Week 18: Invention, Intellectual Property, and Income

Assignment of the week:

Develop a plan for dissemination of your final project.
Prepare drafts of your summary slide (presentation.png, 1920x1080) and video clip (presentation.mp4, 1080p HTML5, < ~minute, < ~10 MB) and put them in your website's root directory.

Learning outcomes:

Develop a plan to share your work
Formulate future opportunities and/or development for your final project

Requirements for the assignment:

Created a dissemination plan for your final project
Outlined future possibilities and described how to make them probabilities
Uploaded a draft summary slide and video

Invention

Overview

The Japoe Pot for Potted Plants represents a significant advancement in plant care technology. By integrating smart sensors, custom electronics, and innovative design, the system offers a reliable and user-friendly solution to the common challenges of maintaining potted plants. This invention not only enhances the convenience and effectiveness of plant care but also contributes to sustainable and efficient water usage.

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Key Features and Innovations

Automated Watering:
- Moisture Sensors: Continuously monitor soil moisture, activating the water pump when levels drop below a set threshold.
- Adjustable Threshold: Customizable moisture levels to meet different plant needs.
Custom Electronics:
- Microcontroller: Uses XIAO-ESP-C3 for reliable performance.
- Custom PCB: Integrates all components efficiently.
Advanced Design:
- 3D Printing & Laser Cutting: Creates durable, precise parts.
- Capacitive Moisture Sensor: Ensures accurate and reliable readings.
User-Friendly:
- Serial Communication: Allows real-time monitoring and debugging.
- LED Indicators: Show system status at a glance.
Cost-Effective & Scalable:
- Affordable Components: Keeps the system accessible.
- Scalable Design: Adaptable to various environments.

Benefits

Consistent Care: Promotes healthier plant growth by ensuring consistent watering.
Convenience: Simplifies plant maintenance, especially for busy or absent users.
Resource Efficiency: Conserves water by delivering precise amounts.

Project Disemmination

For now, the primary focus is on creating the Japoe Pot as a gift for my mother who is a big fan of indoor plants and also for my other relatives. This will provide valuable feedback and help me improvise my pot further. This project will be non-commercial but if the demand increases, I am planning on exploring commercial opportunities by leveraging family advocacy, Fab Lab displays, and potential partnerships.

Awareness and Outreach Strategies:
- Fab Lab Display:
  - Exhibit at Fab Lab: Set up a display of the Smart Irrigation System at the Fab Lab. This will allow visitors to see the system in action and learn about its features.
  - Informational Materials: Provide brochures or flyers detailing the system's functionality and benefits.
- Family and Relatives as Advocates:
  - Word of Mouth: Encourage my family and relatives to share their positive experiences with friends and acquaintances.
Exploring Commercial Viability:
- Assessing Demand:
  - Collect Feedback: Gather feedback from my family, relatives, and Fab Lab visitors to assess the interest and demand for the product.
- Business Model:
  - Direct Sales: If there is sufficient demand, I will consider selling the Japoe Pot.

Intellectual Property

Copyright

Copyright is the legal right of the owner of intellectual property. This means that only the original creator of the work or anyone they give authorization to, have the exclusive right to reproduce the work.

Types of Copyright

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Image Source

So, I settled on Non-Commercial Creative Commons license. Therefore, by choosing this license, others are permitted to share and expand upon my work. They are required to provide credit (attribution), avoid using it for commercial purposes, and if they modify or build upon it, they must distribute their contributions under the same license.