Nibì (the Algonquin word for water) is a device to test water quality and ensure water safety. The lack of access to clean water is a prevalent issue faced by many countries globally. For this project, we narrowed our scope to communities within Canada, most evidently within First Nation communities which are given minimal attention when addressing these key issues. Access to clean water is a fundamental human right. Thus, solutions must be developed in order to further our growth in resolving the disparity.
Through this project, we developed an application in hopes of being part of the efforts to provide safe drinking water to areas where water disparity is prevalent. Our application allows users to learn about and share water quality and safety information with those responsible for the water systems. By doing so, they can identify areas where water safety is an issue and take action.
Team Members
- Maham Raza
- Sandy Lin
- Johnny Breen
- Sabina Rafay
- Mitchell Chiappino
What We Did
- UI/UX Design
- Product Design
- Research
Role
My role for this team project was to work as a UX researcher. To distribute responsibilities, we used the concept of the six thinking hats. I acted as the black thinking hat and was responsible for recognizing any weaknesses within our project plan and identifying solutions for them.
The Process
The idea was created by developing a research question utilizing the S.M.A.R.T framework. After exploring different ideas and issues, we could address, we came to a consensus of developing a product to resolve the issue of access to clean water, most prominently found in First Nation reserves in Canada.
Scope
Due to the proximity to home and records of similar water warnings dating back to 1995 in the Neskantaga First Nations reserves, our group chose to focus on the Indigenous water problem occurring in Ontario (Canadians.org, 2022). Our objective is to create a product that will allow Indigenous peoples to measure the pH levels of water, bacteria, and mineral levels.
Problem Statement
How can we develop an application that will aid in resolving the issue of access to clean water in communities where the issue is prevalent?
Research Insights
The combination of the empathy map, survey, and wizard of oz experiment methods allowed us to gather a wide range of data and insights from different groups of participants. This data helped us understand users’ experiences and needs related to clean water sanitation and identify areas for improvement in our app.
The survey was administered in person to gauge the participant’s body language as they progressed though the study these factors were important to consider in order to ensure we are able to recognize the pain points of the user that we may not be able to conduct the survey virtually.
KEY INSIGHTS
- Reported high levels of dissatisfaction with the current state of Ontario’s water quality on reserves
- Many participants were wary of their water quality and the safety of drinking it however needed to be made aware of how they can the water quality and who to contact attention is needed.
- The need for better access to clean drinking water in Indigenous communities in Canada is a key insight that many participants were aware of however didn’t know the extent of the issue.
Conducting this research method aided us in recognizing areas of improvement in the design of our product and application. Below are the comments we received for the interface
KEY INSIGHTS
- One issue that was raised is the potential for information to become unorganized as more screens are added to the application. We kept this in mind when designing and ensured the organization of our application by ensuring a clear information architecture.
- Users expressed their opinions on the application’s design and the need for more information displayed on how to use the design. While developing the app further, we remained conscious of how intuitive our design will be and hwo we can create a user-friendly design.
- It was noted that the current design of the application does not include screens for providing information about the levels of bacteria, minerals, and pH in the water being tested. This lack of information may make it difficult for users to understand the quality of their water and to take appropriate action if necessary. Which is why we made the addition to the application inorder to remove pain points of potential user.
Our study included a small sample (n=5) with participants representing the University of Waterloo community.
- Based on the data collected from the Wizard of Oz experiment, it appears that users were generally satisfied with the process of testing the water with the device
KEY INSIGHTS
- We recorded user reactions and valuable feedback, which helped us determine if this theoretical prototype is required in our overall research question.
- Test systems allowed us to gather feedback on the app’s design and functionality.
- As a result of the pilot study, we made adjustments to our concept and developed a more refined and effective app.
Utilizing an empathy map as a research method helped us gain great insight into our users. The data collected from developing an empathy map helped us create features and designs relevant to the concerns of users to meet their needs.
KEY INSIGHTS
- Many participants needed to gain knowledge about wastewater management in their community and had yet to test their water quality. This was an important insight as it highlighted the importance of our product and why it would be beneficial.
- The high prevalence of participants filtering or buying bottled water suggests that there may be concerns about tap water quality in the community.
- Many participants filter their water through a Brita or buy bottled water, and some have concerns about tap water quality in their community.
The Why
73 percent of Indigenous people’s water systems are at a high or medium risk of contamination from waterborne illnesses
Our Goal: Establish a network that facilitates First Nation communities’ access to clean water in Ontario and fosters open communication between the Canadian federal government
How it works
The prototype uses geolocation to identify where the user is testing water from. When the user is testing their water quality, the product returns two sets of feedback. This feedback displays whether the result of the water is favourable to drink, sending a ping to the mobile/desktop application where users provincially can receive up-to-date analytics of water quality within geographical areas of Ontario. If the water is not favourable, a second ping will be sent to a provincial department within the Government of Canada with the data and geographical location. Sanitization workers will be sent to that area to find a solution to improve the water quality at that specific reserve.
Designing for global change
The product displays the potential for several social, economic, and environmental benefits.
- On a social level, the app and water testing device will provide Indigenous communities with greater access to clean drinking water, which is essential for human health and well-being.
- This could potentially lead to improved health outcomes for these communities.
- On an economic level, the app and water testing device could help reduce the cost of water treatment and management on reserves, as it would provide a more efficient and cost-effective way to assess water quality.
- On an environmental level, the app and water testing device could help reduce water waste and pollution, as it would allow for more accurate.
Redefining the problem Space
Our product addresses the current issue of clean water and sanitation in Canada. This issue affects individuals globally because access to clean water is a basic human right. Through our extensive research through literature reviews and secondary research, we were able to narrow the root of the problem and where opportunities lie in order to develop a beneficial product.
Constraints
Deadline
We were tasked with developing a solution through a product or application for a social issue that we all felt passionately about. As this project was completed for a university course, they were many tight deadlines my group and I had to meet, restricting us in some ways and limiting the length of our research process.
Study Group
First Nation communities are the most evident community in Canada impacted by the lack of access to clean water. Thus, it was important for us to connect with them in order to identify their pain points and develop solutions through our product. However, due to tight deadlines and few connections, we were unable to use them as a study group. Instead our study group consisted of University of Waterloo students living in the Waterloo area.
Limitations
It would be necessary to conduct further research with a larger and more diverse sample of participants.
- This includes surveying Indigenous communities in different regions of Canada, as well as incorporating more detailed questions about specific water quality issues and potential solutions.
- The sample size of participants may not be large enough to generalize the findings to the wider population.
- If our methodology had been adjusted, the results might have been different, for example, by including a control group or conducting the experiment in different locations.
Ideation and Wireframing
Wireframe
The wireframes were developed by another group member. By developing an initial low-fidelity wireframe, we were able to determine the aesthetics of the application, what features worked and its potential user flow.
End Product
The application was designed to reflect our findings from the research completed. Based on the research, we were able to identify opportunities for innovation. It also helped us identify key features that would benefit those impacted by the issue. Additionally, the aesthetics of the app were designed to be minimal, the colours were selected using colour psychology to ensure we appeal to our target audience and attract users.