EGN 1001

INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING I
Brainstorming

Brainstorming
The first part of the any design process

is BRAIN STORMING
What is brainstorming?
Phrase popularized by Osborn in 1953 in a
book called Applied Imagination
What are the rules for brainstorming?

Guidelines
The guidelines for this process
include:
1. Pick a facilitator
2. Define the problem
3. Select a small group
4. Explain the process
5. Record ideas
6. Involve everyone
7. No evaluating
8. Eliminate duplicates
9. Pick three

Some ground rules:

1. No holding back
2. No boundaries
3. No criticizing
4. No dismissing
5. No limit
6. No restrictions
7. No shame

Questions to help new and/or different

generate ideas
Proposed Change
Substitute
Combine
Adapt

Modify, magnify, minify

Put to other uses

Eliminate

Rearrange, reverse

Description
What if used in a different material. process, person,
power source, place, or approach?
Could I combine units, purposes or ideas?
What else is like this? What other idea does it
suggest? Does the past offer a parallel? What can I
copy?
Could I add a new twist? Could I change the
meaning, color, motion, form, or shape? Could I add
something? Make stronger, higher, longer, thicker?
Could' subtract something?
Are there new ways to use this as is? If I modify it,
does it have other uses?
Can I remove a part, function, person without a
affecting outcome?
Could I interchange components? Could I use a
different layout or sequence? What if I transpose
cause and effect? Could I transpose positive and
negative? What if I turn it backward, upside down or
inside out?

Rube Goldberg Machine

Deliberately over engineered machine that performs a

very simple task in a very complicated fashion.

The machine typically utilizes a series of chain reactions

http://okgo.net/2010/03/10/this-too-shall-pass-rube-goldberg-machine-officialvideo/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdPDn1KUz_A