THE TRIZ PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS AND ITS APPLICATION TO HUMAN FACTORS AND USABILITY DESIGN AND PROBLEM SOLVING HFES BALT

1. INNOVATION-TRIZ,INC. THE TRIZ PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS AND ITS APPLICATION TO HUMAN FACTORS AND USABILITY DESIGN AND PROBLEM SOLVING HFES BALTIMORE, MD SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 ®2002 JWH Consulting and Innovation-TRIZ, Inc.

2. Jack Hipple Innovation-TRIZ, Inc. Tampa, FL 813-994-9999 jwhinnovator@earthlink.net Stan Caplan Usability Associates Rochester, NY 585-442-0499 scaplan@usabilityassociates.com YOUR WORKSHOP LEADERS

3. INTRODUCTIONS, PERCEPTIONS, AND EXPECTATIONS Experience and knowledge in human factors/ergonomics/design as well as in the areas of innovation, creativity, and TRIZ

4. OBJECTIVES • Familiarize you with the concepts of TRIZ • Ideality, resources, contradictions, patterns of invention and technological evolution • Change the way you think about problems • Introduce you to new ways to think about contradictions in ergonomics and human factors

5. AGENDA • Morning (9:00-12:00) • The basis, history, basics, and technical underpinnings of TRIZ • The basic concepts of operators, ideality, and resources • Contradictions, contradiction table, and separation principles • Application to product and workplace design problems • Afternoon (1:00-4:30) • Breakout sessions for TRIZ applications to design problems • Patterns of invention and “reverse” TRIZ for failure prediction An Six Hats and Lateral Thinking are trademarks of the Edward DeBono organization

6. BASICS OF OTHER TOOLS • Psychology more than technology • DeBono, Lateral Thinking/Six Hats™, CPS • Can discuss integration if interested • Randomness • Brainstorming, picture, etc. stimulation • Can review how to integrate if interested • Highly dependent upon facilitation skills • Fine for simple problems • Can be easily learned • Limited by knowledge in the room--TRIZ is the only innovation tool which uses the patterns of invention OUTSIDE the room as well

7. WHAT TO USE TRIZ FOR • Level 2-4 problems • 1--straightforward engineering design • 2--simple contradictions • 3--difficult design and manufacturing contradictions • 4--extremely difficult system design problems (“intestine problems”) • 5--invention of new science • Level 4 can require looking at hundreds of thousands of potential solutions and take many years of effort within an organization

8. THE OUTPUT OF THE PROCESS • Generates solution paths and concepts of solution, NOT engineering drawings and detail • A better, more clearly defined problem and project • New and nearly exhaustive set of solution concepts

9. LET’S BENCHMARK…. The New Machine

10. BENCHMARK--THE NEW MACHINE

11. WHAT IS “TRIZ” ? A Russian acronym: Theoria Resheneyva Isobretatelskehuh Zadach (Theory of Solving Problems Inventively)

12. WHAT IS “TRIZ” ? • A way of thinking • A family of tools, tool kits, and software The “way of thinking” can ALWAYS be used, but the tools in the tool kit can be selected depending the nature of the problem, time available, etc.

13. THE HISTORY OF TRIZ • A discovery of a talented patent examiner for the Russian navy, Genrich Altshuller, 1950’s • Originated from the study of several hundred thousand of the world’s most inventive patents--now in the millions • He recognized that the development of technological systems follows predictable patterns that cut across ALL areas of technology--the speed of technical evolution can be accelerated • Also recognized that problem solving principles are also predictable and repeatable--anyone can invent! • Established schools to teach after a Stalin 7 yr. prison term--deceased in 1999 at age 71

14. BASIC CONCEPTS • Systems evolve toward IDEALITY irreversibly • Using RESOURCES within the system or easily convertible • Resolving CONTRADICTIONS as they evolve • PATTERNS OF INVENTIONS/OPERATORS are constantly recognized and used

15. THINKING OUTSIDE YOUR PARADIGM SPACE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE TIME EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES SHAPE OUR BELIEF SYSTEM!!!

16. THE SOLUTION SPACE Mechanical Effects & Technology Thermo-Dynamics P roblem Chemical Effects & Technology Electrical & Magnetic Effects & Technology S olution ®Ideation International, used by permission

17. TAPPING OUR KNOWLEDGE Is All Science INDUSTRY COMPANY PERSONAL Knowable All That 1 2 3 4 5 NOTE: BRAINSTORMING, ETC. FOCUS ONLY ON USING THE INNER AREA MORE EFFECTIVELY

18. THE CHEMICAL ENGINEER’S VIEW... How does a centrifuge work?

19. INNOVATION-TRIZ,INC. THE BAKER’S VIEW The Waissenberg Effect When the motion of certain liquids is altered, the liquid achieves a highly plastic state. This state is caused by stress which is normal to the plane of the altered motion. For example, if a rotating shaft emerges from a pool of liquid, the liquid will rise along the shaft. This effect is observed in solutions, in molten polymers, and in gels of low molecular weight. The effect is used to develop extruders that do not use spiral impellers. A characteristic of this effect is that, as the speed of motion increases, the stability of the flow decreases

20. PARALLEL UNIVERSES • Many other industries or technologies face the same type of problems in a generic sense • It’s almost impossible to follow all areas of technology, read all literature, go to all meetings • Accidents or alerts sometimes change this, but it is normally not proactive in most organizations • In the most efficient problem solving, it is helpful to be aware of problem solving principles used by everyone

21. INNOVATION-TRIZ,INC. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Let’s take a look at two examples…..

22. AN OPERATOR Operator Example Specific problem Specialized solution 3x2+5x+2 = 0 x = ???? ALGEBRA DOES NOT EXIST!!

23. AN OPERATOR Operator Example Specific problem Specialized solution 3x2+5x+2 = 0 x= -1, -2/3 Trial and Error!!

24. AN OPERATOR--THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF TRIZ Operator Example Abstract problem Abstract solution ax2+bx+c = 0 x=(-b+/-b2-4ac )/2a Specific problem Specialized solution 3x2+5x+2 = 0 x= -1, -2/3 TRIZ DOES FOR PROBLEM SOLVING AND FORECASTING WHAT ALGEBRA DOES FOR EQUATION PROBLEM SOLVING

25. INNOVATION-TRIZ,INC. I HAVE TO REMOVE CORES FROM A MILLION GREEN PEPPERS…. How would I do this?

26. PATTERNS OF INVENTION Processing Sweet Peppers ®Ideation International, used by permission

27. WHAT IS THE OPERATOR? “Slowly raise pressure and suddenly reduce it” OR “accumulate energy and release it” • A path to a solution • An approach to solving a problem • A direction towards an answer

28. PATTERNS OF INVENTION • Removing stems from bell peppers • Removing shells form sunflower seeds • Cleaning filters • Unpacking parts wrapped in protective paper • Splitting diamonds along micro-cracks • Producing sugar powder from sugar crystals • Explosive depulping

29. PATTERNS OF INVENTION • Removing stems from bell peppers • Removing shells form sunflower seeds • Cleaning filters • Unpacking parts wrapped in protective paper • Splitting diamonds along micro-cracks • (+27 years after pepper patent) • Producing sugar powder from sugar crystals • Explosive depulping

30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 My Problem n Many Typical Recommendations for Solutions (Knowledge base) Many Typical Problems A large number of typical problems are available for consideration TRIZ help to marrow the search to a manageable range of typical problems For each typical problem, there are one or more potential solutions 1 2 3 To Corresponding Solutions Prism of TRIZ - Analytical tools 4 5 6 7 8 9 n My Solution ®Ideation International, used by permission

31. INNOVATION-TRIZ,INC. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFER THE PEPPER TECHNOLOLGY TO INDUSTRIAL GRINDING DIAMONDS?

32. “DEFALCATION” “The purpose is to reduce/eliminate defalcation when criminals use false ID to impersonate real customers” Does anyone know what this word means?

33. GENERICIZING OUR LANGUAGE • Defalcation • Fraud • Substitution of one thing for another Useful in internal communication, but a barrier to problem solving!

34. Dialogue box Modal User-centric Touch points Functional obviousness GUI Mental model Adduction Abduction RSI Population stereotypes Popliteal Scotopic Clo unit Sagittal plane HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS JARGON

35. THE BOTTOM LINE... MOST PROBLEMS THAT WE SOLVE AND MOST PATHS OF EVOLUTION OF TECHNICAL SYSTEMS ARE ALREADY KNOWN----THIS IS A MAJORPSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIER WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS TO RECOGNIZE OTHERS’ PROBLEMS AND TECHNOLIGIES IN GENERIC FORM (IN DISGUISE?) SOME PEOPLE MAKE A CAREER OUT OF MAKING THEIR PROBLEM SEEM TRULY UNIQE

36. TRIZ IS BOTH A MENTAL PROCESS AND A SCIENCE, AS WELL AS A SELECTION OF TOOLS IN A TOOL KIT

37. THE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS (ALGORITHM) • Envision and state ideality or the ideal final result • What are the barriers and contradictions? • What are the resources that can be used? • Develop a model of achieving ideality

38. THE TOOLS IN THE TOOL KIT • Ideal Final Result/Ideality (IFR) • Resources • Contradictions, contradiction table, and separation principles • Lines and patterns of evolution • Reverse TRIZ • ARIZ • Software

39. INNOVATION-TRIZ,INC. IDEALITY AND RESOURCES THE BASIC TRIZ PRINCIPLES THAT UNDERLIE SYSTEM EVOLUTION AND PATTERNS OF PROBLEM SOLVING

40. WHAT IS IDEALITY? Ideality All Useful Functions All HarmfulFunctions = The ideal system performs a required function without actually existing. The function is often performed using existing resources. ALL systems evolve in this direction over time by resolving contradictions. ®Ideation International--used by permission

41. CHAMBER DESTRUCTION PROBLEM Container Acid Specimen

42. INNOVATION-TRIZ,INC. DRAW A PICTURE OF IDEALITY--DON’T SOLVE THE PROBLEM (YET)! HANDOUT

43. CHAMBER DESTRUCTION PROBLEM Acid Specimen

44. INNOVATION-TRIZ,INC. RESOURCES Another fundamental TRIZ concept--it’s how we get a system to ideality What resources did you use in the corrosion problem? HANDOUT

45. CHAMBER DESTRUCTION PROBLEM Acid Specimen/ Container

46. LET’S LOOK AT WHAT WE DID • Eliminated what was not functional (the chamber was not really necessary) • Used the resources of the system at hand (more later on this topic) • Used geometric effects as resources • Used physical effects • fluidity of acid • gravity

47. EXAMPLES OF ERGONOMIC AND HUMAN FACTOR IDEALITY • The machine recognizes the user and instructs and/or orients automatically • The pedal adjusts automatically to the user

48. HOW DO WE GET TO IDEALITY? • TRIZ provides two general approaches for achieving close-to-ideal solutions (that is, solutions which do not increase system complexity): • Use of resources • Use of physical, chemical, geometrical and other effects (remember the Waissenberg effect?) -

49. WHAT’S A RESOURCE FROM A TRIZ PERSPECTIVE? • A resource: • is any substance (including waste) available in the system or its environment • has the functional and technological ability to jointly perform additional functions • is an energy reserve, free time, unoccupied space, information, etc.

50. RESOURCES -- WIRE EXAMPLE Copper Wire Problem Zone Voltage & Current Air HANDOUT ®Ideation International--used by permission