'Urban Canaries' Teach Kids About the Dangers of Unclean Air
Ellen Smith — August 8, 2017 — Life-Stages
Urban Canaries are an adorable, child-friendly gadget that falls 'ill' when exposed to unclean air.
Years ago, coal miners would bring canaries into the tunnels with them as the delicate yellow birds were more prone to gasses that are fatal to humans, like carbon monoxide. If the birds died, the workers would know their conditions were unsafe, and would remove themselves immediately. Urban canaries draw inspiration from this concept, and serve as an electronic indicator of polluted air. The adorable compact devices are embedded with pollution-detecting sensors -- if the birds are exposed to unclean air, they become 'ill.'
The state of the bird can be further assessed through an accompanied smart phone app which provides a more detailed analysis. Urban canaries were created to accompany children, acting as a resource that could help open a dialogue between the children and their parents regarding the dangers of over-exposure to polluted city air.
Years ago, coal miners would bring canaries into the tunnels with them as the delicate yellow birds were more prone to gasses that are fatal to humans, like carbon monoxide. If the birds died, the workers would know their conditions were unsafe, and would remove themselves immediately. Urban canaries draw inspiration from this concept, and serve as an electronic indicator of polluted air. The adorable compact devices are embedded with pollution-detecting sensors -- if the birds are exposed to unclean air, they become 'ill.'
The state of the bird can be further assessed through an accompanied smart phone app which provides a more detailed analysis. Urban canaries were created to accompany children, acting as a resource that could help open a dialogue between the children and their parents regarding the dangers of over-exposure to polluted city air.
Trend Themes
1. Child-friendly Pollution Detectors - Opportunity to develop innovative pollution detection devices specifically designed for children that can educate and raise awareness about air pollution.
2. Urban Canaries - Growing trend of using cute and interactive gadgets to teach children about the dangers of unclean air and the importance of monitoring pollution levels.
3. Interactive Smartphone Apps for Pollution Detection - Emerging trend of integrating smartphone apps with pollution-detecting devices to provide real-time analysis and detailed information about air quality.
Industry Implications
1. Environmental Monitoring - Opportunity for companies in the environmental monitoring industry to develop child-friendly pollution detectors and educational resources.
2. Consumer Electronics - Potential for consumer electronics companies to create innovative gadgets like Urban Canaries that combine entertainment and education to raise awareness about air pollution among children.
3. Mobile App Development - Opportunity for mobile app developers to create interactive smartphone apps that integrate with pollution-detecting devices to provide detailed analysis and information on air quality for children and their parents.
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