Jekyll2024-01-17T12:05:21+05:30/feed.xmlFoundation for Environmental MonitoringDevloping software and hardware for environmental monitoring and management.Team ffemThe shop is now live2023-06-06T00:00:00+05:302023-06-06T00:00:00+05:30/launching-shop<p><img src="/assets/images/post_images/shop_screen.png" alt="ffem match" title="shop.ffem.io" /></p>
<p>The <a href="https://shop.ffem.io">ffem shop</a> has been launched for customers in India. The shop will feature our water and soil test kits to begin with, and some related products - water filters for example. There are plans to include test kits and devices of other manufacturers, and sell them with or without our accessories.</p>
<h2 id="why-just-in-india">Why just in India?</h2>
<p>Shipping chemicals across international borders is a very difficult task. The amount of paperwork and costs are too high for small orders. Even within India, these products can only be shipped by road, taking upto 15 to 30 days for delivery.</p>
<h2 id="a-growing-catalog">A growing catalog</h2>
<p>Currently there are a few single parameter water test kits - <a href="https://www.shop.ffem.io/product-page/fluoride-test-kit">Fluoride</a>, <a href="https://www.shop.ffem.io/product-page/nitrate-test-kit">Nitrate</a>, <a href="https://www.shop.ffem.io/product-page/total-iron-test-kit">Total Iron</a>, <a href="https://www.shop.ffem.io/product-page/residual-chlorine-test-kit">Residual Chlorine</a>, and <a href="https://www.shop.ffem.io/product-page/ph-test-kit">pH</a> for sale.</p>
<p>There is also a <a href="https://www.shop.ffem.io/product-page/soil-test-kit-npk-ph-and-oc">soil test kit</a> for macronutrients - Available Nitrogen, Avaliable Phosphorous, Available Potassium (NPK), Soil pH and Organic Carbon, up for sale.</p>
<p>In the near future we will include multiparameter water test ktis, and <a href="/launching-compost-test-kit/">the compost test kit from Hasiru Dala</a>.</p>Samuel RajkumarThe ffem shop to purchase water and soil test kits is now live at [shop.ffem.io](https://shop.ffem.io)ICCW validation for ffem’s water tests2023-01-09T00:00:00+05:302023-01-09T00:00:00+05:30/ICCW-validation<p>Testing and validation by a trusted third party are crucial in establishing a product. Field test kits, along with laboratories and IoT devices are important components in the overall water sector infrastructure, and as such need to be vetted and verified.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://iccw.world/">International Centre for Clean Water (ICCW)</a>, an IIT Madras initiative, has verified our water testing method for 17 parameters. The process was to test water samples with our kit and against the applicable standard test checking if they were within an acceptable margin. The kits were also tested for repeatability.</p>
<p>The parameters thus verified are pH, Turbidity, DO, Total Hardness, Total Alkalinity, Sulphate, Iron, Chloride, Nitrate, Fluoride, Manganese, Free residual Chlorine, Zinc, Boron, Chromium, Copper, and Zinc.</p>
<p>While cementing the confidence we have in our product, we hope that this validation would help build trust.</p>
<h3 id="disclaimers">Disclaimers</h3>
<p>ffem’s tests are no substitute for laboratory tests. Field tests have their place as do tests with standard equipment.</p>
<p>The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) does not yet have a certification process for water quality test kits.</p>Samuel Rajkumarffem's water tests now validated by ICCW.New Android App2022-11-23T00:00:00+05:302022-11-23T00:00:00+05:30/new-android-app<p><img src="/assets/images/post_images/ffem_match.png" alt="ffem match" title="ffem match screenshots" /></p>
<p>The official app for ffem’s water and soil tests will be ffem match.</p>
<p><img src="/assets/images/post_images/ffem_match_logo.webp" alt="ffem match" title="ffem match logo" /></p>
<p>The app is available for download here: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.ffem.match">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.ffem.match</a></p>
<p>Or scan the QR Code below.</p>
<p><img src="/assets/images/product_images/qrcode.png" alt="Download" title="Scan QR Code to Download" /></p>
<h2 id="doing-one-thing">Doing one thing</h2>
<p>ffem match does one thing that is help you conduct colorimetric or titration tests. The focus will remain on providing the most accurate results for these tests. ffem match will leave data collection and other aspects to other apps.</p>
<h2 id="multiple-apps">Multiple apps</h2>
<p>For various reasons, ffem had released multiple apps to cater to all use cases. We had ffem soil, ffem water, ffem lite, and ffem collect all doing similar things, and leading to confusion among our users. We just delisted all these apps from the play store.</p>
<h2 id="open-source">Open Source</h2>
<p>At this time, ffem match is an exact fork of <a href="https://github.com/foundation-for-environmental-monitoring/ffem-lite">ffem lite</a>. ffem lite will continue to remain open source. At any time, you should be able to perform any colorimetric or titration test using ffem lite.</p>
<p>ffem match will use the same core of ffem lite, but will diverge in adding features for usability and very specific tests.</p>
<p>Any changes in the color matching systems or any new class of tests released will be added to ffem lite.</p>
<h2 id="existing-users">Existing users</h2>
<p>If you are an existing user of ffem’s tests and have a need for any of the older, delisted apps, <a href="mailto:info@ffem.io">do get in touch</a>.</p>Samuel RajkumarLaunching a new Android App - ffem match, that will replace all other apps.Improved Documentation2022-11-10T00:00:00+05:302022-11-10T00:00:00+05:30/improved-documentation<p>ffem’s product documentation has always lagged in the development process, a shortcoming we are no longer willing to put up with. Printed manuals packed with kits followed by calls from customers who are lost will not the process we would like.</p>
<h2 id="the-start-page">The Start Page</h2>
<p>A benefit of having a very short domain name is that you can read it out on a phone call. Our strategy is to now make the <a href="https://ffem.io/start/">ffem.io/start</a> the page to go to after you have purchased a ffem product. From here you should be able to find information specific to the product you have, or even the specific version.</p>
<h2 id="parameters-and-bundles">Parameters and Bundles</h2>
<p>By design, the product is very modular in terms of the parameters you want to include in a testing kit. Want Organic Carbon, Arsenic, and say, Copper? No problem, we just pick the reagents and standards off the shelf while the app is the same. We would rather embrace this modularity rather than sell in only certain preconfigurations despite the challenges it brings in terms of documentation. I think it would be impossible to foresee all combinations.</p>
<p>The idea is that you come to the <a href="/start/">start page</a>, get familiar with the concept of colorimetry and / or titration, find the parameters you have asked for and proceed with calibrating and testing.</p>
<h2 id="calibration">Calibration</h2>
<p>The fact of every phone camera percieving colour in different ways has been a key challenge for us. In addition very slight differenced in the composition of the reagents across batches, or even reagent ageing, makes it difficult to preload calibrations. We may have a solution now with a simpler process to make standard solutions and the option for customers to use a minimal calibration as opposed to a full calibration while understanding the trade-off between convenience and accuracy.</p>
<h2 id="other-formats">Other Formats</h2>
<p>The very first format we must next plan for is downloadable pdfs. On the roadmap is to make short videos accompanying the text.</p>Samuel RajkumarProduct documentation is now on the website with an improved structure.Redesigning ffem2022-10-20T00:00:00+05:302022-10-20T00:00:00+05:30/redesign<h2 id="why">Why</h2>
<p>ffem has changed significanlty since its founding in 2017. I thought it is time to put up our course as public documents.</p>
<p>First let me talk about what has not changed. We continue to remain committed to working on open source hardware and software. We countinue our work on water and soil testing as key environmental elements that affect lives and livelihoods.</p>
<p>What is changing is the exclusive focus on testing products and on making just our products available. We will now also design, make and sell products that offer some environmental remediation. While these products are not out yet, it is something we are working on. We also will no longer sell our products exclusively. There are outher products that make sense for environmental monitoring and remediation created by partner organizations that we will offer for sale as well.</p>
<h2 id="jekyll-github-pages-minimal-mistakes">Jekyll, Github Pages, Minimal Mistakes</h2>
<p>I wanted to continue using Jekyll and Github Pages. I chose the Minimal Mistakes theme, because it just stays out of the way and lets me go on to do the only two things I should focus on - create posts and pages.</p>
<p>We have been guilty of lagging in documentation in the past. I hope to remedy this by creating more detailed (and versioned) product documentation here.</p>
<h2 id="shop">Shop</h2>
<p>We support ourselves on revenue from the sale of our products. The shop website will launch soon and is hosted on Wix.</p>Samuel Rajkumarffem has changed a lot since its founding. As the organization evolves, it seemed time for a complete redesign of the website.Launching Compost Tests from Hasiru Dala2022-10-02T00:00:00+05:302022-10-02T00:00:00+05:30/launching-compost-test-kit<p>On the 2nd of October, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hasiru-dala-innovations-private-limited_unwaste-our-newest-brand-is-our-offering-activity-6982285659386335232-3ADG?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android">Hasiru Dala Innovations launched the Unwaste Compost Tester</a>. ffem had been working on developing this for sometime now.</p>
<p><img src="/assets/images/post_images/unwaste_compost_launch.jpg" alt="Unwaste Compost Tester" title="Unwaste Compost Tester" /></p>
<p>The kit helps estimate Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium and Organic Carbon in compost and soil. As with our standard tests these work with Android phones, and the time to test one sample for these parameters is about 30 minutes.</p>
<p>The kit is available for preorder now at an introductory price of Rs.2000/- + 18% GST + S&H (regular price Rs.2500 + GST + S&H) by October 30th by emailing <a href="mailto:info@hasirudalainnovations.com">info@hasirudalainnovations.com</a> or WA on 9742112362.</p>
<p>We will have the kit for sale on our soon-to-be launched shop here.</p>Samuel RajkumarOn the 2nd of October 2022, Hasiru Dala Innovations launched the Unwaste Compost Tester that ffem helped develop