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Problem:
public washrooms are an unavoidable part of daily life, especially in schools , hostels, colleges , workplaces , etc. Nevertheless, hygiene is one of the largest issues. Most toilets are either not cleaned regularly or lack transparency about the level of cleanliness. In females, especially, this issue is critical, whereby the lack of hygienic toilets may cause infections like urinary tract infections (UTIs). On my part, there have been instances of fatigue and stress when I do not want to use a restroom during traveling or in hostels due to poor maintenance. This renders the issue to be not only a matter of comfort but also of a public health.
Solution:
My solution is HygiScan which is a smart hygiene monitoring device in the public restrooms. The device uses sensors to track :
- odor levels (ammonia-gas levels/methane-gas levels) to detect foul smell,
- Humidity sensors to check wet floors or dirty (uncleaned) floors,
- usage count sensors to monitor the number of times washroom is used and give out alerts when used heavily.
This information would be calculated and presented as Cleanliness Score on a display touchscreen outside the restroom
- green = clean,
- yellow = moderate,
- red = needs cleaning)
At the same time, cleaning staff would receive real-time alerts on an app, enabling them to clean when needed rather than adhering to a strict timetable.
Impact & Benefits:
- To the users: Guarantees of hygiene, less risk of infection, increased trust in using the common facilities
- In women and children : protection againts UTI and other health complications.
- To cleaning staff and authorities: Time saving, cost savings and better accountability.
- To the society: improved public health and higher hygiene standards.
Why it matters to me:
Being a girl, it is incredibly hard to manage in case of unhygienic toilets in the public. The fear of infections and the discomfort of withholding is exhausting. A system like HygiScan would simplify the day-to-day life and make it healthier, safer, and less stressful.
Comments
Very innovative, socially impactful, and well thought out!