Product Research & Development

Session 10 Technological Creativity and Scientific Epistemology

Department of Chemical Engineering 2nd Semester 2012-2013

V. M. Naik

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3

The Exercise Is Not About Only Solving a Problem. The Objective Is to Think About How We Think While Solving a Problem Every one does not learn equally from this exercise. If you decide to give 100 % of the share of your mind, you will gain more You may approach the problem as you wish Observe how you begin Observe different approaches you try, and why you chose to use those approaches Observe how a particular approach is blocked, or comes to an end Observe how many solutions there are, and how much time you take to solve the problem, and what approach turns out to be successful

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3

The Exercise Is Not About Only Solving a Problem. The Objective Is to Think About How We Think While Solving a Problem Every one does not learn equally from this exercise. If you decide to give 100 % of the share of your mind, you will gain more You may approach the problem as you wish Observe how you begin Observe different approaches you try, and why you chose to use those approaches Observe how a particular approach is blocked, or comes to an end Observe how many solutions there are, and how much time you take to solve the problem, and what approach turns out to be successful

Like the empty space in a Chinese painting, even the time in which nothing happens has its purpose
You may even decide that the problem has no solution. Observe how long it takes for you to decide this, and think about how sure you are about your decision

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 Problem 1 Platform on Three-Glasses

Suppose you are given (a) three empty glasses, (b) one glass 4/5th filled with water, and (c ) three pencils. Suppose the empty glasses are placed upside down, near three corners of an equilateral triangle. The length of each side of the triangle is equal to the length of the pencil, as shown in the figure.
Now design a platform using 3 pencils, such that (a) the platform rests on the top of three inverted glasses, (b ) it is strong enough to support the water-filled glass placed on top of it, and (c) the water filled glass is away from any of the supporting inverted glasses by a distance of more than 1/3 the length of a pencil. No part of the platform, or no pencil should touch the ground, or pierce through the inverted glasses

Draw a schematic diagram of the top view, to show the arrangement ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------The solution to the problem should be ascertained by a physical trial

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 Problem 2 Platform on Three-Glasses

Suppose you are given (a) three empty glasses, (b) one glass 4/5th filled with water, and (c ) four table knives. Suppose the empty glasses are placed upside down, near three corners of an equilateral triangle. The length of each side of the triangle is equal to the length of the table knives, as shown in the figure.
Now design a platform using no more than 4 knives, such that (a) it rests on the top of three inverted glasses, (b ) it is strong enough to support the water-filled glass placed on top of it, and (c) the water filled glass is away from any of the supporting inverted glasses by a distance of more than 1/3 the length of a knife. No part of the platform, or no knife should touch the ground, or pierce through the inverted glasses

Draw a schematic diagram of the top view, to show the arrangement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------The solution to the problem should be ascertained by a physical trial

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

The problem has a simple solution (by hind sight). What prevents many of us from arriving at the solution quickly ?

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

The problem has a simple solution (by hind sight). What prevents many of us from arriving at the solution quickly ?
Choking of thoughts, because of perceived difficulty

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

The problem has a simple solution (by hind sight). What prevents many of us from arriving at the solution quickly ?
Choking of thoughts, because of perceived difficulty Being obsessed that all four knives have to be used

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

The problem has a simple solution (by hind sight). What prevents many of us from arriving at the solution quickly ?
Choking of thoughts, because of perceived difficulty Being obsessed that all four knives have to be used Use of logic when there is no obvious direction, for step by step progress

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

The problem has a simple solution (by hind sight). What prevents many of us from arriving at the solution quickly ?
Choking of thoughts, because of perceived difficulty Being obsessed that all four knives have to be used Use of logic when there is no obvious direction, for step by step progress Use of patterns from experience, which are not relevant

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

The problem has a simple solution (by hind sight). What prevents many of us from arriving at the solution quickly ?
Choking of thoughts, because of perceived difficulty Being obsessed that all four knives have to be used Use of logic when there is no obvious direction, for step by step progress Use of patterns from experience, which are not relevant Latching on to patterns from past experience, which do not lead to solution

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

What helps in arriving at the solution ?

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

What helps in arriving at the solution ?

Insights and intense awareness about material properties of the components of the system

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

What helps in arriving at the solution ?

Insights and intense awareness about material properties of the system Physically dirtying hands with new or unfamiliar components and the system as a whole to learn and understand its properties

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

What helps in arriving at the solution ?

Insights and intense awareness about material properties of the components of the system Physically dirtying hands with new or unfamiliar components and system as a whole to learn and understand its properties Incessant engagement and engrossment with the problem, Intellectually, Physically, and Emotionally, without bothering about wastage of ideas, and learning from each failure

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

What helps in arriving at the solution ?

Insights and intense awareness about material properties of components of the system Physically dirtying hands with new or unfamiliar components and system as a whole to learn and understand its properties Incessant engagement and engrossment with the problem, Intellectually, Physically, and Emotionally, without bothering about wastage of ideas, and learning from each failure Deferring judgment about success while trying out combination of multiple bits of a potential solution

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 The Three-Glasses Problem Observations

What helps in arriving at the solution ?
Insights and intense awareness about material properties of components of the system Physically dirtying hands with new or unfamiliar components and system as a whole to learn and understand its properties Incessant engagement and engrossment of mind & body with the problem, without bothering about wastage of ideas and learning from each failure Deferring judgment about success, while trying out combination of multiple bits of a potential solution

Solution to a Problem Demanding High Level of Creativity involves Clicking Together of Multiple Bits of Ideas for Sudden Emergence of the Right Solution Only When the Last / Critical Bit Is Locked in ; Although the Solution Is Logical by Hindsight

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 Problem 3 Platform on Four-Glasses

The problem appears similar to the previous one, except that rigidity characteristics of a triangle are different from those of a quadrangle You may approach the problem as you wish Observe how you begin Observe how much time you take to solve the problem You may even decide that the problem has no solution. Observe how long it takes for you to decide this, and think about how sure you are about your decision Again, This Is NOT an Examination The Problem Is Intended to Be an Opportunity for You to Think about Your Thinking

Practical Creativity : Exercise 3 Problem 3 Platform on Four-Glasses

Suppose you are given (a) four empty glasses, (b) one glass 4/5th filled with water, and (c ) four table knives. Suppose the empty glasses are placed upside down near four corners of a square, as shown in the figure. The length of each side of the square is equal to the length of the table knives.
Now design a platform using no more than 4 knives, such that (a) it rests on the top of four inverted glasses, (b ) it is strong enough to support the water-filled glass placed on top of it, and (c) the water filled glass is away from any of the supporting inverted glasses by a distance of more than 1/3 the length of a knife. No part of the platform, or no knife should touch the ground, or pierce through the inverted glasses

Draw a schematic diagram of the top view, to show the arrangement The solution to the problem should be ascertained by a physical trial

Observations and Learnings The four-glass problem is more challenging than the earlier one. However, it is exceptional to miss the solution. What factors make this possible ?
Prior insights and intense awareness about System properties

Observations The four-glass problem is more challenging than the earlier one. However, it is exceptional to miss the solution. What factors make this possible ?
Prior insights and intense awareness about System properties Knowledge and confidence about one effective methodology which can be followed

Observations and Learnings

The four-glass problem is more challenging than the earlier one. However, it is exceptional to miss the solution. What factors make this possible ?
Prior insights about System properties Knowledge and confidence about an effective methodology which can be followed Idea about logical direction and relevant patterns to be followed, as per this methodology

Observations and Learnings

The four-glass problem is more challenging than the earlier one. However, it is exceptional to miss the solution. What factors make this possible ?
Prior insights about System properties Knowledge and confidence about an effective methodology which can be followed Idea about logical direction and relevant patterns to be followed, as per this methodology

Observations and Learnings

The Previous Experience Helps. But More Importantly, How It Is Internalized, Decides the Ease with Which It Can be Reused
If noted as a collection of phenomena or demonstrations, it is less useful If used as a learning experience to identify the simplest and yet most effective solution to a problem, it is more useful If a generic predictive principle transcending the specific problem can be abstracted, it is most useful

Those who get hooked by a successful previous experience, but do not generalize the same, find it difficult to explore solution to the 4 glass problem

Observations and Learnings

The Previous Experience Helps. But More Importantly, How It Is Internalized, Decides the Ease with Which It Can be Reused
If noted as a collection of phenomena or demonstrations, it is less useful If used as a learning experience to identify the simplest and yet most effective solution to a problem, it is more useful If a generic predictive principle transcending the specific problem can be abstracted, it is most useful

Can You Articulate a Generic Principle Which Can Be Derived from the Three-Glasses Experience ?

Observations and Learnings

If a generic principle is abstracted, it is more useful and effective for future applications
A Working Example : A self supporting platform which is capable of resting on n inverted glasses A, B, C,(placed at the corners of a convex polygon with n sides), can be assembled using n table knives a, b, c, ., in such a way that the handle of every knife a rests on glass A , and the tip of every knife a rests on the blade of the next knife b, in a cyclic manner, thus producing a smaller internal convex polygon of interlocked knife-tips, having n sides.

Observations and Learnings Contd. As More and More Generic Principles, Decision Rules, and Predictive Models for the System Become Available The Magnitude and Nature of Creative Challenge Offered by a Problem Changes, When the R&D Activity Moves: From Discovery & Invention To Designing & Detailing To Trouble Shooting & Maintenance

Lessons to Remember:
Before Solving a Problem Assess Whether the Challenge Is TroubleShooting/Design/Invention When Decision Rules or Validated Models for the Components and the System Are Likely to Be Available, Make Extra Effort to Learn the Prior Art/Technology/Science. One Day in Library Can Save Many Man-Years of Efforts and Frustrations Create an Opportunity to Dirty Your Hands and Play with the System to Develop Intense Awareness of the Properties of Its Components as well as the System as a Whole, even if Prior Knowledge Is Available. And When the Prior Knowledge Is Not Available This Is the Only Way Forward. All New Laws of Nature and Novel Phenomena in Nature Have Been Discovered by Empirical Observations Bigger the Creative Challenge More Is the Wastage of Ideas and Trials. Deferring Judgment and Frustration-Tolerance Is the Key to Success When You Do Succeed, Abstract Decision rules/Generic Principles and Build Models of the Phenomena, for Future Use

Observations and Learnings

How Generic Is Our Generic Principle, Derived from the Solution of the Three-Glasses Problem ?
A self supporting platform which is capable of resting on n inverted glasses A, B, C,(placed at the corners of a convex polygon with n sides), can be assembled using n table knives a, b, c, ., in such a way that the handle of every knife a rests on glass A , and the tip of every knife a rests on the blade of the next knife b, in a cyclic manner, thus producing a smaller internal convex polygon of interlocked knife-tips, having n sides.

Observations and Learnings

How Generic Is Our Generic Principle, Derived from the Solution of the Three-Glasses Problem ?
A self supporting platform which is capable of resting on n inverted glasses A, B, C,(placed at the corners of a convex polygon with n sides), can be assembled using n table knives a, b, c, ., in such a way that the handle of every knife a rests on glass A , and the tip of every knife a rests on the blade of the next knife b, in a cyclic manner, thus producing a smaller internal convex polygon of interlocked knife-tips, having n sides. The Principle Is Perfectly Useful to Solve the Four, or May Be Even a Five-Glasses Problem. It Would Fail as n>6

Mathematics Is a Must. It Is the Language of Science

Observations and Learnings

There Are Remarkable Parallels Between These Creativity Exercises, and the Process by Which Science & Technology Make Progress
Empirical observations and experimental studies are necessary for discovery of novel natural phenomena Abstracting generic principles and building models of the natural phenomena helps us to predict new manifestations of the phenomena, and harnessing them for practical use Predictions and conjectures fail when the generic principles or models are stretched beyond their limits of validity. This leads to new search for more refined generic principle or more robust model or unknown natural phenomenon/law of nature underpinning the failure of the earlier predictions

We Will Study This Process in Some Other Lecture, Later

Creativity in Discovering Unknown Phenomena and Laws of Nature.. .topic to be discussed some time later
Creative discoveries are likelier when three factors converge in a person: In-depth knowledge of the field; an acute sensitivity to anomalies, oddities, inconsistencies, paradoxes, i.e. problem sensitivity; and effective problem solving heuristics.. Herbert Simon, Nobel Laureate

----------------------------------------------Next Session Onwards: Refreshing One Core Subject Area for Creation of Technological Inventions or Problem Solving