300 WORD PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Living in the Global North, it is easy to forget or turn a blind eye to the serious impact of climate change. Evidence shows that carbon dioxide (CO2) has had a dramatic contribution to global warming and thus climate change. The substantial rise in CO2 leads to toxic air pollution, which is something that is felt all around the world, no matter where you live. I’m currently in Edinburgh, where air pollution causes one in twenty-nine deaths; statistically more than any other city in Scotland [1]. The common theme when researching climate change is time. Are we running out of time to save the planet? Is it too late to prevent irreversible climate change?

This is why I chose to present this data around a clock. My product aims to gently remind the household that this is a real, unavoidable issue. Everyday, before leaving the house, many people check the time. It is something that is ingrained within most of us. Checking the air quality couldbecomeas normal as checking the time. My product presents air quality data to a user though data visualisation.

Once users input their location into the app, the data is then presented through coloured lights around the clock. The live data is taken from an air quality monitoring website [2]. The colours represent a higher or lower percentage of air pollution in the area you live. If the colours reach the warm toned, you may want to consider wearing a mask to protect yourself. If the colours are in the cool toned, you may want to spend more time outside that day. The light gently pulses,almost as though it is alive. Not only does this add to the design of the clock, but it demands attention from the user.

[1] https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/deadly-air-pollution-causes-one-29-deaths-edinburgh-1376139

[2] https://aqicn.org/sources/