1.) There are two sides to the project: the prevention side and the side of fixing the side effects. The prevention side includes working with the current companies and government of Almaty, which can be long and extensive. For this reason, we’re choosing to go on the route of cleaning the air as it is. Through our design process, we need to further research the technology behind filter technology. Specifically, after identifying the main pollutants in the air, we will need to conduct further tests on what is the best way to capture them and help clear the air. Possible technology includes a few brands that have created nasal screens that help prevent allergens, pollutants, from entering your lungs. The design is simple, yet sold costly of around $11 per package which includes 7 pairs. Our creation would be to expand on this technology and try to make them reusable since the ones Avalon the market are one time uses for 24 hours. They are expensive and not an accessible product for a population such as Kazakhstan. Through our design process we would need to find effective ways to bring down the cost, yet keep the functionality. To create a product like this we would have to first get our hands on it, and research and test its capabilities. We would need to bring this issue to our engineer peers and professors who can give us feedback and help us. We would need funding to acquire the tools necessary to test the product.
2.) Most important stakeholders
–> The citizens of Almaty
All social classes could be positively impacted
The effects of air pollution are not limited to one type of class.
67.98% are Kazakhs, while the remaining are Russian
Islamic- 70%, Christian- 30%
55 percent female, 45% male
They value their city- mountains, environment, culture
–> The state government
Wealthy→ Top of the social class
As the government, there is an interest in bettering the health of the residents.
They have the legal power
One of the issues that are causing such poor air quality is the loose regulations.
The government needs to reinforce more
The interest in making money
Stimulating the economy of Kazakhstan. ( This depends on the direction we go with our plan/ project
Connections
The legal power allows them to be connected to other people in power.
Intelligence through experience
–>The NGOs or nonprofit
Not just focused on the economy
More concerned about the impact on the common people of Almaty
Funding→ Can help with making sure that the money needed to successfully implement a plan is provided.
Possible connections
Like one of the SGDs has listed, the collaboration and connections are crucial.
Power
Can pressure the government to make sure there is change and that the air quality issues are being addressed
Influence
From personal experience, I noticed that communities tend to “trust” NGOs a lot more than organizations and
individuals directly connected with the government.
3.) Validate Project Concept, Technology, Usability, and Business Model
a.) The reactions of the people in Almaty about our idea
Making sure our idea aligns with their values and culture
Having the people accept the issue we are trying to fix and understanding that we want to help
Wanting the people to be accepting of our ideas
b.)If the technology/concept produce effective results in preventing air quality health issues
We need to run tests and to ensure that if we create a product that it does what we need it to.
If we go with our nose strips idea, making sure that they are filtering out the correct pollutants
If we create public service announcements making sure they are effective and reach the people that need
to see them
c.)Usability
Making sure it is easy for everyone that needs to be using it to use so that the product works
correctly or if we have public service announcements; making sure that they are clear and easy to
understand and noticeable
Assuring that the technology used is durable and long-lasting. If it is announcements we must assure
they will be up and sustain weather.
Instructions must be clear

4.) My one friend from Cambodia told me how his parents do not let him date at all because when he turned 18, he will have an arranged marriage set up for him. I was so surprised by this and kind of annoyed that his parents were invading his life like this. I just kept wondering “How can you truly love that person?” He then explained how every man in his family did this, especially the ones that are here in the United States already. Another alien concept that I learned from a friend was that in Japan, the doctors get paid well when their patients are healthy. I have only been exposed to the way that the United States’ healthcare is set up, so this was super interesting to me. Although it was different from what I am used to, it made me reevaluate the way the United States is set up and I began to think that Japan’s healthcare concept actually made more sense. Last but not least, another alien concept I learned from a friend is also from Cambodia. He was telling me that when a person is sick, they scratch the back of the individual’s back with a coin and vaseline. I saw pictures of the coin scratching and became concerned about whether they were actually making the situation worse because of how painful it looked and sounded.