IDEALITY AND SYSTEM EVOLUTION

 

OVERVIEW

During their evolution, systems progress both by making basic incremental improvements (Level 1 type solutions) and by overcoming contradictions (Level 2 and higher solutions). Knowing the system trends can help you to find the most suitable methods to advance a system closer to its most ideal state.

 

IDEALITY

 

The Trend of Increasing Ideality states that over time, technical systems develop towards increased ideality.

Ideality (the value of the system) will increase if functionality increases. Ideality will also increase if the cost and harmful effects (expense) decreases.

 

Ideality is summarized by the following equation:

 

Cost is defined not only in monetary cost but, the use of any resources or materials, the number of components used, and the amount of space and time used. Harmful effects may be any negative effect associated with the system. For example, a lawnmower cuts grass but it may also be very noisy, which can be considered as a harmful effect. We can think of cost plus harmful effects as the expense we pay for a functionality.

 

The ideal system is one for which functionality is infinite and the cost payment factors are zero.

 

The ideal solution occurs when a system solves a problem by itself, for free. For example, my bicycle tire frequently gets punctures. The solution is to find a way to make a self sealing tire or one that cannot puncture.

 

8 TYPES OF SYSTEM EVOLUTION

Listed below are the original eight trends created in the 1970s plus the trend of dynamization which was added in the 1980s:

1. The Trend of Increasing Completeness of a System – A simple system will evolve to a more highly developed one by accumulating four basic “functional blocks.” It starts life with the operating part then adds another three parts usually in the following sequence: transmission, energy source, and control system.

2. Trend of Energy Conductivity – In order for a system to operate, it needs to provide some energy to flow through all parts of the system. A system will not operate unless all parts work. The energy flow includes flow of information, substances, materials, objects, etc. A system will evolve to increase useful flows of energy and reduce harmful flows. A light bulb won’t operate without the unhindered flow of electrical energy. A digital watch will not function unless it is driven by the flow of electrical power. A motor car requires energy to flow from the engine through the wheels in order to move. A freeway system won’t operate when there is a blockage on the road.

3. Trend of Increasing Coordination or Trend of Harmonization Systems – A system will evolve to be more coordinated. For example, a driver’s seat in a car developed to fit the shape of the driver.

4. Trend of Ideality – was discussed above. All trends are driven by a trend towards becoming more ideal.

5. Trend of Uneven Development of System Components – The development of a system’s parts typically grows unevenly – the more complex the system, the greater the number of irregularities.

6. Trend of Transition to the Supersystem – Over time, technical systems merge with the supersystem. As the system reaches its own limits of development in order to become more ideal, it merges with systems from outside, incorporating external elements or external components.

7. Trend of Dynamization – As a system develops it will trend towards an increase in the ability to change parameters in time (i.e, shape, temperature, size, etc. will fluctuate and adapt). It will become more dynamic and gain more freedom of movement.

8. Trend of Transition to Micro Level – The operating part or “tool” of a system begins as a macro level component or subsystem and develops towards the micro level. The operating part is the bristles on a paintbrush, the propeller of an airplane, the blade of a saw. Instead of macro objects, the work carried out by the operating part is performed by a new part or subsystem that operates at the micro level, which is at the level of particles, atoms, molecules, electrons, and particle fields.

9. Trend of Increasing Su-field Development – The evolution of technical systems will proceed in the direction of increasing Su-field development. The trend of increasing Su-field development is that incomplete, ineffective or harmful Su-fields strive to become effective complete Su-fields and that effective complete Su-fields will develop by increasing the dispersion of substances (the number and types of “things” will grow), the number of links between the elements will grow (more interactions by forming complex, double and chain Su-fields) and the responsiveness of the system will grow (the ability of the system to be controlled). Systems will also trend to more evolved field types. Mechanical fields evolve to acoustic to thermal to chemical and finally to electric and magnetic fields (sometimes the mnemonic MATCHEM is used to help remember this sequence).

 

 

 

FURTHER READING

  • Cameron, Gordon. (2010). Trizics: Teach yourself TRIZ, how to invent, innovate and solve “impossible” technical problems systematically. Retrieved November 12, 2016, from https://www.amazon.com/Trizics-yourself-impossible-technical-systematically/dp/1456319892


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