Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Need Identification and Analysis
- 3 Need Identification and Analysis Case Study: Packing Factor of Sand in Electrical Fuses
- 4 Introduction to Parameter Analysis
- 5 Parameter Analysis Put to Work
- 6 Conceptual Design Case Study: HVAC Airflow Sensor
- 7 Conceptual Design Case Study: Cut-Edge Sensor for Flooring Removal
- 8 Conceptual Design Case Study: Low-Cost Industrial Indexing Systems
- 9 Conceptual Design Case Study: Equal-Channel-Angular-Extrusion Metalworking
- 10 Need Analysis and Conceptual Design Case Study: “Ball Mover”
- 11 Technology Observation
- 12 Conclusion
- Index
11 - Technology Observation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Need Identification and Analysis
- 3 Need Identification and Analysis Case Study: Packing Factor of Sand in Electrical Fuses
- 4 Introduction to Parameter Analysis
- 5 Parameter Analysis Put to Work
- 6 Conceptual Design Case Study: HVAC Airflow Sensor
- 7 Conceptual Design Case Study: Cut-Edge Sensor for Flooring Removal
- 8 Conceptual Design Case Study: Low-Cost Industrial Indexing Systems
- 9 Conceptual Design Case Study: Equal-Channel-Angular-Extrusion Metalworking
- 10 Need Analysis and Conceptual Design Case Study: “Ball Mover”
- 11 Technology Observation
- 12 Conclusion
- Index
Summary
This chapter proposes and demonstrates a particular approach to observing technology as a means of enhancing the conceptual design abilities of engineers. Designers can improve their skills by continuously understanding the underlying concepts in existing designs. For this process to be beneficial, however, it must be carried out at the appropriate level. The designer who does that will be able to develop a “bag of tricks” for future use.
Improving Design Abilities
Parameter analysis is not only a framework for carrying out innovative design, but also a method of developing skills in designers. In the conceptual design process, nothing can replace that spark of creativity which ignites good ideas. Some people are naturally blessed with more creative capabilities than others, but all designers need to practice the skill of conceptual design in order to develop it to its full potential. This is analogous to a naturally able athlete persevering through many hours of practice to attain a competitively high level of performance or to a famous actor who keeps attending drama classes throughout his professional life. In other words, a good designer must “practice” continuously to develop his or her skills. Every coach has a method by which he trains his athletes, and every drama teacher uses a particular technique of drama instruction. In a similar way, parameter analysis forms a coaching method that can sharpen the designer's inventive talents and ignite the spark of creativity more regularly.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Innovative Conceptual DesignTheory and Application of Parameter Analysis, pp. 207 - 215Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2001