Abstract:
Case Study Impact Statement.
Around the World, 2.6 billion people do not have access to a toilet, leading to
the deaths of 1.5 million children per year through associated diseases (Kone,
2012). Novel approaches to this problem are needed that utilise the latest
research and technology to safely deal with human waste in developing
countries. These new sanitation methods have to be carefully developed to
meet the needs and aspirations of their target audience.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are seeking to address this with an
international competition called the ‘Reinvent the Toilet Challenge’. The winning
entries from different universities will employ the latest technology and research
to safely deal with the waste and to utilise the potential of the waste.
Executive Summary.
This thesis will provide academics and new product development (NPD)
practitioners with a strategic methodology for a design-thinking based approach
to design products for developing countries. This transfer of knowledge will be
possible by discussing potential methods before selecting the most appropriate
to utilise with the use of a Case Study to give context.
The research will commence with a scoping phase to show methods of gaining
understanding of the wider problem followed by approaches to down select and
synthesise this information into appropriate project requirements. When clear
direction has been established, the implementation and development can take
place to produce an outcome to meet the project requirements. Suitable
validation techniques will be used to ensure the success of the research.
The Case Study that will be used is focused on the development of a user
interface for a new sanitation system for developing countries. The system is
being developed by Cranfield University, as part of the Reinvent the Toilet
Challenge funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
