Activity:

Identify a Problem Worth Solving - I

Instructions:

For Part 1 of the activity:

1. You will go out of the classroom, observe people, talk to them, and identify the top 3 problems that they are
facing.
2. Use the questions provided in this handout as cues on how to get this activity going.
3. You have 45 minutes to complete this activity.
4. You do not need to come back to class after completing Part 1 of the activity. Therefore, if you need more time to
come up with the top 3 problems faced by people around you, you may do so.
5. In case you have any questions, get in touch with your facilitator

Use the following questions to record your observations:

1. Go out, look around you, and identify a problem that you can spot. Explain the context as well.

Problem #1:
I can see that senior citizens find it difficult to take the overpass since it requires a lot of steps in order to cross the
road, and some people in our places are too lazy to walk across the overpass since it takes a lot of steps and makes
you tired.

Problem #2:
Increase of gasoline prices and the negative environmental impact comes from fuel consumption.

Problem #3:
Jason is a 12 year old teenager with visual impairment; he lost his sight at a very young age. Though he was able to
cope up with his academics by enrolling in school for the blind at Manila, most of the time there is always a need for
accompany whenever he was to venture outside their house, the difficulty from which most of the people with visual
impairment faces.

2. What opportunity can you perceive from the above problem?

Problem #1:
When there’s a senior citizen or some people that want to cross the road, they can take the automatic escalator, so
it will not take a long time and people are going to be safe when going to overpass. We are thinking to make the
overpass stairs automated like an escalator.

Problem #2:
We should stop depending too much to the vehicle that uses gasoline and start using electric vehicle and build
electric vehicle charging station.

Problem #3:
If we can invent a device that helps the blind people to navigate on their own through location with their other
senses.

Opportunity Discovery
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Activity:
Identify a Problem Worth Solving - I
3. Who is the Customer?

Problem #1:
All of the people including senior citizens.

Problem #2:
All people.

Problem #3:
People with visual impairment or disability (Blind people).

4. What according to the customer are the main problems?

Problem #1:
They find it difficult to take the stairs, and it consumes their energy and time. They are too lazy to walk in many
steps.

Problem #2:
According to the costumer the gasoline is really expensive, the main reason of big increase of the gasoline
price because of Ukraine war, and it can produce air pollution.

Problem #3:
The need for accompany whenever a blind person needs to venture outside their homes or to get through their
location; the danger of going outside for those with visual impairment.

5. What is the job to be done?

Problem #1:
Make the overpass stairs automated. When there are no people, the escalator will stop, and if there are people, it
will move automatically.

Problem #2:
Promote electric vehicles to convince consumers to use/buy electric vehicle and build a lot of electric
vehicle charging station.

Problem #3:
With prior knowledge to electronics, we can invent a technological cane that is equipped with GPS and gimbal
motion sensor. The customer can attach an earphone to hear the navigation guide equipped in the cane, the
navigation guide is comparable to waze but assists a particular person through walking. The gimbal motion sensor
facing forward can help them identify the proximity of the object or person that surrounds them, the motion sensor
will be equipped with a device like gimbal to help it maintain its upright position and so it will only activate when the
person or object is in front or near the device. It will be equipped with vibration that helps them identify the distance
through the intensity of the vibration.

Opportunity Discovery
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Activity:
Identify a Problem Worth Solving - I
6. What job is currently getting done?

Problem #1:
It will be easier for people to climb the overpass without getting tired and without consuming a lot of time. For the
drivers, they can drive safely without thinking that there might be some people who suddenly cross the road.

Problem #2:
They are still using the car that uses gasoline even it has a negative effect to our environment.

Problem #3:
The blind people uses a mobility crane that only guides them through touching the area around them or the places
they are going into, they have an partner that helps them know the direction they should go.

7. How is the customer getting the job done today OR how is the customer addressing this problem today?

Problem #1:
Most of the people rather cross the streets through the middle of the road where there is risk of having accidents._

Problem #2:
The most common reasons drivers avoid EVs include fear the battery will run out of charge before reaching their
destination, also known as “range anxiety,” fear of too few charging stations, long charge times, and initial higher
upfront vehicle costs.

Problem #3:
The blind people have their trusted person guide them when navigating outside their home, though most
of the time their partner is not available when needed.

8. Estimate the market size. Your assumption will do.

Problem #1:
All of the people.

Problem #2:
All people.

Problem #3:
The people with visual disability, which comprises greater than 80% in western, eastern and central sub-
Saharan Africa, while comparative rates in high-income regions of North America, Australasia, Western
Europe, and of Asia-Pacific are reported to be lower than 10%.

9. Does this seem to be a problem worth solving? Explain

Problem #1:
Yes, since there are so many people dying because of accidents they chose to cross in the wrong road instead of
walking in the overpass. For the senior citizens, they will find it easy and convenient since it’s an automatic escalator
overpass, we can also minimize road accidents and guide people to be well disciplined when crossing the streets,
roads, and highways. Overpass is important because it makes the street passable and safe for people.

Opportunity Discovery
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Activity:
Identify a Problem Worth Solving - I
Problem #2:
Yes, because we can have a cleaner environment and we can stop depending too much on gasoline.

Problem #3:
Yes, because it provides the convenience not only to the customer but also to the person who always
accompany him/her whenever he/she ventures outside. This will serve as the “eye” for the blind people, the
device from which they can trust if they are to navigate through places. This allows them to further utilize their
other senses and walk in places as if they are a capable person.

Note: If you think that this is not a problem worth solving, then you should look for another problem that you
can solve.

Opportunity Discovery
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