Page 101 - 100 Great Business Ideas: From Leading Companies Around the World (100 Great Ideas)

o materiiik to move or curl? 1.1r,lit o misc.
photo-electric cells to produce current, chemicals to
decompose, plants to grow.

Step 2: Can any of these phenomena be used directly to
shade the window? Vapors that cloud on heating?
Substances that cloud in bright light? Bi-metals warp.
Slats of a blind could warp shut.

Step 3: What phenomena respond to step 1 outputs? Gases
expand, could operate a bellows, etc. Photoelectric
current could operate a solenoid, etc. Solids melt,
effect on electric conductivity, etc.

Step 4: Can any of these phenomena be used directly to shade
the window? Bellows could operate a blind, etc.

Step 5: What phenomena respond to step 3 output? Bellows,
solenoid, etc., could operate a solenoid switch or
valve, which in turn could operate motors to draw
the blind.

In this manner a number of possible solutions can be devel-
oped for evaluation.

SUMMARY OF STEPS

1. Determine system input, desired output, and limiting require-
ments or specifications.

2. Brainstorm ways of bridging the gap between the input and the
desired output, given the limiting requirements or specifications.

3. Use the attributes of the input to suggest solutions.
4. Continually ask the question, "Can these phenomena (attributes)

lead to the desired output in any way?"
5. Evaluate the alternatives generated in this way.

46/20. LISTENING TO MUSIC

Listening to soft, calming music is a good way to "free up"
your subconscious. Music is listened to on the right side of
the brain, the more intuitive side (for right-handed people,
the opposite for left-handed people). Music also tends to
put the analytical side of the brain to sleep, allowing the in-
tuitive side to become more active.29

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