes the temperature and humidity of a dark closed container when placed in either direct sunlight or shade in different weather conditions and seasons. This data can be open-sourced and potentially used for architects, engineers or developers. However, the primary data which would directly be of use to us would be the community’s contribution records to the worm farm, accomplished through the use of a light resistor that detects whenever there’s light exposure, i.e. the opening and closing of the container lid.
With this data, the number of members with the motivation or need to partake in a community garden will become more evident. Through this technology probe, our aim is to explore what methods are suitable to encourage and attract people to take part. Along with the data gathered from other technology probes around the garden, we will then be able to see the different reasons for people’s visit, whether for social interactions with fellow village residents, therapeutical benefits or experience/contribute to the garden.
Why the use of technology?
The reason technology is in use is because, as we all know the advancement of technology in everyday household items and daily necessities has been rapidly increasing, so the aim is to educate the age group on various uses and benefits of technology. Based on the user research performed prior to concept-making, it was found that the target group, in our case elderly in retirement villages, were quite unaware of their existing exposure to the so called “technology” but rather dismissal of the concept based on their complex experience with smartphones, tablets or PC’s.
With all that being said, ultimately, the goal is to create a connected community between citizens. In a retirement village environment and specifically focusing on community gardens, what can we do to help them feel connected with others under the same living conditions? How can technology be an ease of use to assist that in any way?
For Ezi-Worm, not only is technology used to assist those with physical constraints to contribute to gardening be more accessible and more open to a range of retirees, but rather makes gardening more collaborative and a place where people can come to make their contributions while using as a means for social gathering.
These are the results we hope to see from people’s interactions with the probe. Regardless, we will continue to refine the probe based on the user’s experiences.
