Friday, September 28, 2018
Testing Hypothesis Part 2
After conducting my last set of interviews, I determined that Red Tide outbreaks were a much larger problem then I initially thought. This made me want to find out more about how it affects individuals and the costs associated with its impact.
Who: During my first set of interviews, I determined that people living in coastal regions were the ones affected by Red Tide. However, in my second set of interviews I discovered that there were additional people affected by the outbreaks. I interviewed a set of individuals who visited coastal regions during Red Tide outbreaks and discussed the impact on their trip. Effectively the outbreaks ruined their vacation centered around the beach. This made me believe that tourism was one of the most important industries connected with these algae blooms. However, these blooms are most impactful around areas directly exposed to the beach. Therefore, communities that are several miles inland are not affected as much. This is a loss in terms of the number affected, but it helped me identify that beachfront communities are my target.
What: The impact of Red Tide varies throughout the population base on a variety of factors. My interviews identified a consistent problem with the elderly contracting pneumonia from exposure to an outbreak. I then identified that most elderly citizens are on medicare that is subsidized by the government. This made me even more confident that I could convince the government to subsidize my project in order for them to save money over time. However, I noticed that healthy adults found it more of a nuisance than an actual medical problem. I believe it would be harder to sell it to the age group 25-50 years old.
Why: The elderly and children have weaker respiratory systems and therefore are more affected by the algae blooms. However, this could be a great selling point considering the medical costs of respiratory problems created by Red Tide.
Who: During my first set of interviews, I determined that people living in coastal regions were the ones affected by Red Tide. However, in my second set of interviews I discovered that there were additional people affected by the outbreaks. I interviewed a set of individuals who visited coastal regions during Red Tide outbreaks and discussed the impact on their trip. Effectively the outbreaks ruined their vacation centered around the beach. This made me believe that tourism was one of the most important industries connected with these algae blooms. However, these blooms are most impactful around areas directly exposed to the beach. Therefore, communities that are several miles inland are not affected as much. This is a loss in terms of the number affected, but it helped me identify that beachfront communities are my target.
What: The impact of Red Tide varies throughout the population base on a variety of factors. My interviews identified a consistent problem with the elderly contracting pneumonia from exposure to an outbreak. I then identified that most elderly citizens are on medicare that is subsidized by the government. This made me even more confident that I could convince the government to subsidize my project in order for them to save money over time. However, I noticed that healthy adults found it more of a nuisance than an actual medical problem. I believe it would be harder to sell it to the age group 25-50 years old.
Why: The elderly and children have weaker respiratory systems and therefore are more affected by the algae blooms. However, this could be a great selling point considering the medical costs of respiratory problems created by Red Tide.
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Inside the Boundary
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Outside the Boundary
|
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People that are currently residing in or vacation in
beachfront communities. Due to the spread of Red Tide, these could be along
the east coast or Gulf of Mexico. Tourism was a big market that I identified
in this assignment,
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Individuals who live inland are not impacted by Red Tide
in the same way. They just tend to avoid the beach when outbreaks are occurring.
They can escape the impact because they are not directly exposed.
|
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Need centers around the respiratory problems created by
Red Tide. It also includes the financial loss of tourism declining.
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There is not as heavy of dependence on the beachfront
community. People who live further inland can continue on a regular routine.
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Respiratory problems in the elderly and children are due
to their weakened immune and respiratory systems. They have more direct
exposure.
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The lack of exposure decreases their risk for problems. Red Tide toxins cannot spread long distances in the air.
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Friday, September 21, 2018
Solution
Problem:
As I have now learned, Red Tide is becoming an increasing problem throughout the United States. Rising nutrient levels from pollution have allowed this algae to spread rapidly and bloom in large numbers. These large blooms cause many individuals respiratory problems that do not allow them to be exposed to it. Also, children and the elderly are the most susceptible to these problems associated with Red Tide. However, these are not the only problems that Red Tide can cause. They can decreased the amount of tourism to communities centered around the beaches and coastal areas due to dead marine life and the respiratory problems. This will result in harsh economic penalties if these blooms continue to occur.
How do we solve it?
After thinking through this opportunity, I don't believe that the best solution is to target the symptoms of Red Tide. There are already a multitude of companies that are specialized in respiratory therapy and devices. This high barrier to entry made me think of another idea. Instead of targeting the problems associated with Red Tide, I believe that the best idea is to tackle it head on. Currently, there are projects studying these algae blooms, but there is no published research on a preventative measure to limit its ability to reproduce. I believe that a company centered around preventing and controlling these blooms is a feasible idea. Developing an effective treatment or prevention method would save coastal areas millions of dollars in lost revenue from tourism and beach activity. Not to mention, the public would have a vested interest in the city investing in this. There is no specific protocol in place currently to control these blooms, but a regiment could be developed by studying the algae and how it reacts to different treatments. As a microbiology major, UF undergraduate labs have the technology to study organisms like K. brevis. If I can develop a way to limit its ability to rapidly reproduce without harming beneficial organisms like phytoplankton, then I could sell this service to towns that depend on water-based activities.
As I have now learned, Red Tide is becoming an increasing problem throughout the United States. Rising nutrient levels from pollution have allowed this algae to spread rapidly and bloom in large numbers. These large blooms cause many individuals respiratory problems that do not allow them to be exposed to it. Also, children and the elderly are the most susceptible to these problems associated with Red Tide. However, these are not the only problems that Red Tide can cause. They can decreased the amount of tourism to communities centered around the beaches and coastal areas due to dead marine life and the respiratory problems. This will result in harsh economic penalties if these blooms continue to occur.
How do we solve it?
After thinking through this opportunity, I don't believe that the best solution is to target the symptoms of Red Tide. There are already a multitude of companies that are specialized in respiratory therapy and devices. This high barrier to entry made me think of another idea. Instead of targeting the problems associated with Red Tide, I believe that the best idea is to tackle it head on. Currently, there are projects studying these algae blooms, but there is no published research on a preventative measure to limit its ability to reproduce. I believe that a company centered around preventing and controlling these blooms is a feasible idea. Developing an effective treatment or prevention method would save coastal areas millions of dollars in lost revenue from tourism and beach activity. Not to mention, the public would have a vested interest in the city investing in this. There is no specific protocol in place currently to control these blooms, but a regiment could be developed by studying the algae and how it reacts to different treatments. As a microbiology major, UF undergraduate labs have the technology to study organisms like K. brevis. If I can develop a way to limit its ability to rapidly reproduce without harming beneficial organisms like phytoplankton, then I could sell this service to towns that depend on water-based activities.
Testing the Hypothesis
As I discovered in my local opportunities assignment, Red Tide has become a common occurrence along the Florida coastline. However, the organism responsible for Red Tide in Florida is caused by the algae K. Brevis.
Who: Anyone who lives in a coastal region along the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean is susceptible to Red Tide outbreaks. This algae is carried by ocean current and the gulf stream from the Gulf of Mexico up the Eastern sea-border of the United States.
What: Red Tide outbreaks are becoming more frequent and severe. Not to mention, the range in which these blooms are occurring have drastically increased in recent years.
Why: Increased pollution and high nutrient levels have resulted in more frequent blooms. In addition the algae has become more resistant to different environments.
Test:
Who:
After interviewing multiple sources, I discovered that Red Tide outbreaks affect coastal towns all over the United States. I even talked to a member of my family that lives in Hilton Head, SC that expressed their recent outbreaks of Red Tide. I believe that the impact of Red Tide is even broader than I originally thought. Although this is bad for people, it is a good sign from a problem-solving perspective.
What: I set out to discover if all Red Tide blooms were a problem and the specific problems that it creates for individuals. After conducting my interviews, I discovered that mild outbreaks of Red Tide often went unnoticed by most individuals. However, the more severe cases caused by warming ocean temperatures and a plethora of available nutrients created much worse blooms. These large outbreaks caused people that I interviewed respiratory problems and even stopped some of them from bringing their children near the beach. It is very likely that the elderly and children are the most impacted by these algae blooms.
Why: My interviews didn't yield much in this category. People seemed to believe that runoff and changing water parameters were to blame for the Red Tide blooms. I will have to conduct more independent research to see if there are more contributing factors.
Overall, I discovered that the elderly and children are most affected by Red Tide blooms. This tells me that they are my target audience more than healthy middle age adults. In addition, I learned that Florida is not the only state that has problems with Red Tide. Many of my interviews were conducted on people that live in Texas, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Who: Anyone who lives in a coastal region along the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean is susceptible to Red Tide outbreaks. This algae is carried by ocean current and the gulf stream from the Gulf of Mexico up the Eastern sea-border of the United States.
What: Red Tide outbreaks are becoming more frequent and severe. Not to mention, the range in which these blooms are occurring have drastically increased in recent years.
Why: Increased pollution and high nutrient levels have resulted in more frequent blooms. In addition the algae has become more resistant to different environments.
Test:
Who:
After interviewing multiple sources, I discovered that Red Tide outbreaks affect coastal towns all over the United States. I even talked to a member of my family that lives in Hilton Head, SC that expressed their recent outbreaks of Red Tide. I believe that the impact of Red Tide is even broader than I originally thought. Although this is bad for people, it is a good sign from a problem-solving perspective.
What: I set out to discover if all Red Tide blooms were a problem and the specific problems that it creates for individuals. After conducting my interviews, I discovered that mild outbreaks of Red Tide often went unnoticed by most individuals. However, the more severe cases caused by warming ocean temperatures and a plethora of available nutrients created much worse blooms. These large outbreaks caused people that I interviewed respiratory problems and even stopped some of them from bringing their children near the beach. It is very likely that the elderly and children are the most impacted by these algae blooms.
Why: My interviews didn't yield much in this category. People seemed to believe that runoff and changing water parameters were to blame for the Red Tide blooms. I will have to conduct more independent research to see if there are more contributing factors.
Overall, I discovered that the elderly and children are most affected by Red Tide blooms. This tells me that they are my target audience more than healthy middle age adults. In addition, I learned that Florida is not the only state that has problems with Red Tide. Many of my interviews were conducted on people that live in Texas, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Friday, September 14, 2018
Economic and Regulatory Trends
Opportunity 1: Lack of knowledge cryptocurrency and blockchain technology by general public.
Link: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-ethereum-ripple-bitcoin-cash-eos-stellar-litecoin-cardano-monero-iota-price-analysis-september-14
Companies like Morgan Stanley and other large investment firms have opened up the ability to buy cryptocurrencies. However, many people don't understand the exchanges, the determination of value for a particular coin, or what blockchain technology is. This lack of knowledge can lead people to make uninformed buys that will lose them money in the long term or short term. I am aware of this opportunity because I began trading cryptocurrency over 13 months ago. There was very little information about these coins and the technology that was behind them. It took me months to get a basic understanding of the market exchanges and how to make a wise investment. I think that the prototypical customer would be an employed individual under the age of 40 with saving to invest. Cryptocurrencies are long term investments with high risk and high upside. This being the case, older individuals would not want to make investments in them due to their age. The opportunity is easy to exploit because there is not many individuals with a vast knowledge of the subject.
Opportunity 2: Rising interest rates creating an increasing demand for real estate investment
Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2018/08/28/short-term-interest-and-mortgage-rates-rising-in-sync-what-this-means-for-real-estate-investors/#6ccff81029d4
The rising short-term interest rates have resulted in a spike in mortgage rates. This is a reflection of the average Americans spending patterns and confidence in the markets. However, rising interest rates create an opportunity for investors to lock in low interest mortgages on investment properties. A likely customer is someone who has a large amount of liquid assets that can be used to make a downpayment on an investment property. It is likely that they would be under the age of 50 as real estate investments are usually long-term assets. I believe that I saw this opportunity because I understand how low interest rates can be utilized for consumers. However, investors don't like low interest rates because they don't yield good returns. I believe this opportunity will be difficult to exploit because the economy is at such a high point. Due to this, many people are making investments and this raise the price of investments like real estate prices.
Opportunity 3: California legislature working to outlaw ban on marijuana deliveries inside of Indian Wells, California.
Link: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2018/08/23/pot-deliveries-could-allowed-indian-wells/1078519002/
Currently, no delivery trucks are allowed to bring marijuana shipments into Indian Wells, California. Therefore, many users of marijuana haven't been able to take advantage of the fact that recreational marijuana is legal across California. I believe an opportunity to exploit the distribution networks exist here. Currently there are no companies or marijuana dispensaries that can deliver to this area of California which means there is a lack of competition. When this regulatory law changes, companies will have an opportunity to capture a whole new market. I personally don't know a lot about marijuana or the sale of it for recreational use. However, I have family that live in California that always discuss the massive amount of dispensaries and marijuana products that have flooded the marketplace since it was legalized.
Opportunity 4: Ban on harvesting aquarium fish from Hawaii opens door to captive-breeding of fish.
Link: http://www.petage.com/what-hawaiis-void-of-recreational-aquarium-collection-permits-means-for-the-industry/
Due to the exploitation of recreational aquarium collection permits and a failure to comply with The Hawaii Environmental Policy Act, Hawaii has stopped renewing them. There are many species that are native to the vast coral reefs of Hawaii. Therefore, there is a new opportunity to begin captive breeding popular marine fish like yellow tangs and clownfish. I believe that this opportunity exists because I have seen the lack of captive bred fish available in the marine hobby. Due to the small library of knowledge we have on many of these species, very few people in this industry have attempted to breed Hawaiian fish. I have personally noticed the prices of yellow tangs and other species collected from Hawaii begin to rise in the last year. The prototypical customer would be anyone with a large enough tank to support species like yellow tangs.
Link: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-ethereum-ripple-bitcoin-cash-eos-stellar-litecoin-cardano-monero-iota-price-analysis-september-14
Companies like Morgan Stanley and other large investment firms have opened up the ability to buy cryptocurrencies. However, many people don't understand the exchanges, the determination of value for a particular coin, or what blockchain technology is. This lack of knowledge can lead people to make uninformed buys that will lose them money in the long term or short term. I am aware of this opportunity because I began trading cryptocurrency over 13 months ago. There was very little information about these coins and the technology that was behind them. It took me months to get a basic understanding of the market exchanges and how to make a wise investment. I think that the prototypical customer would be an employed individual under the age of 40 with saving to invest. Cryptocurrencies are long term investments with high risk and high upside. This being the case, older individuals would not want to make investments in them due to their age. The opportunity is easy to exploit because there is not many individuals with a vast knowledge of the subject.
Opportunity 2: Rising interest rates creating an increasing demand for real estate investment
Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2018/08/28/short-term-interest-and-mortgage-rates-rising-in-sync-what-this-means-for-real-estate-investors/#6ccff81029d4
The rising short-term interest rates have resulted in a spike in mortgage rates. This is a reflection of the average Americans spending patterns and confidence in the markets. However, rising interest rates create an opportunity for investors to lock in low interest mortgages on investment properties. A likely customer is someone who has a large amount of liquid assets that can be used to make a downpayment on an investment property. It is likely that they would be under the age of 50 as real estate investments are usually long-term assets. I believe that I saw this opportunity because I understand how low interest rates can be utilized for consumers. However, investors don't like low interest rates because they don't yield good returns. I believe this opportunity will be difficult to exploit because the economy is at such a high point. Due to this, many people are making investments and this raise the price of investments like real estate prices.
Opportunity 3: California legislature working to outlaw ban on marijuana deliveries inside of Indian Wells, California.
Link: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2018/08/23/pot-deliveries-could-allowed-indian-wells/1078519002/
Currently, no delivery trucks are allowed to bring marijuana shipments into Indian Wells, California. Therefore, many users of marijuana haven't been able to take advantage of the fact that recreational marijuana is legal across California. I believe an opportunity to exploit the distribution networks exist here. Currently there are no companies or marijuana dispensaries that can deliver to this area of California which means there is a lack of competition. When this regulatory law changes, companies will have an opportunity to capture a whole new market. I personally don't know a lot about marijuana or the sale of it for recreational use. However, I have family that live in California that always discuss the massive amount of dispensaries and marijuana products that have flooded the marketplace since it was legalized.
Opportunity 4: Ban on harvesting aquarium fish from Hawaii opens door to captive-breeding of fish.
Link: http://www.petage.com/what-hawaiis-void-of-recreational-aquarium-collection-permits-means-for-the-industry/
Due to the exploitation of recreational aquarium collection permits and a failure to comply with The Hawaii Environmental Policy Act, Hawaii has stopped renewing them. There are many species that are native to the vast coral reefs of Hawaii. Therefore, there is a new opportunity to begin captive breeding popular marine fish like yellow tangs and clownfish. I believe that this opportunity exists because I have seen the lack of captive bred fish available in the marine hobby. Due to the small library of knowledge we have on many of these species, very few people in this industry have attempted to breed Hawaiian fish. I have personally noticed the prices of yellow tangs and other species collected from Hawaii begin to rise in the last year. The prototypical customer would be anyone with a large enough tank to support species like yellow tangs.
Local Opportunities
Article 1: Red tide may be ‘natural,' but scientists believe coastal pollution is making it worse
Link: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018&sort=YMD_date%3AD&maxresults=20&f=advanced&format=text&val-base-0=&fld-base-0=alltext&bln-base-1=and&val-base-1=pollution&fld-base-1=alltext&docref=news/16E1FC889A1D93D0
Red tide, an algae that is notorious for killing marine life, has been present in Southeastern Florida for a significant amount of time. Although red tide outbreaks have been recorded for several decades, scientists have confirmed that man-made pollution is worsening the outbreaks. Using satellite imaging and water testing, scientists have determined that high levels of nutrients worsen the spread and impact of outbreaks. The article goes on to describe how difficult it is for scientists to discuss these issues during political campaigns. Overall, the problem is the lack of regulation and surplus of nutrients that are being allowed to fuel these massive red tide outbreaks. They can cause respiratory problems in humans and have devastating impact on marine life. The people who are most directly affected are those who depend on the diverse and rich marine ecosystems that exist in South Florida. Not to mention, elderly people and people with compromised respiratory systems are also at a huge risk.
Article 2: Even after record storms, 1 in 5 Floridians say they won't evacuate for a Category 4
Link: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0910%21September%2B10&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E5CDB0D7469E40
The article discusses the lack of interest many Floridians have for hurricane evacuations. As the article title stated, 200 out of 1000 Floridians surveyed said they wouldn't evacuate for a Category 3 or 4 hurricane. The article continues to discuss the dangers of staying in the path of these large and powerful storms. However, the problem described is regarding the damages incurred and the lack of coverage by most insurance plans. This is a major problem with the average deductibles for hurricane insurance well over $5,000. In addition to this, they don't cover flood damages. As large hurricanes are becoming more frequent due to climate change, Floridians are not prepared for the damages or costs associated with them. The people facing this problem are homeowners that live in an area prone to hurricane damages like Southeastern Florida.
Article 3: Fire drills and false alarms are re-traumatizing Stoneman Douglas students, teachers
Link: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0913%21September%2B13&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E6CAD10FD95F80
After the shooting that left 17 dead, students at Stoneman Douglas High School have been repeatedly traumatized. False active shooter warnings and students pulling fire alarms like the shooter did has caused many students fear and anxiety. This article discusses a more advance fire alarm system that would limit the ability for it to be used as a weapon. The problem here is clearly that students and employees of the school don't feel safe here. The problem is most profound at this school because of the shooting that occurred, but this is not a localized issue. Anyone who works in a education environment has started to realize the flaws associated with protecting students, teachers, and employees.
Article 4: A black community ‘drowning' in gunfire wonders if it will ever ride the Parkland wave
Link: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0406%21April%2B06&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16B1F274B8352900
Shevrin Jones, a democrat representative from South Florida attempted to bring attention to the violence in underserved communities. This article discussed the attention that has been given to the Parkland Shooting and the subsequent gun reform. However, the violence in the communities that Jones is discussing will not be affected. He said, "Because we're not going to the store to buy a gun. We're going to buy them illegally." The unfortunate reality, is that the illegal sale of firearms is a large problem in South Florida. People who live in low socioeconomic areas have a higher chance of being killed or impacted by gun violence with stolen or illegally purchased firearms.
Article 5: DRUNK DRIVING - Miami-area DUI arrests plummet
Link: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0801%21August%2B01&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16D89E4C99123298
This article showcases the large drop in DUI arrests made by two Miami-Dade police departments over the past four years. Less than 600 people were arrested in 2017 for DUI which is a 60 percent decrease from a 2015 statistic. This article credits ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft for the large drop off in DUI arrests. In addition, this article also sites a more educated public as a reason for less people driving under the influence. However, it does highlight that many people driving under the influence are not caught or arrested by police. This problem is occurring across the nation, but Miami-Dade police have a hard time due to lack of resources and man-power.
Link: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018&sort=YMD_date%3AD&maxresults=20&f=advanced&format=text&val-base-0=&fld-base-0=alltext&bln-base-1=and&val-base-1=pollution&fld-base-1=alltext&docref=news/16E1FC889A1D93D0
Red tide, an algae that is notorious for killing marine life, has been present in Southeastern Florida for a significant amount of time. Although red tide outbreaks have been recorded for several decades, scientists have confirmed that man-made pollution is worsening the outbreaks. Using satellite imaging and water testing, scientists have determined that high levels of nutrients worsen the spread and impact of outbreaks. The article goes on to describe how difficult it is for scientists to discuss these issues during political campaigns. Overall, the problem is the lack of regulation and surplus of nutrients that are being allowed to fuel these massive red tide outbreaks. They can cause respiratory problems in humans and have devastating impact on marine life. The people who are most directly affected are those who depend on the diverse and rich marine ecosystems that exist in South Florida. Not to mention, elderly people and people with compromised respiratory systems are also at a huge risk.
Article 2: Even after record storms, 1 in 5 Floridians say they won't evacuate for a Category 4
Link: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0910%21September%2B10&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E5CDB0D7469E40
The article discusses the lack of interest many Floridians have for hurricane evacuations. As the article title stated, 200 out of 1000 Floridians surveyed said they wouldn't evacuate for a Category 3 or 4 hurricane. The article continues to discuss the dangers of staying in the path of these large and powerful storms. However, the problem described is regarding the damages incurred and the lack of coverage by most insurance plans. This is a major problem with the average deductibles for hurricane insurance well over $5,000. In addition to this, they don't cover flood damages. As large hurricanes are becoming more frequent due to climate change, Floridians are not prepared for the damages or costs associated with them. The people facing this problem are homeowners that live in an area prone to hurricane damages like Southeastern Florida.
Article 3: Fire drills and false alarms are re-traumatizing Stoneman Douglas students, teachers
Link: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0913%21September%2B13&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E6CAD10FD95F80
After the shooting that left 17 dead, students at Stoneman Douglas High School have been repeatedly traumatized. False active shooter warnings and students pulling fire alarms like the shooter did has caused many students fear and anxiety. This article discusses a more advance fire alarm system that would limit the ability for it to be used as a weapon. The problem here is clearly that students and employees of the school don't feel safe here. The problem is most profound at this school because of the shooting that occurred, but this is not a localized issue. Anyone who works in a education environment has started to realize the flaws associated with protecting students, teachers, and employees.
Article 4: A black community ‘drowning' in gunfire wonders if it will ever ride the Parkland wave
Link: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0406%21April%2B06&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16B1F274B8352900
Shevrin Jones, a democrat representative from South Florida attempted to bring attention to the violence in underserved communities. This article discussed the attention that has been given to the Parkland Shooting and the subsequent gun reform. However, the violence in the communities that Jones is discussing will not be affected. He said, "Because we're not going to the store to buy a gun. We're going to buy them illegally." The unfortunate reality, is that the illegal sale of firearms is a large problem in South Florida. People who live in low socioeconomic areas have a higher chance of being killed or impacted by gun violence with stolen or illegally purchased firearms.
Article 5: DRUNK DRIVING - Miami-area DUI arrests plummet
Link: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0801%21August%2B01&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16D89E4C99123298
This article showcases the large drop in DUI arrests made by two Miami-Dade police departments over the past four years. Less than 600 people were arrested in 2017 for DUI which is a 60 percent decrease from a 2015 statistic. This article credits ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft for the large drop off in DUI arrests. In addition, this article also sites a more educated public as a reason for less people driving under the influence. However, it does highlight that many people driving under the influence are not caught or arrested by police. This problem is occurring across the nation, but Miami-Dade police have a hard time due to lack of resources and man-power.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Opportunity Belief
As an individual who has been involved in the reef tank hobby for many years, I understand how important clean water is. I believe that there is a need for a store or individual that sells RODI water in Gainesville that is low in total dissolved solids (<10). Anyone who has a aquarium that is saltwater requires RODI water in order to conduct water changes and replace the water that is evaporated daily. This has always been a need of people who own or manage saltwater aquariums, but I noticed this need when I moved to Gainesville. Currently, residents of Gainesville have to travel to Ocala or Jacksonville to find reputable stores that sell RODI water. Although there are machines that can produce RODI water at your house, they retail for several hundred dollars and require expensive filter replacements. I am roughly 80 percent certain that this need exists in Gainesville and is not currently being met by local fish stores.
Iteration 1: Evan
Evan is a college student like myself that lives on campus at the University of Florida. He currently has a 15 gallon saltwater aquarium that houses corals and marine animals.
Questions:
1. How would you describe your need for RODI water?
As someone who owns a tank, I find myself constantly needing RODI water. When I need to mix new salt water for water changes, I need RODI water. I also need it on a daily basis for replacing the water that evaporates from my tank.
2. Are you constantly aware of this need?
Yes. I find myself always running low on RODI water and having to worry about where I can get it. It makes keeping my tank healthy much more stressful and difficult.
3. When did you become aware of this need?
After buying RODI water from a local fish store in Gainesville, I had a huge algae bloom. Later, I discovered that the water I had purchased was loaded with excess nutrients that severely damaged my tank's stability.
4. How are you currently addressing your need?
I either have to get water from people on the reef forum or deal with the dirty water that is sold in Gainesville. However, the first option is expensive and the second option makes more work for myself.
5. Would a water delivery service help you?
Absolutely.
Iteration 2: Tony
Tony is a local tank owner who has been in the hobby for several decades.
Questions:
1. How would you describe your need for RODI water?
Currently, I have four saltwater aquariums in my house that I maintain by myself. As a result, I go though over 50 gallons of RODI water per week. It is essential to keeping my tanks thriving.
2. Are you constantly aware of this need?
I am aware of the need, but it doesn't weigh on my mind. I have devised an easy solution.
3. Why are you not concerned about RODI water?
I invested in an RODI unit and filtration system that I can run from home. It produces more than enough RODI water to sustain my tanks.
4. Has this investment been cost effective?
Although there was a lot of up front costs, I have found that this RODI unit has actually saved me money over the past 24 months. I saved a lot of money by reusing the filters but replacing the filtration media. If you add up driving costs and the labor involved with buying from out of town stores, this is cost effective for me.
Iteration 3: Matthew
Matthew is a Alachua County Sheriff Officer. He works long hours and also has a family of 4 at home. He previously lived in Tampa and had an established tank.
1. How would you describe your need for RODI water?
Getting fresh RODI water has been extremely frustrating for me. I need it for my 60 gallon aquarium, but I don't have easy access to it.
2. Have you devised a solution for this?
Yes. Both my wife and I have Saturdays off from work. About once a month I make the drive over to Orlando and I fill up several 5 gallon containers full of RODI water from a store there. This usually last me for a few weeks, but is very pricey and time-consuming.
3. When did you become aware of the need?
After moving to Gainesville, I called around to local aquarium stores to ask if they had RODI water. The only one that had an RODI filter said that their total dissolved solids were about 100. This wasn't really an option for me.
4. How did you address this need in Tampa?
When I lived in Tampa several stores would deliver RODI water right to your door for a monthly fee. Based on how frequently you got the water and how much you had delivered the price varied. However, it was still cheaper than driving to Orlando every other week to fill up my own containers.
Overall, I learned that other people in the Gainesville area share a similar problem. Evan's situation was most relevant to mine because he is also a student. The most surprising thing I learned was that a water delivery service already existed in the Tampa area. This showed me that lack of clean RODI was previously an issue there as well. To my discouragement, Tony's investment in a personal RODI filtration system discouraged me. This told me that more people may begin to invest in their own RODI filters and bypass retailers.
I believe that roughly 50 percent of my original opportunity is still there. With RODI filters becoming more economically feasible, I believe that more hobbyists will make the investment. I believe that this feedback drastically helped me access the opportunity. Without these interviews, I would have never believed that a personal RODI filtration system would save a person money. I believe customer feedback is important to accessing opportunities. However, a few potential customers that say negative things about a business idea or possible solution shouldn't be the reason you don't pursue something. Adaptation is essential in business, but trying to change too much can be inefficient and costly to a new business or entrepreneur.
Iteration 1: Evan
Evan is a college student like myself that lives on campus at the University of Florida. He currently has a 15 gallon saltwater aquarium that houses corals and marine animals.
Questions:
1. How would you describe your need for RODI water?
As someone who owns a tank, I find myself constantly needing RODI water. When I need to mix new salt water for water changes, I need RODI water. I also need it on a daily basis for replacing the water that evaporates from my tank.
2. Are you constantly aware of this need?
Yes. I find myself always running low on RODI water and having to worry about where I can get it. It makes keeping my tank healthy much more stressful and difficult.
3. When did you become aware of this need?
After buying RODI water from a local fish store in Gainesville, I had a huge algae bloom. Later, I discovered that the water I had purchased was loaded with excess nutrients that severely damaged my tank's stability.
4. How are you currently addressing your need?
I either have to get water from people on the reef forum or deal with the dirty water that is sold in Gainesville. However, the first option is expensive and the second option makes more work for myself.
5. Would a water delivery service help you?
Absolutely.
Iteration 2: Tony
Tony is a local tank owner who has been in the hobby for several decades.
Questions:
1. How would you describe your need for RODI water?
Currently, I have four saltwater aquariums in my house that I maintain by myself. As a result, I go though over 50 gallons of RODI water per week. It is essential to keeping my tanks thriving.
2. Are you constantly aware of this need?
I am aware of the need, but it doesn't weigh on my mind. I have devised an easy solution.
3. Why are you not concerned about RODI water?
I invested in an RODI unit and filtration system that I can run from home. It produces more than enough RODI water to sustain my tanks.
4. Has this investment been cost effective?
Although there was a lot of up front costs, I have found that this RODI unit has actually saved me money over the past 24 months. I saved a lot of money by reusing the filters but replacing the filtration media. If you add up driving costs and the labor involved with buying from out of town stores, this is cost effective for me.
Iteration 3: Matthew
Matthew is a Alachua County Sheriff Officer. He works long hours and also has a family of 4 at home. He previously lived in Tampa and had an established tank.
1. How would you describe your need for RODI water?
Getting fresh RODI water has been extremely frustrating for me. I need it for my 60 gallon aquarium, but I don't have easy access to it.
2. Have you devised a solution for this?
Yes. Both my wife and I have Saturdays off from work. About once a month I make the drive over to Orlando and I fill up several 5 gallon containers full of RODI water from a store there. This usually last me for a few weeks, but is very pricey and time-consuming.
3. When did you become aware of the need?
After moving to Gainesville, I called around to local aquarium stores to ask if they had RODI water. The only one that had an RODI filter said that their total dissolved solids were about 100. This wasn't really an option for me.
4. How did you address this need in Tampa?
When I lived in Tampa several stores would deliver RODI water right to your door for a monthly fee. Based on how frequently you got the water and how much you had delivered the price varied. However, it was still cheaper than driving to Orlando every other week to fill up my own containers.
Overall, I learned that other people in the Gainesville area share a similar problem. Evan's situation was most relevant to mine because he is also a student. The most surprising thing I learned was that a water delivery service already existed in the Tampa area. This showed me that lack of clean RODI was previously an issue there as well. To my discouragement, Tony's investment in a personal RODI filtration system discouraged me. This told me that more people may begin to invest in their own RODI filters and bypass retailers.
I believe that roughly 50 percent of my original opportunity is still there. With RODI filters becoming more economically feasible, I believe that more hobbyists will make the investment. I believe that this feedback drastically helped me access the opportunity. Without these interviews, I would have never believed that a personal RODI filtration system would save a person money. I believe customer feedback is important to accessing opportunities. However, a few potential customers that say negative things about a business idea or possible solution shouldn't be the reason you don't pursue something. Adaptation is essential in business, but trying to change too much can be inefficient and costly to a new business or entrepreneur.
Entrepreneurship Story
When I was younger, my father retired from his career as an orthopedic spine surgeon. After a few years of being away from medicine, he decided he wanted to open his own non-operative practice. The area where I grew up and my parents still live has a high percentage of elderly people. Working in this community for several decades, my dad saw many people that couldn't afford surgery or were not good candidates. A high percentage of them had chronic pain conditions that were connected to their back and neck. Identifying a problem that was not being addressed, my father became trained in steroidal injections to alleviate swelling and nerve pain associated with back and neck problems. Injecting these anti-inflammatory and numbing compounds into the facet joints alleviated a lot of the problems associated with chronic back and neck conditions.
Entering into middle school, I watched my father start this business with the help of an office manager and a physician's assistant. As the years went on, he grew this small practice by adding new physicians and merging with other local doctor groups. Today, they have over 10,000 square feet of office space and over 10 full time physicians working there. Watching my dad start and expand this business inspired me. After watching this, it made me want to become a doctor and start a practice that could help those who are underserved by the medical community.
I enrolled in ENT3003 to get a better grasp on the process that is becoming an entrepreneur. Aside from the financial and accounting perspective, I wanted to know how to think like a successful entrepreneur. In addition, I had a close friend of mine who took this course in the Spring. He told me that Professor Pryor was very knowledgeable and helpful towards his students. Overall, I hope to get one step closer to achieving my dream of owning my own medical practice.
Entering into middle school, I watched my father start this business with the help of an office manager and a physician's assistant. As the years went on, he grew this small practice by adding new physicians and merging with other local doctor groups. Today, they have over 10,000 square feet of office space and over 10 full time physicians working there. Watching my dad start and expand this business inspired me. After watching this, it made me want to become a doctor and start a practice that could help those who are underserved by the medical community.
I enrolled in ENT3003 to get a better grasp on the process that is becoming an entrepreneur. Aside from the financial and accounting perspective, I wanted to know how to think like a successful entrepreneur. In addition, I had a close friend of mine who took this course in the Spring. He told me that Professor Pryor was very knowledgeable and helpful towards his students. Overall, I hope to get one step closer to achieving my dream of owning my own medical practice.
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Bug List
Bug 1: My internet speeds at my apartment drastically fluctuate throughout the day when I am trying to complete assignments.
Why? There are several hundred people trying to utilize the bandwidth at the same times as me. Therefore, the internet speeds decrease with more individuals trying to use it.
Bug 2: My saltwater aquarium had an outbreak of cyanobacteria that killed some of my corals.
Why? I was not diligent about my water change schedule and the excess nutrient build up resulted in a bloom of cyanobacteria.
Bug 3: An outbreak of White Spot Disease recently killed several of my fish in my new reef tank.
Why? Improper quarantine procedures by local retailers allow diseased fish to reach consumers. Unfortunately, a recent addition to the tank was carrying the parasite that killed many of my fish.
Bug 4: When I am playing Fortnite with my friends, it is very difficult to tell if enemies are above or below you.
Why? Unfortunately, Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, have not invested in better vertical audio technology. Therefore, the sounds made when players are above or below you are not distinguishable.
Bug 5: My scooter unexpectedly stopped working the first week of school.
Why? I neglected to take my scooter into the dealer to get the recommended service before school began.
Bug 6: My girlfriend and I tried to make brownies at my apartment. However, they came out of the oven overcooked.
Why? My oven is not a convection oven. Therefore, the temperature inside can vary by as much as 50 degrees F.
Bug 7: I went home for Labor Day weekend. The navigation told me it would take 2.5 hours to get back to Gainesville. However, it ended up taking me over 4 hours to get back to my apartment.
Why? A large wreck occurred on Interstate 75 between a semi truck and minivan. This wreck blocked several lanes on the Northbound side.
Bug 8: My labradoodle puppy peed on my new living room rug.
Why? I was doing homework and didn't take her outside to go to the bathroom when she rang her bell.
Bug 9: I ordered some textbooks off Amazon during late August. Unfortunately, they still have not been delivered to me.
Why? The courier was the USPS. They deliver to an offsite location for my apartment complex that takes several days to get to me. Not to mention, I tried to call customer service, but was unable to reach anyone.
Bug 10: I have spent 40 dollars this week on Ubers getting back and forth from the Microbiology building.
Why? The parking lot by the building is very small and doesn't have enough spots for all the students that have classes there.
Bug 11: I got caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella or my rain jacket.
Why? I didn't check the weather forecast before I left my apartment in the morning.
Bug 12: The workers at the Lowe's along 13th street couldn't help me find the 3/4 inch hose barb I was looking for.
Why? I believe that many of the workers are new or inexperienced with the plumbing department. There were no workers that had any expertise in the department I needed help in.
Bug 13: I lost a significant amount of muscle mass that I had put on during the early part of the Summer.
Why? My workout schedule remained the same, but I no longer had my mom cooking for me. As a result, my diet became less consistent which resulted in lost muscle mass.
Bug 14: I had my wireless Beats by Dre headphones stolen at the gym.
Why? I left my wallet and other belonging in a locker at Southwest Recreation without setting a combination.
Bug 15: While out to lunch, the person next to me was chewing with their mouth open obnoxiously.
Why? Many parents fail to educate their children on proper etiquette and table manners. Therefore, there are a large percentage of people that think chewing with their mouth open is acceptable.
Bug 16: I have to drive to Jacksonville or Ocala to fill up my RO water containers.
Why? The only aquarium store in Gainesville, Aquatropics, doesn't change out their filter media. As a result, their Reverse Osmosis water is still filled with nutrients and contaminants.
Bug 17: While trying to get Krishna Lunch served on the Plaza of the Americas, I have experienced unusually long wait times.
Why? Their lunches have been increasingly crowded, but they have not increased the number of lines to get served.
Bug 18: The rainy weather in Gainesville has prevented me from practicing with the Club Golf Team.
Why? Central Florida has a very rainy climate and there are no indoor practice facilities located near Gainesville.
Bug 19: I missed my first Microbiology lab section on 8/23/18.
Why? I didn't check the canvas page for the course because previous labs I had took never had meetings during the first week.
Bug 20: I wasn't able to to get into the first game against Charleston Southern this past weekend because I left my UF ID card at my apartment.
Why? I failed to make any plans prior to Saturday. As a result, I was scrambling to see what my friends were doing and left my apartment in a hurry without grabbing my Gator 1 Card.
Reflection: I took the advice to start on this list ahead of time. Therefore, I didn't have too much difficultly getting to the goal of 20 bugs. Not to mention, I had a very chaotic past two weeks so there were an abundance of things that bugged me. The most difficult part was thinking about the why behind each issues. It really encouraged me to think proactively about how these bugs can be prevented or resolved quickly.
Why? There are several hundred people trying to utilize the bandwidth at the same times as me. Therefore, the internet speeds decrease with more individuals trying to use it.
Bug 2: My saltwater aquarium had an outbreak of cyanobacteria that killed some of my corals.
Why? I was not diligent about my water change schedule and the excess nutrient build up resulted in a bloom of cyanobacteria.
Bug 3: An outbreak of White Spot Disease recently killed several of my fish in my new reef tank.
Why? Improper quarantine procedures by local retailers allow diseased fish to reach consumers. Unfortunately, a recent addition to the tank was carrying the parasite that killed many of my fish.
Bug 4: When I am playing Fortnite with my friends, it is very difficult to tell if enemies are above or below you.
Why? Unfortunately, Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, have not invested in better vertical audio technology. Therefore, the sounds made when players are above or below you are not distinguishable.
Bug 5: My scooter unexpectedly stopped working the first week of school.
Why? I neglected to take my scooter into the dealer to get the recommended service before school began.
Bug 6: My girlfriend and I tried to make brownies at my apartment. However, they came out of the oven overcooked.
Why? My oven is not a convection oven. Therefore, the temperature inside can vary by as much as 50 degrees F.
Bug 7: I went home for Labor Day weekend. The navigation told me it would take 2.5 hours to get back to Gainesville. However, it ended up taking me over 4 hours to get back to my apartment.
Why? A large wreck occurred on Interstate 75 between a semi truck and minivan. This wreck blocked several lanes on the Northbound side.
Bug 8: My labradoodle puppy peed on my new living room rug.
Why? I was doing homework and didn't take her outside to go to the bathroom when she rang her bell.
Bug 9: I ordered some textbooks off Amazon during late August. Unfortunately, they still have not been delivered to me.
Why? The courier was the USPS. They deliver to an offsite location for my apartment complex that takes several days to get to me. Not to mention, I tried to call customer service, but was unable to reach anyone.
Bug 10: I have spent 40 dollars this week on Ubers getting back and forth from the Microbiology building.
Why? The parking lot by the building is very small and doesn't have enough spots for all the students that have classes there.
Bug 11: I got caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella or my rain jacket.
Why? I didn't check the weather forecast before I left my apartment in the morning.
Bug 12: The workers at the Lowe's along 13th street couldn't help me find the 3/4 inch hose barb I was looking for.
Why? I believe that many of the workers are new or inexperienced with the plumbing department. There were no workers that had any expertise in the department I needed help in.
Bug 13: I lost a significant amount of muscle mass that I had put on during the early part of the Summer.
Why? My workout schedule remained the same, but I no longer had my mom cooking for me. As a result, my diet became less consistent which resulted in lost muscle mass.
Bug 14: I had my wireless Beats by Dre headphones stolen at the gym.
Why? I left my wallet and other belonging in a locker at Southwest Recreation without setting a combination.
Bug 15: While out to lunch, the person next to me was chewing with their mouth open obnoxiously.
Why? Many parents fail to educate their children on proper etiquette and table manners. Therefore, there are a large percentage of people that think chewing with their mouth open is acceptable.
Bug 16: I have to drive to Jacksonville or Ocala to fill up my RO water containers.
Why? The only aquarium store in Gainesville, Aquatropics, doesn't change out their filter media. As a result, their Reverse Osmosis water is still filled with nutrients and contaminants.
Bug 17: While trying to get Krishna Lunch served on the Plaza of the Americas, I have experienced unusually long wait times.
Why? Their lunches have been increasingly crowded, but they have not increased the number of lines to get served.
Bug 18: The rainy weather in Gainesville has prevented me from practicing with the Club Golf Team.
Why? Central Florida has a very rainy climate and there are no indoor practice facilities located near Gainesville.
Bug 19: I missed my first Microbiology lab section on 8/23/18.
Why? I didn't check the canvas page for the course because previous labs I had took never had meetings during the first week.
Bug 20: I wasn't able to to get into the first game against Charleston Southern this past weekend because I left my UF ID card at my apartment.
Why? I failed to make any plans prior to Saturday. As a result, I was scrambling to see what my friends were doing and left my apartment in a hurry without grabbing my Gator 1 Card.
Reflection: I took the advice to start on this list ahead of time. Therefore, I didn't have too much difficultly getting to the goal of 20 bugs. Not to mention, I had a very chaotic past two weeks so there were an abundance of things that bugged me. The most difficult part was thinking about the why behind each issues. It really encouraged me to think proactively about how these bugs can be prevented or resolved quickly.
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