We presented our prototype to our community members by using a presentation: of our research, material testing, and prototype development. After our presentation, we asked him the following questions.
Questions and Feedback
1.What ways do you think the water collection system can be improved?
Mr. Zhao expressed his satisfaction of the method, stating that it has been relatively effective thus far. He did, however, point out that the gutter material is rather thin and will most likely not be strong enough to hold much water. He suggested thickening the gutter to give it more strength and make it less flexible. He later suggested that curling the gutter edges will strengthen the sides.
2.We initially thought of attaching the system to the side of the roof, however this would make it a permanent fixture that would be hard to remove. Instead, we are now thinking about hanging it on the side of the fence. Do you think this would be a suitable location to collect water?
Mr. Zhao agreed that it would be best not to drill it into the roof and suggested that the gutter be installed on the fence. He told us that depending on how much rain falls, the fence might gather a lot of water, making it an excellent site. He appreciated our concept of hanging the gutter with S-shaped hooks rather than drilling it and advised that we position it on the second rung of the ladder.
The next steps will be to design the “S” shape structures based on the fence’s measurements (images of the design are included in the presentation), cut out the design in hard melted-together plastic, and reinforce the plastic tarp with all-black plastic bags to make it more aesthetic, professional, and strong.
Finally, answer these two questions:
What did you learn about working with the community from today’s discussion (not including the design part)?
I’ve learned that in order to deliver the best solution or a new design that is valuable to community members, we need more than simply the technology and materials utilized in the manufacturing process. However, understanding of people’s needs is also important. And this aspect requires a lot of communication, time, people’s attitudes, and their willingness to contribute; I also felt really needed during this process due to language barriers. My community member is only fluent in Chinese. And my group members do not speak Chinese as well as I do. As a result, I played a significant role in communicating, updating, exchanging ideas, and scheduling meetings on both sides. I was surprised by how powerful my duty was.
How are you going to apply the lessons to future collaborations?
Working with this community has taught me how to put myself in the shoes of others to empathize with and understand their needs, even if their lives are very different from mine and they speak a different language. I can still try to put myself in their shoes to understand their problems and find solutions to them. To build these attributes, I’ve learnt to use patience, trust, and empathy. I can utilize these skills in future partnerships to try to comprehend the needs of others, even if I don’t immediately relate to those needs. This can apply to dealing with businesses, individuals, or communities.