During the building of a new museum, a huge amount of very old houses - ruins actually - has been excavated at the level of the foundations. As these very old houses' ruins are part of the history exhibited in the museum, they should be visible for the visitors. There is some place outside the museum with a balcony which allows to see some parts of the ruins. But at other places, namely outside and inside the museum, it is not possible to further use a balcony, because space is needed for the visitors.
Therefore it has been decided to use a usual steel structure with the shape of a large grid, which supports thick glass plates where the visitors can step on. Through the glass plates one may contemplate the ruins.
Therefore it has been decided to use a usual steel structure with the shape of a large grid, which supports thick glass plates where the visitors can step on. Through the glass plates one may contemplate the ruins.
But two problems arise :
* people may be surprised by the sudden height feeling when they first step onto the glass plates, and eventually fall down
* even if people are warned, they may momentarily suffer from vertigo, or at least feel unease
For the first problem a non inventive, obvious solution was found : the people are warned by several yellow warning blocks.
For the second problem, an inventive solution was found (or used if previously found by somebody else).
It is suggested to solve the second problem.
Hint : use the already introduced TRIZ tools, i.e. determine the technical contradictions, find the underlying physical contradiction, and solve it
Hint : use the already introduced TRIZ tools, i.e. determine the technical contradictions, find the underlying physical contradiction, and solve it
if people look down they can feel vertigo and they can watch the ruins
ReplyDeleteif people look up, they can't feel vertigo, but they can't watch the ruins
and we want people able to watch the ruins without vertigo.
so, let people look up to not feel vertigo, and look down to see the ruins.
Let's try to put mirrors on the ceiling. In this way, people look up to see the ruins, and don't feel vertigo...
Dear Erwan, this is not the control solution. Your proposal is theoretically interesting from the TRIZ point of view but seems to me not practical, because a secondary problem (as often in the course of problem solving or innovation) : how to make 100% sure that visitors will not look down ?
ReplyDeleteSorry : "because a secondary problem arises".
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, I am not sure that the people will feel very well with such a solution.
So, dear Erwan, please find another, more natural pair of technical contradictions which will lead you to the control solution.
The technical contradiction is that visitors need to see the ruins below their feet, but the distance beneath is too much important. So make it closer and give to each visitor small binoculars.
ReplyDeleteDear David, you have practically found the 1st technical contradiction involved in this problem. Let us write down the pair of technical contradictions describing the problem:
ReplyDeleteTC1 : If a visitor looks down, he will see the ruins, but will suffer from vertigo
TC2 : If a visitor does not look down (for instance straight away), he will not suffer from vertigo, but he will not see the ruins
Your solution of binoculars is theoretically acceptable : it eliminates vertigo through elimination of the depth impression. Good ! However, it should be tested to determine if it really works. Additionally, there arise some secondary problems :
* the width of view is reduced
* the organization of such a solution seems
expensive and complicated
* maybe it is not easy to walk with binoculars in front of the eyes
Note that there arises an additional benefit : more ruins' details are seen with the binoculars.
Please try to express a natural physical contradiction which underlies the pair of technical contradictions, and solve it !
What if visitors use a kind of periscope?
ReplyDeleteThey look horizontally at a mirror that reflects the underground thanks to 2 other mirrors...
In this case the natural physical contradiction could be "to look horizontally something that is vertical".
Am I right?
Dear Thomas, your proposed solution is interesting but this is not the control solution.
ReplyDeleteIf your proposed solution is applied, it must be repeatedly implemented in different places of the museum in order to "cover" all the ruins. This means a lot of periscopes (this is costly), and surely long queues of people waiting for the periscopes to be free. Furthermore I assume that the spectacular large view of the ruins will become not so spectacular any more.
The control solution avoids all these disadvantages, and is therefore more ideal.
Please try to find a more natural physical contradiction.
I don't see another solution than to put the ruins vertically on the wall. I know it's crazy, but how to get to that point "virtually"?
ReplyDeleteDear Thomas, there is another simple, witty and inventive solution for this problem.
ReplyDeleteThe ruins are kept in the same location as they were found. Therefore, do not focus on "verticality", this is a dead end.
Any solution?
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Any solution?
ReplyDeletePeople feel the vertigo, because there is a big deep below them. They are afraid to fall.
ReplyDeleteLet's put on the windows small dots, small enough in order not to hide the view, but big enough to be seen.
Ruins can be seen through the Windows.
Tourist will feel comfortable because they walk on a surface they can see: the small dots.
What do you think?