Influence of analogical domains and comprehensiveness in explanation of analogy on the novelty of designs

Abstract

The overall goal of this work is to support creativity of technical products by supporting improvement of novelty of designs at the conceptual stage. In this work, use of analogy as a means of aiding creativity was studied for its influence on novelty—a central aspect of creativity. To study their influence on novelty of designs, analogies were classified on the basis of two distinct but related parameters—‘distance between the source and the target domain’ and ‘level of comprehensiveness in explanation of analogues.’ ‘Distance between the source and the target domain’ is defined here as the conceptual closeness between these two domains, on the basis of which analogies are classified as biological domain, cross-domain or in-domain analogies. ‘Level of comprehensiveness in explanation of an analogy’ is defined here as the relative depth at which an analogue is explained, on the basis of which explanation of an analogue is classified as surface, shallow (both shallow and surface are less comprehensive) or deep (more comprehensive). Five design studies have been conducted in laboratory settings to study the influence of these parameters on novelty. The major findings from the study were the following: analogies from the biological domain produced significantly greater novelty in designs over analogies from cross- and in-domain for less comprehensive explanations; analogies from cross-domain and biological domains had no significant difference in novelty in designs for more comprehensive explanations.

Appendices

Appendix 1: Problems P0–P3 and their corresponding analogical inputs

See Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Fig. 3

Problem P0 and analogies 1–3

Fig. 4

Problem P1 and biological domain analogies for problem P1

Fig. 5

Cross-domain analogies for problem P1

Fig. 6

In-domain analogies for problem P1

Fig. 7

Problem P2 and biological domain analogies for problem P2

Fig. 8

Cross-domain analogies for problem P2

Fig. 9

In-domain analogies for problem P2

Fig. 10

Problem P3 and biological domain analogies for problem P3

Fig. 11

Cross-domain analogies for problem P3

Fig. 12

In-domain analogies for problem P3

Appendix 2: Example of SAPPhIRE model

Example of cooling of body: consider a body (entity) held in a fluid environment (surrounding); body and fluid both are parts. The constant surface area of the body and the heat-transfer coefficient between the body and the surrounding are properties (organ). Let the body be at a higher temperature; the temperature difference between the body and the surroundings is the input. This input and the organs activate the convective heat-transfer effect, Q = h × A × (T _b − T _f) (physical effect), where Q rate of heat transfer, h heat-transfer coefficient, A surface area of the body, T _b, T _f temperatures of the body and the surrounding. The effect creates a heat flow from the body to the surrounding (phenomenon), causing a decrease in heat energy in the body (state change). This is interpreted as rapid cooling of the body (action) on an assumption that a decrease in heat energy decreases temperature, causing cooling (Fig. 13).

Fig. 13

SAPPhIRE model of cooling of a body

If the entity is a system (i.e., having subsystems), action of one subsystem may act as an input to another subsystem or may create objects that act as parts of a subsystem. For instance, as steam (body) cools, it may undergo the phenomenon of condensation, leading to change of its state to water, which may be interpreted as the action ‘water formation,’ thereby creating water (and ‘destroying’ steam)—a new part. Here a state change leads to change in part; since action is an interpretation of state change, one could say that the action led to change in part.

Appendix 3: Existing concepts for addressing problems P0–P3

Existing concepts for addressing problem P0:

High-pressure water-jet cleaning, suction pumps, sump wall painted with hydrophobic paint, dissolution of alum to sediment waste, chemicals to kill harmful bacteria and insects, useful bacteria that eat away waste suspended in water, filters, cleaning water through osmosis, insect repellants, sticky surfaces to attract insects and dirt to prevent them from going in water, flash lamps for killing insects.

Existing concepts for addressing problem P1:

Radiant cooling, emulsion paint that prevents heat loss, wall containing insulating material embedded inside it, removal of exhaust air, buildings made of mud, buildings with porous bricks, heat and light reflecting surfaces on buildings, phase-change material inside wall, mechanism to pour water on bricks, adjustable ventilators, wall containing chemical reactants for exothermic/endothermic material, buildings with fins, buildings made of thermally resistant material.

Existing concepts for addressing problem P2:

Porous road, pavements or tiles that have holes exposing underground soil, road constructed with porous aggregates, water channels directing water from road or roofs of homes to sump, pits for water storage under road, road with mesh structure, road with inclined surface to redirect water into conduits and sumps.

Existing concepts for addressing problem P3:

Armor with cushion material, protective shields, different types of coatings (e.g., Kevlar) on armor, gas filled armors, armor made of metal matrix composite, armor filled with non-Newtonian fluid, armor covered with bulletproof polymer glass, explosive reactive armor, non-explosive and non-energetic reactive armor, NERA, jet pack.