The Problem
When sifting through collected data and identifying problems, I thought of two factors: the problem as it pertains to the topic, and the problem as it pertains to the user and digital service. I was able to find out through research that If the environmental footprint of a human population exceeds the Bio-Capacity (the capacity to generate renewable resources), it is deemed unsustainable. This problem has a harmful impact on the environment, which also affects us human beings. The other problem pertains to reaching the demographic through the use of the environmental footprint digital service. What would make them want to consistently use the mobile app? How would information be tracked and measured? How would the service help them understand the topic in a clear and concise manner?
Focal Point Mobile App Concept
My solution is to create a mobile app called Focal Point. The name is derived from the concept of Sustainable Living as a “focal point” in people’s lives and making time to learn about it as well as to practice it in their daily routine. The app has a fun initiative behind it where users can compete with family, friends and other people around the world for rewards and recognition, while sharing their collective good habits and actions with each other. The main purpose of the app: to track, measure, reward and showcase actions and habits through user engagement, to raise awareness towards the topic of Sustainable Living, to foster a sense of community between like-minded people who want to conserve energy, limit water consumption etc.
Features of Focal Point
The mobile app has 5 main sections in the navigation: profile, challenges, community, notifications and initiatives. The Profile section shows the user’s photo, followers/following counter, group joined, as well as trophies and medals to show their achievements for practicing sustainable living (For example, one might win a trophy for continuously conserving energy by turning off the lights after use). The Challenges section contains different types of actions created by others for the user to join. The challenges range from easy to hard, shows members who are currently partaking in the challenge, the duration of the challenge and points to be earned. The Community section shows the user what their friends, community and people in a global scale are doing to promote sustainable living. They are able to view different groups, events and communities and have the choice of joining them and learning more about them in detail. The Initiatives section of the app is the main source of news articles and general information section. It explains the environmental footprint initiative in detail, and it directs users to the proper resources should they seek out the information for themselves. The Notifications section is meant for notifying the user with alerts about new challenges, messages, friend requests and personal bests.
