Preliminary problem statement: Watering all the plants at Tresidder Union can be a time-consuming, repetitive task that can get boring for the employees who must do it everyday.
Every morning all the plants around campus must be watered to ensure their health and longevity. These flowers, trees, and other plants are part of what makes Stanford such a beautiful campus. Some places around campus have sprinkler or irrigation systems, but this is not possible everywhere especially in more high-traffic areas or for potted plants. This means that someone must hand water. This is a very time-consuming and water-intensive task. At Tresidder Union the employee tasked with watering seemed very disengaged and bored. They repeatedly scrolled on their phone to pass the time. This shows a clear lack of connection and purpose within their work, and subsequently a lack of investment in the plants they are tending to. This lack of investment could also potentially harm the plants with more of a risk for under or over-watering. There is room for improvement and ways to make this seemingly mundane task more engaging for people who tend to plants and potentially conserve some water in the process.
Project 1 working title: Device for garden care and watering