Sound like a great conversation… Object Oriented Deductive Reasoning mixed in with a little serialization and compounded by intention for solving encountered problems… I have seen threads on this before;-)

Thanks Carla,

I often admire the instincts of women in my job. When a female officer working for me says something like, hey chief, that guy over there might be some sort of creeper he’s doing A B or C. I definitely take it seriously and check it out. You ladies have an intuition that is usually second to none.

I admire your analytic thinking. Your theory has no doubt been the seed to produce many a needed product in this world. Alas, I go by instinct and tend toward simple products that solve problems I’ve encountered.

Great replies thanks to all.

Jim, I actually am all about new ideas and new technology. I start with the problem I discover, or the need, and then start reducing it down to the simplest most cost effective or efficient form. I have some strengths and some weaknesses when it comes to inventing. I would say my strengths are.

Conceptual thinking
Problem Solving
Decent Marketing Knowledge

My weaknesses are in the areas of

Math
Engineering
Drawings

I’ve been a security director for sixteen years and have been involved in thousands of incidents of every kind so the problem solving and the out of the box thinking is pretty fine tuned. I tend to question all assumptions which is helpful in the creative process and I think in an all conceptual sort of left handed way. I’ve only been thinking about invention ideas for maybe a year or so. Every idea I submit is all seen mentally and I don’t generally draw them out unless I need to (and it’s very ugly lol). One thing I’m noticing is that the products most sought after are of the infomercial variety in the inventing world. I have have some huge ideas about things like power generation and vehicles ect ect ect. But I think of the snuggie and it’s success, I see a blanket with sleeves that solves the problem of staying covered up on the couch and it gets selected for mass retail. So although I have some huge ideas I’m gearing at least some of my thinking towards the hyper simple and find myself seeing more simple problems to be solved. I joined here because what I can’t do or afford can be done here by the EN people. I would love to collaborate here with some people who have blueprint, mechanical and electrical engineering skills ect on some huge idea like power generation. I have the concept but I don’t have the math or the blueprint skills to just develop it on my own. Does anybody run a team forum that is closed and private? That would be a nice way to put minds together and attack say the electrical power generation problem. I have a huge concept… the end. You just name the closed forum Big Daddy or something lol. For something massive like electricity everyone splits the reward with EN and makes out more then just fine. Just a thought. Maybe EN could make a little closed hidden forum for teams and just limit access to the participants. I also love the company specific searches here. They provide the problem and we provide the solution. Thanks for taking the time to reply and happy inventing to all : )

As in your example, Darrel, when I look at a solution opportunity sometimes I see a bunch of parts to make a complex device to solve the problem. That’s been my typical eureka moment; just the sort of thing that tells my brain a solution is possible. The work comes in simplifying it away from the Goldbergian towards the cost effective.

Another processy thing is I like to ask: “Am I solving the best problem in this arena?”

Darrel, welcome to EN! You’ve missed some great discussions on similar topics, but I’ll let the other members elaborate more if they want. Now, from what I understand, you’re apparently saying to start with an idea that defines the outer surfaces of a box and then work to reduce the size of the box (improve efficiency) by reducing extraneous components of the idea until you refine the idea into its purest form. If my analysis is correct, then it seems your method of inventing is limited to finding solutions to problems or meeting needs by considering only what is already out there. In other words, your inventing by fleeting around the inner edges of technology. There’s nothing wrong with that style of inventing and there are many successful inventors using your technique, but I believe such a method would not be very effective in finding new breakthroughs in technology or in actually breaking through the edge of knowledge where it’s vital to think outside any pre-defined box. I welcome your response. One thing you’ll find out is we find ourselves waiting many times here at EN with not much going on, so we tend to create our own excitement when necessary! Best wishes for you at EN!

i stole this from Marvin… But i love it…. i seems to hold true… at least IMHO :))))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NugRZGDbPFU&...!

I feel that it depends heavily on the field in which I am contemplating.
Often times I will consider ergonomics, simplicity and durability. However I always try to keep the manufacturing process in mind.
Tooling start up and the assembly process can weigh heavily on the final consideration.