Last week, we've introduced iPoo. iPoo is a simple application that helps people find washrooms near their current location if they are in a dire need to go. Currently, we've only made this application available in Canada, while focusing our efforts on Toronto (city where we are currently located).iPoo has proven to be a difficult launch for us with the main issue of not having any initial washroom data for our app. Initially we do not want users to download iPoo hoping that they will collaborate and input washrooms into our database. This idea wouldn't be wise and prevent the growth of our initial user base. Having initial washroom data, we are hoping that users would like this application and in turn spark a chain reaction where they would contribute by either reporting/rating existing washrooms and if they encounter a washroom not in our database then they would add into our database. In the end we must provide users with at least initial good quality listings of washrooms and in time they would contribute in some way to our application.
Right now, in our Toronto region, we have Starbucks, Second Cup, McDonalds, and Burger King as our main washroom locations. It also includes some non cafe/restaurant locations. This would seem like there would be a lot of washrooms listed in our Toronto region (which is true), but the problem we have with this is that not every single one of these cafe/restaurants have washrooms. So some of the places listed on there do not have washrooms and must be removed, which is the difficult part. Another issue we have in terms of usability is that in the downtown Toronto area, with the underground PATH walkway and financial/office buildings, it is proving difficult to find some of these locations as they can either be location in the PATH walkway, street level, or hidden within one of the office buildings. We would need find a solution to counteract this issue as it will pose problems to our users if they really need to go to the washroom.
Our washroom database also includes library and public park washrooms in Vancouver, library locations in both the city of Calgary and Edmonton.
So for now, with our focus in Toronto, we are hoping that we will further improve our iPoo usability, have more better quality washroom listings, and fix any known bugs with the application. We can only hope right now that people using this application to PLEASE contribute in some way to our application either by reporting, commenting/rating, and adding washrooms.
Download iPoo from Google Play Store!
Thanks!! =)
