Our Reflections

Dear all,
Our Reflections can be viewed under the page 'Reflections', located at the right hand side of this site, below 'Home'.

Yours truly,
Team Plantplat

Work Progress: 7th August 2011; Two weeks from Projects Day Finals

Date: 7^th August 2011

No.	Discussed
1	Web report ·       Completed on www.wix.com and sent to IS teacher who has agreed to help us convert to html file
2	New Prototype ·       Akira has made a new prototype made of acrylic which is very strong and sturdy. It is also transparent. ·       We have decided to install our add-ons to it and present it in the Finals
3	Water sensor ·       We have bought 1 water sensor for $3, some batteries, battery connector and a box for a total of $7.20 ·        The water sensor is installed in the second prototype and it works well
4.	Rims ·       Have came out with a few rims for various sizes of plant pot ·       We will be creating more rims so as to ensure that PlantPlat can be used for all sorts of plant pots
5.	Customizable skin ·       We have created a few designs of skins which can be easily fixed on the prototype and also can be removed easily ·       Different patterns and designs of skins has been created E.g. Nature background, flowers etc.
6.	Finals presentation ·       As this is the Projects Day Finals and most probably the last chance we are going to present and promote the PlantPlat, we decided to think of a unique and different style of presenting our Prototype ·       The discussion is still ongoing

       On completing our Web Report, we felt that we are very much closer to success and completion of our project. Of course, there are still some work to do such as creating more rims, designing the customizable skins and most importantly preparing for our Finals presentation. We look forward and anticipate the Projects Day Finals, which is like…about two weeks from now. Tsk…Tsk. We are making ourselves nervous. Nevertheless, we shall work hard and hopefully, if we have a chance, we may enter the Projects Day Grand-Finals.

Project Meeting 12: Preparation for Finals

Date: 17^th July 2011

Time: 1400 - 1430

Venue: Outside Staffroom

Members : Gary, together with project Mentor

No.	Discussed
1	New suggestion: Water sensor ·       Purpose: To remind owner of plant pot that the water collected in the PlantPlat had already reached a high level and the drawer needs to be emptied ·       Initial idea: Mechanical Image: ·       Confirmed idea: Electronic device
2	Prototype 3 ·       Decided to continue upgrading on previous prototype instead of building a new one ·       Improvements: Water sensor, more aesthetical value
3	Customizable Skins ·       Decided to create customizable skin to increase the varieties of designs for PlantPlat ·       Aim: Allow customers of PlantPlat to choose any colour or design they like for their PlantPlat ·       How it works: A cardboard or plastic skin that can be fit over the PlantPlat and easily removed to replaced a different skin
4.	Rims ·       During Semi-finals, judges and audience has commented that our PlantPlat can only be used by limited number of users because our rims cannot fit and secure different sizes of plant pots ·       Decided to work on customizable rims that can be fixed and removed from the PlantPlat easily to ensure that different kinds of plant pots can be used

       We were pleased and delighted when we learnt that our group has passed the Projects Day Semi-Finals. Despite the busy schedule we are having for Term 3, our group decided not to give up on our project. Since we have come this far, why don’t we continue to achieve better results and levels? Don’t you agree? After all, there is no harmful consequences or effects in achieving a higher level. Therefore, our group has come together for brainstorming sessions to think about what else should we add on to our invention in order to serve the society and the users better. We aim to reduce the amount of faults as much as possible. Our main tasks now are to find small water sensors that can work for our PlantPlat, work on customizable skins and lastly work on the rims. If possible, we hope to make more prototypes we can add the “upgrades” on. We hope to pass the Finals with flying colours. 

Project Meeting 11

Date: 4^th July 2011

Time: 0800 - 1000

Venue: Haoyu’s House

Members : Gary, Haoyu, Boning, Akira

No.	Discussed
1	PlantPlat prototype ●       The PlantPlat is fully covered with the white PVC and is very complete ●       The PVC is waterproof ●       All gaps and openings between wood planks are fully water-tight ●       Slope is secured and there are no gaps found at the edges of the slope
2	Aesthetic design of the drawer ●       White PVC sheet is shiny and pure white ●
3	Water-proofing the prototype Leaks are impossible with PVC and silicon
4	Presentation slides ●       Have rehearsed once ●       Must add the reflections
6.	Inventor’s Log ●       Reflections are to be added

The prototype looks complete and beautiful. There’s only the Powerpoint presentation part and the Inventor’s Log left. Hopefully, we can complete them in time. We also have a mini-sized transparent plastic prototype which has a water sensor in it. I think we are quite well-prepared for the Semi-finals presentation. We will try our best for it.

Project Meeting 10

Date: 2^nd July 2011

Time: 1700 - 1830

Venue: Online

Members : Gary, Haoyu, Boning, Akira

No.	Discussed
1	Slope inside the drawer ●       Akira will be working on it
2	Aesthetic design of the drawer ●       Covering with white shiny PVC sheet as skin colour ●       Old piece of wood at the back of the PlantPlat needs to be replaced
3	Water-proofing the prototype PVC sheet is water proof Small gaps and openings along edges of the drawer are to be covered with silicon to prevent leaking
4	Presentation slides ●       Things to take note: ●       Must elaborate on the improvements made since the Preliminary Round presentation ●       Further elaborate on some of the qualities of the PlantPlat which is not included or shown in the prototype ●       Haoyu will be working on the Presentation Slides
6.	Task allocation 1.      Slope of drawer (Akira) 2.      Design of PlantPlat (Akira) ●       Aesthetic design of whole PlantPlat / outer portion ●       Smoothening of wood ●       Change of wood plank(s) 3.      Testing out of PlantPlat ●      Wednesday 4.      Presentation Powerpoint (Haoyu) 5.      Inventor’s Log (Gary)

The prototype is now very close to completion and we all look forward to it. The Semi-finals round is drawing near. We have to start reheasing for our presentation as soon as the slides are done. We would also be meeting our mentor about one or two more times to show him our powerpoint slides and our PlantPlat. I hope the completed PlantPlat would work well.

Project Meeting 9

Date: 28^th June 2011

Time: 1345 - 1415

Venue: Outside staffroom

Members : Gary, Boning, Akira, Teacher Mentor

No.

Discussed

1

PlantPlat prototype ·       Gaps and holes between wooden planks must be covered (with silicon) ·       Akira came out with another small plastic prototype ·       Decided to put the include the water sensor in the plastic prototype instead because it is transparent ·       Decided to raise the slope using a recycled plastic board ·       Gary to stick the slope on ·       Boning to smoothen the sharp and rough surfaces and edges of the PlantPlat

Finally, the prototype is produced. However, there are many faults found in the prototype that can be improved on. We were glad that Akira managed to produce a mini-sized PlantPlat which allows us to include the water sensor in. One more thing that we have to settle with is the colour of the PlantPlat which is dull and brown. Semi-finals is just round the corner. I hope we can complete the prototype in time to try it out.

Project Meeting 8

Date: 08^th June 2011

Time: 1200 - 1400

Venue: Clock Tower Benches

Members : Gary, Haoyu, Boning, Akira

No.	Discussed
1	Water Sensor ·       Together, the group brainstormed about using a floating ball as our water sensor. A stick will be punctured through it and fixed vertically in the drawer. When water level rises, the float rises with the water until a level which marks the maximum height.
2	Checking on progress of prototype ·       Haoyu has just began to trim and saw the pieces of wood to get ready to assemble them ·       Brainstormed about whether we should include water sensor in the wooden prototype as it may be a little tedious
3	Project Synopsis ·       Began to start typing out the synopsis ·       Gary to complete the synopsis and submit it at computer lab after the meeting

 As our group members had very tight schedule and many external programmes since the last meeting, not much progress could be make to the prototype. However, we managed to brainstorm for various ideas for the water sensor. We then eliminated the other choices and came to a final choice that may still receive further improvements. We also submitted the project synopsis early to prevent any rushing in future. After all, it is one less thing to worry about. However, we are glad that Haoyu has already began the piece out the pieces of planks together.