Some solutions which have been developed by Nature may be interpreted as solutions of physical contradictions.
The dolphin gives an illustrative example of this thinking approach. Actually, like all mammals, the dolphin must sleep (for several reasons which are today not completely elucidated). It turns out that the dolphin exhibits a surprising physiological peculiarity : it breathes consciously, voluntarily (on the contrary human beings breathe automatically, even if they possess some control on it). As was already written by a clever university Professor, the dolphin must choose between not to sleep or to die by drowning.
But in practice, the dolphin sleeps without drowning itself.
How is this dilemma solved ?
It is advised not to look for the solution into the knowledge fund. On the contrary, it is proposed to re-invent the solution found by Nature thanks to the application of TRIZ. In the present case I invite you to:
* formulate the physical contradiction
* apply the principles for the solving of physical contradictions
Clue : use a latent resource (in the TRIZ meaning) which is a structural peculiarity of the mammals' brain (and many other animals' brains)
The dolphin gives an illustrative example of this thinking approach. Actually, like all mammals, the dolphin must sleep (for several reasons which are today not completely elucidated). It turns out that the dolphin exhibits a surprising physiological peculiarity : it breathes consciously, voluntarily (on the contrary human beings breathe automatically, even if they possess some control on it). As was already written by a clever university Professor, the dolphin must choose between not to sleep or to die by drowning.
But in practice, the dolphin sleeps without drowning itself.
How is this dilemma solved ?
It is advised not to look for the solution into the knowledge fund. On the contrary, it is proposed to re-invent the solution found by Nature thanks to the application of TRIZ. In the present case I invite you to:
* formulate the physical contradiction
* apply the principles for the solving of physical contradictions
Clue : use a latent resource (in the TRIZ meaning) which is a structural peculiarity of the mammals' brain (and many other animals' brains)
So clearly a human would die by drowning. Could the dolphin be more intelligent than the human?
ReplyDeleteWhy do we sleep? Although we do not know, it seems that it is for a large part a way to regenerate the brain. So could the dolphin make sleep only half of its brain, while the second half controls the breathing and looks out for occasional sharks?
Contradiction:
ReplyDeleteThe dolphin has to breathe and has to sleep to be alive.
The dolphin breathes consciously but the dolphin must sleep submerged. Sleep has the condition of being unconscious.
Solution:
Interactions:
To sleep repairs the brain.
To sleep makes the brain unconscious.
Dividing the process in time:
Considering the brain in at least two sections (A and B) with redundant functions for sleeping process and also for breathing process, the dolphin could rest section B while it is breathing with section A and vice versa.
Ricardo.
The dolphin has to breathe and sleep in order to have life.
ReplyDeleteIf not breathing dies and die if he does not sleep well.
The dolphin can control your breathing and suggest that the dolphin controls the timing of sleep, ie sleep at intervals, so you can sleep and breathe.
Technical and physical contradiction
ReplyDeleteThe dolphin brain activity must be high to stay afloat for orientation and breathing but should be low for rest and cell regeneration.
Using some of the 40 principles of Altshuller:
1. - Segmentation: A) Divide an object into independent parts.
2. - Extraction: A) Remove the property that is affecting us.
B) Remove only the required property.
5. - Consolidation: B) Consolidate in time homogeneous or contiguous operations.
15. - Dynamism: C) Divide an object into elements capable of exchanging their relative position between them.
Result: Operations separate the hemispheres of the brain, one hemisphere rests while another continues with basic functions, breathing, metabolism, stay afloat and stay on course.
The dolphin has to sleep in order to rest, and to do so its brain
ReplyDeleteactivity has to be very low; but with a low brain activity the dolphin can't breath in order to stay alive.
The activity in the dolphin's brain has to be high enough to allow it to breath and low enough to allow it to sleep and rest.
For humans, "sleep" means reducing muscle activity and consciousness. The respiratory rate and blood pressure decrease and the eyes close.
ReplyDeleteNot all animals sleep in the same way as, in doing so, would be easy prey for predators. That led, over a slow evolutionary path, to evolve ways to relax the body but leaving "on" your brain.
A captive dolphins are seen sleeping in the same manner, with the blowhole on the surface and breathing more slowly than when they are awake. But this would not be fair as a parameter in the pools of the aquarium can not find predators which could generate a deeper rest than they do in the wild.
So if dolphins sleep underwater die for lack of oxygen, but sleep is just as dangerous floating to sleep underwater. A leading them to seek other ways to get some sleep.