summaery2020: Projects

Project information

submitted by
Paul Sebastian Ballack

Mentors
Michaela Honauer, Prof. Dr. Eva Hornecker

Faculty:
Media

Degree programme:
Human-Computer Interaction (Master of Science (M.Sc.))

Type of project presentation
Research project

Semester
Winter semester 2020/21

Project description

In recent decades, the concept of sustainability has become increasingly important. Society is beginning to understand the impact of its behavior on nature and wildlife. Natural phenomena are increasing, water is being polluted by plastic, and animal species are dying out. My project is about the extinction of small animals such as bees, butterflies, beetles, and other insects. Their natural habitat is somewhere between weeds, wildflowers, and willows. Many people are not aware that these flowers contribute greatly to climate change. The decline in flower pollination leads to a lower O2 production, which not only is bad for the climate but also makes the soil less fertile, which in return makes it more difficult for plants to grow, animals to live and pollinators to pollinate.

I developed the BeeBox using Research through Design with a Lab approach with the goal to inspire children between 5 and 15 for sustainability in a playful way while sowing wildflowers. The product idea consists of a remote-controlled car that drops seeds when the car is being twisted strongly. For this, I bought an RC car, modified it, 3D modeled a new case as well as a seed container, exchanged the cases, added velcro at the back of the car and on the bottom of the seed container, and attached the refillable seedbox. The car can also be used to push the seeds into the soil by driving over them. This leads the seeds to grow faster.