We were tasked to create an innovation or improve on an older design with a specific problem in mind and ways to solve it.
The weather in D.C. shifts frequently, leaving its residents wondering whether to turn on the AC or heat, sometimes utilizing both on the same day. The homeless population is especially vulnerable to the elements as they do not have the means to simply flip a switch and change from hot to cold. They also do not have the funds to afford a large space heater or standing fan as well as a power source to operate these items.
My solution would be to engineer a two-in-one portable fan and heater that is handheld, solar/battery operated, and cheap. It needs to be portable and handheld so that it can be easily transported and packed away. A solar/battery will allow people without access to direct electricity outlets to charge the device for reuse. Lastly, it needs to be cheap so that homeless people can buy it for a low price if no one sponsors the idea and donates it to them.
When selecting this problem, I thought about the welfare of the public, including their health and safety. Being in extreme conditions and one that oscillates frequently can do damage to the human body, causing sickness. Creating this invention will improve these populations’ quality of life as well as the other D.C. residents who choose to purchase it. I also took into account the environmental effects as the innovation will use solar power, a renewable resource that will not contribute to the growing climate problem. The values created by this innovation include helping those in need. It instills a moral code of giving back to your community in times when the world is an unsure place.
