A research and speculative project looking at wearable technologies. Kin are currently in talks with charities and startups to develop the prototype into a usable service.
The pollution monitoring badge is a 'nearable' device that works with the user's smartphone to firstly monitor pollution levels around the user and secondly combine this with GPS positioning from the smartphone. Pollution levels are recorded at the specified location and if the pollution levels are deemed too high, based on the European Union limits, a letter is drafted and sent to the MP for that area.
Secondary to the letter, the data can be crowdsourced to produce a live map of pollution across cities. Users are able to evaluate their commute with an app to suggest cleaner, less polluted routes. For example through parks and quiet residential streets.
I looked into creating a collection of wearables and nearables to compliment the service. Firstly a badge; an efficient way of collecting pollution close to the user, through the strong identity of the badge, providing the user to clearly identify themselves and their commitment to making a difference in reducing air pollution.
Secondly, two nearables compliment the badge. A sensor for a bike, a popular way of commuting. Bikes also enable the collection of data over large areas quickly.
The third device is a children's buggy badge as the height of a child in a pushchair is just about the worst height to be on the pavement when it comes to pollution.
I worked in a small team to conceptualise and develop the idea. I prototyped the electronics with Arduino and designed the look and feel for the badge and the two nearable devices with the use of 3D printing.
2014 onwards