Post date: Sep 30, 2012 9:59:17 PM
WARSAW, POLAND (SEPTEMBER 25, 2012) (REUTERS) - A new app on the market in Poland puts toilet humour to good use as it tries to get residents of a southern town to learn more about the community's sewage system by asking: 'Where's my poo?'
A new app available in southern Poland, that isn't just toilet humour, shows interested punters the route, time and speed their 'delivery' takes on its way to the local sewage system.
A Polish water works company has designed the website and application entitled 'Where's my poo?' which allows the user to track their package from flush to sewage works, following the route and distance that their 'delivery' takes through the local area's sewers.
The unusual website's concept, according to Józef Natonek, Director of Jaworzno MPWiK (Municipal Water and Sewage Company), was primarily a means by which to encourage people to express an interest in the sewage works of the town and to provide them with environmental education.
"The application was supposed to raise people's awareness and it did just this. Thanks to this many people are talking about the sewers. How can you get people to start talking about the sewers, how can you get young people to speak about it? It's very difficult but we did it thanks to using something that interests them. It's something that you can use on your phone or your computer. They can compare with one another about the differing speeds that their packages reach their destination, so they talk about it. I am convinced that in a few years these young people will take part in some of the decisions that are made in this city, for instance about the sewage network," Natonek said.
The website and its applications are for the moment limited to the town and surrounding area of Jaworzno, in southern Poland although anyone can access the site via its web address.
Slawomir Grucel, spokesperson for MPWiK explained how the toy worked, "using the application is very simple and intuitive. All you need to do is press the 'play' button and chose any location within the city of Jaworzno or write it down in the search menu, press 'start' and you get information about the route that your package will take to the sewage works."
The local community has taken to the website with enthusiasm Kamil Gacek, a Local High School student and his friends have the app on their phones.
Gacek, while struggling not to laugh said "I would never think about how long it takes for this to get there, how long the distance is in the sewers, what speed it is going but this application simply shows that. It's interesting", to which his friend added: "and controversial."
Magdalena and Pawel, residents of Jaworzno, agreed with these views, "I'm sure that lots of people will be interested by it, by this program, I am sure. It's something new. It's a new type of technology. We can follow it, it's kind of funny. It's something new. I expect people will be interested in it, it's a good idea."
The website, which was launched in mid-September has caused a stir in Poland and can even be used on Facebook.