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A Powerful Methodology for Creative Problem Solving

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Projects don't always run smoothly. Even with all the analysis and data you need at your fingertips, sometimes you just can't see a way forward. At times like these, you need to develop creative solutions to the problems you face.

Chances are you already know about brainstorming , which can help with this sort of situation. But brainstorming depends on intuition and the existing knowledge of team members, and its results are often unpredictable and unrepeatable.

TRIZ, however, is a problem-solving philosophy based on logic, data and research, rather than on intuition.

It draws on the past knowledge and ingenuity of thousands of engineers to speed up creative problem solving for project teams. Its approach brings repeatability, predictability and reliability to the problem-solving process and delivers a set of dependable tools.

This article walks you through the essentials of TRIZ.

What is TRIZ?

TRIZ is the Russian acronym for the "Theory of Inventive Problem Solving," an international system of creativity developed in the U.S.S.R. between 1946 and 1985, by engineer and scientist Genrich S. Altshuller and his colleagues.

According to TRIZ, universal principles of creativity form the basis of innovation. TRIZ identifies and codifies these principles, and uses them to make the creative process more predictable.

In other words, whatever problem you're facing, somebody, somewhere, has already solved it (or one very like it). Creative problem solving involves finding that solution and adapting it to your problem.

TRIZ is most useful in roles such as product development, design engineering, and process management. For example, Six Sigma quality improvement processes often make use of TRIZ.

The Key TRIZ Tools

Let's look at two of the central concepts behind TRIZ: generalizing problems and solutions, and eliminating contradictions.

1. Generalizing Problems and Solutions

The primary findings of TRIZ research are as follows:

• Problems and solutions are repeated across industries and sciences. By representing a problem as a "contradiction" (we explore this later in this article), you can predict creative solutions to that problem.
• Patterns of technical evolution tend to repeat themselves across industries and sciences.
• Creative innovations often use scientific effects outside the field where they were developed.

Using TRIZ consists of learning these repeating patterns of problem and solution, understanding the contradictions present in a situation, and developing new methods of using scientific effects.

You then apply the general TRIZ patterns to the specific situation that confronts you, and discover a generalized version of the problem.

Figure 1, below, illustrates this process.

Figure 1 – The TRIZ Problem-Solving Method

Here, you take the specific problem that you face and generalize it to one of the TRIZ general problems. From the TRIZ general problems, you identify the general TRIZ solution you need, and then consider how you can apply it to your specific problem.

The TRIZ databases are actually a collection of "open source" resources compiled by users and aficionados of the system (such as the 40 Principles and 76 Standard Solutions, which we look at, below).

2. Eliminating Contradictions

Another fundamental TRIZ concept is that there are fundamental contradictions at the root of most problems. In many cases, a reliable way to solve a problem is to eliminate these contradictions.

TRIZ recognizes two categories of contradictions:

• The product gets stronger (good), but the weight increases (bad).
• Service is customized to each customer (good), but the service delivery system gets complicated (bad).
• Training is comprehensive (good), but it keeps employees away from their assignments (bad).

The key technical contradictions are summarized in the TRIZ Contradiction Matrix . As with all TRIZ resources, it takes time and study to become familiar with the Contradiction Matrix.

• Software should be complex (to have many features), but simple (to be easy to learn).
• Coffee should be hot (to be enjoyed), but cool (to avoid burning the drinker).
• An umbrella should be large (to keep the rain off), but small (to be maneuverable in a crowd).

You can solve physical contradictions with the TRIZ Separation Principles . These separate your requirements according to basic categories of Space, Time and Scale.

How to Use TRIZ Principles – an Example

Begin to explore TRIZ by applying it to a simple, practical problem.

For example, consider the specific problem of a furniture store in a small building. The store wants to attract customers, so it needs to have its goods on display. But it also needs to have enough storage space to keep a range of products ready for sale.

Using TRIZ, you can establish that the store has a physical contradiction. The furniture needs to be large (to be useful and attractive), but also small (to be stored in as little space as possible). Using TRIZ, the store owners generalize this contradiction into a general problem and apply one of the 40 Principles of Problem Solving – a key TRIZ technique – to it.

They find a viable general solution in Principle 1 – Segmentation. This advocates dividing an object or system into different parts, or making it easy to take apart. This could lead the owners to devise flat-pack versions of their furniture, so that display models can take up the room that they need while inventory occupies much less space per unit. This is the specific solution.

You, too, can use the 40 Principles of Problem Solving, or the 40 Inventive Principles, and the Contradiction Matrix to help you with your problem-solving.

Five Top TRIZ Concepts and Techniques

TRIZ comes with a range of ideas and techniques beyond the basic principles outlined above. Some are conceptual and analytical, such as:

• The Law of Ideality. This states that any system tends to become more reliable throughout its life, through regular improvement.
• Functional Modeling, Analysis and Trimming. TRIZ uses these methods to define problems.
• Locating the Zones of Conflict. (This is known to Six Sigma problem-solvers as " Root Cause Analysis .")

Some are more prescriptive. For example:

• The Laws of Technical Evolution and Technology Forecasting . These categorize technical evolution by demand, function and system.
• The 76 Standard Solutions . These are specific solutions devised to a range of common problems in design and innovation.

You can use one such tool or many to solve a problem, depending on its nature.

TRIZ is a system of creative problem solving, commonly used in engineering and process management. It follows four basic steps:

• Define your specific problem.
• Find the TRIZ generalized problem that matches it.
• Find the generalized solution that solves the generalized problem.
• Adapt the generalized solution to solve your specific problem.

Most problems stem from technical or physical contradictions. Apply one of hundreds of TRIZ principles and laws to eliminate these contradictions, and you can solve the problem.

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TRIZ Method of Problem Solving explained

TRIZ Method of Problem Solving: this article explains the TRIZ Method of Problem Solving , developed by Genrich Altshuller in a practical way. Next to what it is, this article also highlights the founder, the reason of it’s excistenc, and the five basic principles and the 40 principles including practical examples. After reading you will understand the basics of this powerful problem solving tool. Enjoy reading!

What is TRIZ Method of Problem Solving?

In the 1980s the Russian engineer Genrich Altshuller developed the TRIZ theory which is an acronym for Teorya Resheniya Izobreatatelskikh Zadatch . The literal translation is: “theory of inventive problem solving” .

The most important result of the research was, that the evolution of technological progress follows a number of predictable patterns. It is an innovative way of looking at problems and solutions.

TRIZ Method of Problem Solving is not a coincidence

As a patent examiner Altshuller refused to accept the fact that inventions and creativity were random or chance acts.

His goal was to develop a standard process for successful innovations. This is how he discovered that 98% of patented innovations were based on an already known principle. Only 2% of all patents were really new innovations.

The TRIZ Method is universally applicable!

TRIZ starts from a number of principles and processes of innovation that are universally applicable. Large multinationals such as Hewlett-Packard , Boeing and Samsung have used the TRIZ method to develop new products, optimize processes and gaining a better understanding of developments and trends in the market for decades.

TRIZ has become an umbrella that covers a host of inventive concepts, tools and processes that are often used to solve difficult problems.

The TRIZ Method of Problem Solving: the basic principles

To arrive at improvement, the TRIZ method uses 5 basic principles and 40 inventive principles. It forces us to look at problems differently.

1. The ideal end result

Thinking out of the box is a good principle to achieve an ideal end result. The TRIZ Method of Problem Solving encourages people not to be satisfied too quickly with the solutions to a problem, but to be always open to even better ideas.

2. Less is more

There is not always a need to invest a lot of money to arrive at the best idea. Innovation can be realized with existing materials and sometimes the solution is close at hand.

3. Solutions already exist

The TRIZ Method of Problem Solving helps people define problems in terms of frequently used and general principles, which enables searching for solutions outside their primary field of expertise.

4. Search for fundamental contradictions

Innovating equals problem solving, which mostly exist of contradictions. When these contradictions are defined, the solution is often imminent.

5. Lines of evolution

Systems do not evolve randomly. There are fixed patterns that make the evolution of technology predictable,

The TRIZ method 40 inventive principles

Genrich Altshuller arrived at 40 inventive principles to solve complex problems. According to the TRIZ Method of Problem Solving, each innovation can be traced back to the application of one or more of these principles.

To arrive at the right application of the 40 inventive principles, it is important to formulate the right contradiction very clearly with respect to what should be improved and what should not get worse.

After this, the problem solving process can be started up.

1. Segmentation

Segment the product into independent parts as a result of which a useful or damaging quality is isolated (shop in shop).

2. Extraction

Extract a disturbing part or property from an object and/or single out the only necessary part or property (sugar free biscuits).

3. Local quality

By changing the structure of products in a specific place, the desired product is created (cap on milk carton).

4. Asymmetry

Change the shape an object from symmetrical to asymmetrical (trendy kettle).

By merging functions, properties or parts of a product in space or time, a new or unique result is created (day cream with UV filters).

6. Universality

Make a product more uniform, universal, extensive and multi-functional (hair-dryer).

7. Nested doll

Place multiple objects inside others (paper insulated coffee cups).

8. Counterweight

Compensate the negative property of the product by combining it with another object that provides a lifting force (hovercraft).

9. Preliminary counteraction

Analyse beforehand what can go wrong and take preliminary counteraction (sun milk).

10. Preliminary Action

Place object before it is needed so that it can go into action immediately from the most convenient location for their delivery (Emla numbing cream).

11. Cushion in advance

Because nothing is perfectly reliable, prepare emergency measures in advance (metallic car coating – anti-contamination).

12. Equipotentiality

Eliminate tension in or around an object’s environment (cling film).

13. The other way round

Implement an opposite or reverse action (reversible clothing).

14. Spheroidality

Replace linear parts with spherical parts (round brush head for hoover).

15. Dynamics

Make a product or property temporarily flexible or flexible for a short while (possibility to buy a car with unique stripes).

16. Partial or excessive actions

Use a little more than necessary or use a little less of the same product (high active enzymes in laundry detergents).

17. Transition into another dimension

Change the orientation of a linear product from vertical to horizontal etc. Use a different dimension or multi-storey arrangement (layered cake).

18. Mechanical vibrations

Use vibrations to achieve a positive effect (massage cushion).

19. Periodic Action

Instead of continuous actions use periodical or pulsating actions (electric toothbrush).

20. Continuity

Carry on work continuously and eliminate all idle or intermittent actions (boarding pass such as e-tickets).

21. Rushing through

Conduct a process at high speed to prevent errors (DSL internet versus fibre optic internet).

22. Blessing in disguise

Use harmful factors to add value. (3M yellow post-its with low tack adhesive).

23. Feedback

Introduce feedback by using output as a means of input, output audits can be improved (telephone number of service desk on packaging).

24. Intermediary

Merge one object temporarily with another (oven bag for cooking chicken).

25. Self-service

Make an object serve itself by performing auxiliary helpful functions (self-checkout at supermarkets).

26. Copying

Instead of a valuable or fragile object, use inexpensive copies (zirconia jewellery).

27. Cheap objects

Use inexpensive and/or disposable objects to reduce costs (disposable cutlery).

28. Replace mechanical system

Replace a mechanical system with a different shape, action or function (folding electric bikes).

29. Pneumatics and hydraulics

Replace solid parts of an object with pneumatic (air) or hydraulic (water) parts (barber chair).

30. Flexible shells

Replace traditional constructions with flexible shells (water repellent, breathable sports clothing).

31. Porous materials

Make properties of objects, systems or materials porous (read-to-use iodine band-aid).

32. Colour changes

Change the colour or other optical property of an object (Polaroid sunglasses).

33. Homogeneity

Make objects interact with a given object with identical properties (two-component adhesive).

34. Discarding and recovering

By making objects or parts of objects that have fulfilled their usefulness go away and by subsequently restoring them, they can be reused.(reusable make-up packaging)

35. Parameter changes

Change the properties of an object (steam shower).

36. Phase transitions

Use phenomena occurring during chemical phase transitions (pregnancy test).

37. Thermal expansion

Convert heat energy to mechanical energy (solar panels).

38. Strong oxidants

Reinforce oxidative processes to enhance a function or process (cryotherapy for warts).

39. Inert atmosphere

Replace a neutral environment to support a desired function (vacuum wine saver pump).

40. Composite materials

Change from homogeneous to composite materials (thermos flask).

The TRIZ Method of Problem Solving is all about Creativity

The TRIZ Method of Problem Solving stimulates creativity and the 40 inventive principles could inspire product development. Compare the TRIZ method to a brainstorming session in which participants are encouraged to emerge with ideas. The effects of the session are limited because only those attending the session make creative contributions.

It’s Your Turn

What do you think? Is the TRIZ Method of Problem Solving still applicable in today’s business companies? And if so, how do you use it and what are the general results and learning lessons? Are the basics principles the same or are there new ones?

Share your experience and knowledge in the comments box below.

More information

• Altshuller, G. , Shulyak, L., & Rodman, S. (2002). 40 Principles Extended Edition: Triz Keys to Technical Innovation . Technical Innovation Center, Inc.
• Altshuller, G. , & Shulyak, L. (1996). And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared: Triz, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving . Technical Innovation Center, Inc.
• Chen, J. L., & Liu, C. C. (2001). An eco-innovative design approach incorporating the TRIZ method without contradiction analysis . The Journal of Sustainable Product Design, 1(4), 263-272.

How to cite this article: Mulder, P. (2016). TRIZ Method . Retrieved [insert date] from ToolsHero: https://www.toolshero.com/problem-solving/triz-method/

Published on: 12/09/2016 | Last update: 12/23/2023

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Patty Mulder

Patty Mulder is an Dutch expert on Management Skills, Personal Effectiveness and Business Communication. She is also a Content writer, Business Coach and Company Trainer and lives in the Netherlands (Europe). Note: all her articles are written in Dutch and we translated her articles to English!

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3 responses to “triz method of problem solving explained”.

Congratulations! An excellent article! Very well built! Once again Congratulations! Teach “Innovation Management in Education at the Christian University” Dimitrie Cantemir, Bucharest, Romania. In the course support we included a dedicated TRIZ module. Sincerely, Univ. Lecturer. Remus CHINA

This is really good article and would like to learn more. Looks very much useful in our industry.

Thank you for your comment, Bala Krishna.

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TRIZ Inventive Problem Solving

Is your company interested in improving its products, services, and systems but not sure where to start? It is very likely that a solution to your problem has already been discovered by another industry somewhere in the world.

Many of the most innovative companies worldwide apply TRIZ inventive problem-solving methods to innovate their products as well as their processes. TRIZ (pronounced “( / ˈ t r iː z / ”) is a Russian acronym that translates to “theory of the resolution of invention-related tasks” and is “a problem-solving, analysis and forecasting tool derived from the study of patterns of invention in the global patent literature.”

History of TRIZ

TRIZ was first developed over 50 years ago by Russian inventor, Genrich Altshuller, and his colleagues. The team studied hundreds of thousands of published patents to discover patterns in the solutions and also the characteristics of the problems overcome.

The research found that problems and solutions repeated across industries and sciences. It also found that innovations often use scientific effects from outside the field in which they were developed. Somebody in a different industry or space has probably already solved your problem, or one very similar to it. TRIZ helps discover that solution and how to creatively apply it to your current problem.

This post will demonstrate how to use several of the key elements in the basic TRIZ inventive problem-solving process. This includes the contradictions matrix and the 40 Principles of TRIZ. We will share the 4-step TRIZ process and also demonstrate it with an example.

TRIZ process

TRIZ draws on the past ingenuity of many thousands of engineers and inventors to accelerate a project team’s ability to solve problems creatively. The TRIZ patent study found that inventive solutions either eliminate or resolve a contradiction without requiring a trade-off.

The 4-step procedure for TRIZ is:

• Define your problem(s). Be sure to consider the problem from the user’s point of view.
• Formulate a conflict statement with the contradictions identified: What we want to improve . . . but not at the expense of . . .
• The contradictions matrix will point to 3 or 4 of the 40 Inventive Principles of TRIZ to consider. Read the example below for more information on using these principles.
• Study these 3-4 relevant Inventive Principles and brainstorm which of the principles can apply to your problem. In this step, think like a detective. A good solution will likely come from one of the principles. Then, move forward and test the top solution .

TRIZ Example

An automotive company had a product innovation need related to the gas cap, so they brought a team together and used TRIZ to develop an innovative solution.

First, generate a problem statement : Multiple customer complaints state that gas caps are hard to install, easy to forget, make your hands smell like gas, and make the check engine light appear if not properly closed.

Next, generate a conflict statement : We want to make it easy to add gas to the automobile but not at the expense of safety and functionality .

Then, go to the contradictions matrix and select the contradictions from the list of 39 that best fit the conflict statement. We recommend an online resource rather than a complex paper-based matrix .

Now, set the contradictions. First, the feature to improve. Next, the feature to preserve. Feel free to try several options as it takes some getting used to. Here is an example of how we narrowed down our Inventive Principles for a focus:

The Contradictions Matrix points to these Inventive Principles based on the contradictions above:

Finally, expand the 3-4 Inventive Principles and brainstorm solutions. In this case, Principles 2 and 25 provided helpful ideas. When we “ single out the only necessary part (or property) of an object, ” we realize that the only function of the gas cap is to seal the gas tank filling port. So, we ask ourselves, can this be done without the cap?

Another clue came from Principle 25:

Can we “ make an object serve itself by performing auxiliary helpful functions ”?

The solution (we believe first implemented by Ford) was to use a spring-loaded flap in the fill nozzle. The flap seals the fuel tank in place of the gas cap!

We hope this simple example shows how to use the TRIZ inventive problem-solving methods to innovate. The method will support product, process, and system improvements. Some principles are fairly technical (e.g. dealing with material properties) and engineering-focused. You can review all 40 TRIZ Principles here .

TRIZ as a Competitive Advantage

It’s hard to gauge the popularity of TRIZ because it is believed that many companies do not share their use of the method. They prefer to keep it as a trade secret. However, some companies have reported use of TRIZ problem-solving methods including General Electric, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, NASA, Siemens, Ford, General Motors, Procter & Gamble, BMW, and Apple.

Samsung invested heavily in embedding TRIZ use throughout the company, training multiple employees and even the CEO. “ In 2003 TRIZ led to 50 new patents for Samsung and in 2004 one project alone, a DVD pick-up innovation, saved Samsung over $100 million. TRIZ is now an obligatory skill set if you want to advance within Samsung. ”

We love to help local innovators study their problems and apply TRIZ methodology to develop solutions. If you are in the New England region please connect with Lean East privately to discuss your challenge and see how TRIZ can help you discover an innovative solution.

Now go and use TRIZ to help invent something!

One thought on “ TRIZ Inventive Problem Solving ”

Read all the comments on the web about what goes wrong with this system and what an irritation it is to repair. This is not a good TRIZ example without also considering the failure analysis aspects of TRIZ.

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Home Blog Business What is TRIZ and How to Use it in Problem Solving?

What is TRIZ and How to Use it in Problem Solving?

There are a number of problem-solving techniques and methodologies, including brainstorming , root cause analysis , and 5 whys analysis . We covered these methods in a previous post, in which we provided you with 5 Problem Solving Strategies . While the mentioned before can be effective for problem-solving, there is a strategy that goes a step further applying logic, aided by data and research. This strategy is known as TRIZ .

What sets TRIZ apart from other methodologies of its kind is that it provides 40 principles and 76 standards which can enable you to put your problem in a box, and match a solution to resolve it.

History of TRIZ

Genrich Altshuller and his colleagues developed TRIZ. Altshuller was a science fiction author and inventor; he began to work on TRIZ in 1946. For many years TRIZ was not practiced outside the Soviet Union . 

Altshuller worked at the Caspian Sea fleet from the Soviet Navy, more specifically, the Inventions Inspection department. He believed that there were “contradictions”, which occurred when improving a parameter negatively and impacted another. This, according to Altshuller, required inventive solutions. His work was briefly interrupted due to his arrest in 1950. He was sentenced to 25 years due to the letters he wrote to Stalin, top government officials, and newspapers, criticizing some decisions made by the Soviet Government. He resumed his work after he was freed in 1953, after the death of Stalin.

The first paper on TRIZ was published in 1956, and Altshuller expanded his work across the USSR till the 1980s. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the concept caught up in other countries, thanks to Soviet emigrants reaching other countries. In 1995, the Altshuller Institute for TRIZ Studies at Boston was established in the United States.

TRIZ has resulted in the birth of hundreds of thousands of inventions by being the base of extensive research across different fields.

What is the TRIZ Method for Problem Solving?

TRIZ is a Russian acronym for “ teoriya resheniya izobretatelskikh zadatch “, which translates in English as the “ theory of inventive problem solving “.

Altshuller lamented that while sailors had maps, the same cannot be said for inventors. Therefore, he developed a methodology that codifies creativity principles forming the basis of the invention. In other words, TRIZ offers generalized solutions for generalized problems. Consequently, they can be matched to your issue, because the problem you face has likely been faced by someone else previously. Applying the solution used back then, and adapting it to your problem, you can reach a solution.

TRIZ is widely used in design engineering, process management and the development of products. Some of the world’s most renowned companies that have used TRIZ in projects include Ford, General Electric, Samsung, LG, Intel, Kodak, Procter & Gamble, Motorola, HP Rolls-Royce..

In 2003, Samsung had 50 patents owing to TRIZ and saved $100 million the following year due to a TRIZ project.

Explanation of the TRIZ Concept by Genrich Altshuller

The video below shows Genrich Altshuller explaining the concept behind TRIZ to students.

Central Concepts of TRIZ

Let’s explore the two central concepts associated with the theory of inventive problem solving, i.e. generalizing problems and solutions & contradictions.

Generalizing Problems and Solutions

The basic concept behind TRIZ, based on research findings, implies that problems and solutions repeat themselves, they repeat across industries. These problems are contradictions that can be resolved using creative solutions. TRIZ is used for understanding these patterns of contradictions and solutions for developing new methods.

Problem Identification: Contradictions

The basic concept of TRIZ identifies contradictions as the primary issue related to a problem, and eliminating them can lead to a solution. Two categories of contradictions exist in TRIZ:

1. Technical Contradictions

Technical Contradictions occur when improving something leads to something else suffering from a negative effect.

Example 1: Processing power for a computer increases (good), but it uses hardware, making it bulkier (bad). . 

Old computers were bulkier, with fewer features; however, overtime, innovation in hardware resolved this problem with smaller processors, with increased processing speed, incorporated in lightweight computers.

Example 2 : A business customizes service for its customers (good); however, the service is now suffering from delays and a long waiting time for customers (bad). 

Many businesses employ many methods to resolve such contradictions, such as using AI-powered online services, portals, and shopping carts to offer customized service, with an estimated delivery time.

2. Physical Contradictions

Physical Contradictions are inherent. An object or system might have requirements that are contrary, resulting in Physical Contradictions.

Example 1: An operating system should be complex so that it can offer many features to the end user; however, it needs to be easy enough to use without many command lines. 

A primary example of this is the need for command lines in most Linux based operating systems. Many Microsoft based client and server operating systems resolve this contradiction by offering an easy to use Graphical User Interface or GUI. Easy search features also aid this within the OS.

Example 2: A cupboard should be large enough to accommodate many items but not take up too much space. 

There are a number of cupboards which are either detachable or can be folded to free up space. Smart cupboards for instance, provide combined solutions for storing more items in less space.

Inventive Principles and Standard Solutions

There are 40 Inventive Principles and 76 Standard Solutions of TRIZ which can be used for resolving problems.

The 40 Inventive Principles of TRIZ

The database of TRIZ has a collection of user compiled resources. This open source database consists of 40 principles. These principles provide the basis for resolving problems. These principles include the following:

Segmentation, extraction, local quality, asymmetry, combination, universality, nesting, counterweight, prior counteraction, prior action, cushion in advance, equipotentiality, inversion, spheroidality, dynamicity, partial, overdone or excessive action, moving to a new dimension, mechanical vibration, periodic action, continuity of useful action, rushing through, convert harm into benefit, feedback, mediator, self-service, copying, inexpensive short life, replacement of a mechanical system, use pneumatic or hydraulic systems, flexible film or thin membranes, use of porous materials, changing the colour, homogeneity, rejecting and regenerating parts, transforming physical or chemical states, phase transition, thermal expansion, use strong oxidisers, inert environment and composite materials.

Example: The first principle in the list, called “segmentation”, proposes breaking down objects into independent parts. This might include manufacturing an object so that it becomes easier to disassemble or use segmentation to resolve a technical issue. This might be done by using a trailer and truck instead of one large truck or by designing cubicles for an open plan office to enable easy reshuffling of the office layout according to need.

For more details, see these 40 TRIZ Principles with detailed explanations.

76 Standard Solutions of TRIZ

There are 76 Standard Solutions which were compiled by none other than Genrich Altshuller and his comrades over ten years between 1975-1985. These standard solutions are categorized in five broad categories.

1.      There are 13 standard solutions for “improving the system” with little or no change.

2.      There are 23 standard solutions for “improving the system” by changing the system.

3.      There are 6 standard solutions for “system transitions”.

4.      There are 17 standard solutions for “detection and measurement”.

5.       There are 17 standard solutions for “simplification and improvement”

For more details, see these 76 Standard Solutions with examples.

Applying TRIZ for Problem Solving 

If you wish to use TRIZ for problem-solving, you can use the following steps to resolve a problem.

1. Define the Problem: You can get started by defining the problem. You can assess if the issue suffers from a Physical or Technical contradiction.

2. Find the TRIZ Generalized Problem to Match your Problem: You can match the generalized problem to match your issue. Since problems are often repeating themselves across industries and sciences.

3. Find the Generalized Solution to Solve the Generalized Problem: You can match the generalized problem to a generalized solution to see how it resolved the former.

4. Use the Identified Solution to Resolve Your Problem: You can use the generalized problem and its generalized solution as an example and adapt it to your specific issue to resolve it.

How to Present a TRIZ Solution in 4 Steps

Do you want to present your TRIZ solution in the form of a PowerPoint presentation? You can use our 4 step guide mentioned below to present a TRIZ solution.

1. Present the Problem in a Single Slide: You can start by presenting a problem in the form of a single slide. This can come after an introductory slide, with the presentation title and the presenter’s name. Alternatively, you can transform the opening slide in a manner that it introduces the topic and also explains the problem. If your audience is new to TRIZ, you might need to explain the concept in a slide prior to discussing how a TRIZ solution might be suitable for it.

2. Compare a Suitable Generalized Problem with a Generalized Solution: You can create a comparison slide to compare a suitable generalized solution to a generalized problem that matches your issue. This can also be a good time to discuss the nature of the contradiction (physical or technical).

3. Explain How the Generalized Solution can be Adapted: The third slide should be focused on how the generalized solution can be adapted to your specific issue. You can use bullet points to discuss the basic elements of the generalized solution’s adaptability for your specific issue. Depending upon the nature of the problem, you can focus on the solution using 1-3 slides.

4. Add a Summary to Conclude the Presentation: You should summarize your TRIZ solution in the form of a closing slide. This should be brief, with a general explanation of the topic, with ideally some focus on the solution. 

Using the 4 step guide above, you can present a TRIZ solution within just 4-8 slides.

Final Words

The theory of inventive problem solving can help resolve a wide range of problems across a variety of fields. Using TRIZ can be a bit complex for people who might not have a scientific background of some sort; however, looking at some of the basic principles alone can help anyone benefit from TRIZ. It isn’t necessary that everyone uses TRIZ on their own. For example, a project or marketing manager can send recommendations to a relevant department to request engineers and designers to look at the possibility of incorporating features that can help reduce project costs or improve a product’s marketability.

The 40 TRIZ Principles alone are enough to provide a range of ideas even to newbies to look for a possible solution to a ‘contradiction’ they may be dealing with. Be it segmentation, extraction, changing the colour, homogeneity or self-service, inexpensive short life or  replacement of a mechanical system. Even behind complex TRIZ principles, the simple ideas have ideas that can be used for resolving problems with creative solutions.

1. Problem Solving PPDAC Diagram PowerPoint Template

The PPDAC diagram template provides an intuitive way to reach towards a solution with it’s unique approach to 5 keywords. Begin with the problem, create a plan, use the data, create an analysis, and finally draft a conclusion.  

Use This Template

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TRIZ: The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (Virtual Classroom)

Credits: CEUs: 2.3 | PDHs: 23.0

Create breakthrough innovations by leveraging patterns documented in the world's most inventive patents with TRIZ.

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This course provides a basic introduction to the Inventive Problem-Solving Process known as “TRIZ” (Romanized acronym for “Theory of Inventive Problem Solving”). TRIZ is a structured, “left and right brained” methodology for developing breakthrough innovations. TRIZ was developed by way of an 85+ year study of some 4.5 million patents, from the world-wide patent database, that uncovers the hidden patterns of how humans have innovated over the past hundred plus years. Following the TRIZ methodology/algorithm allows anyone to create breakthrough and novel solutions to problems as well as develop new products and business concepts. By participating in this course, you will learn how to successfully:

• Define a system in terms of “functions.”
• Identify and eliminate components of a system which have low value.
• Move outside of your “area of expertise”, to get solution concepts from other industries.
• Conceptualize new components that eliminate your problems. 
• Identify and solve the system “contradictions” that are keeping you from the best solution. 
• Identify the natural evolution systems and move them closer to an “ideal” state.

Who Should Attend Engineers, scientists, and technical managers focused on breakthrough innovation and problem solving. Professionals interested in adding a breakthrough problem solving tool to problem definition processes such as Six Sigma and Design for Six Sigma. Innovation managers interested in improving the quality of inventions and intellectual property. Course Materials Downloadable notes and exercises via ASME's learning management system Course Requirement A passing score of 80% or above on the exam at the completion of the class is required to receive your Certificate of Completion for this course. The assessment evaluates your understanding and applicable knowledge of course material. This ASME Virtual Classroom course is held live with an instructor on our online learning platform. Certificate of completion will be issued to registrants who successfully attend and complete the course.  Can't make one of these sessions? This course is also available On Demand .

Topics Covered What is TRIZ? Ideal Final Result Function Analysis

• Functional language
• Component analysis
• Interaction analysis
• Function modeling

Trimming Function-Oriented Search Inventive Principles Application

• Resolving technical/engineering contradictions
• Resolving physical contradictions

Trends of Engineering System Evolution Introduction Class Project Reports

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TRIZ: Theory of Inventive Problem Solving

• The TRIZ method is an organized, systematic, and creative problem-solving framework. It was developed in 1946 by Soviet inventor and author Genrich Altshuller who studied 200,000 patents to determine if there were patterns in innovation .
• Altshuller acknowledged that not every innovation was necessarily groundbreaking in scope or ambition. From the result of his research, he created five levels of innovation , with Level 1 innovations resulting from obvious or conventional solutions and Level 5 innovations resulting in new ideas that propelled technology forward.
• The TRIZ method has been altered multiple times since it was released and may appear complicated. However, problem-solving teams can take comfort from the fact that others have most likely prevailed against similar problems in the past.

The TRIZ method is an organized, systematic, and creative problem-solving framework. The TRIZ method was developed in 1946 by Soviet inventor and author Genrich Altshuller who studied thousands of inventions across many industries to determine if there were any patterns in innovation and the problems encountered. 

Table of Contents

Understanding the TRIZ method

TRIZ is a Russian acronym for Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadatch , translated as “The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving” in English.

For this reason, the TRIZ method is sometimes referred to as the TIPS method.

From careful research of over 200,000 patents, Altshuller and his team discovered that 95% of problems faced by engineers in a specific industry had already been solved.

Instead, the list was used to provide a systematic methodology that would allow teams to focus their creativity and encourage innovation .

In essence, the TRIZ method is based on the simple hypothesis that somebody, somewhere in the world has solved the same problem already.

Creativity, according to Altshuller, meant finding that prior solution and then adapting it to the problem at hand.

The five levels of the TRIZ method

While Altshuller analyzed hundreds of thousands of patents, he acknowledged that not every innovation was necessarily groundbreaking in scope or ambition. 

After ten years of research between 1964 and 1974, he assigned each patent a value based on five levels of innovation :

Level 1 (32% of all patents)

These are innovations that utilize obvious or conventional solutions with well-established techniques.

Level 2 (45%)

The most common form where minor innovations are made that solve technical contradictions.

These are easily overcome when combining knowledge from different but related industries.

Level 3 (18%)

These are inventions that resolve a physical contradiction and require knowledge from non-related industries.

Elements of technical systems are either completely replaced or partly changed.

Level 4 (4%)

Or innovations where a new technical system is synthesized.

This means innovation is based on science and creative endeavor and not on technology.

Contradictions may be present in old, unrelated technical systems.

Level 5 (1%)

The rarest and most complex patents involved the discovery of new solutions and ideas that propel existing technology to new levels.

These are pioneering inventions that result in new systems and inspire subsequent innovation in the other four levels over time.

How the TRIZ method works

Since its release, the TRIZ method has been refined and altered by problem-solvers and scientists multiple times. But the problem-solving framework it espouses remains more or less the same:

Gather necessary information

Problem solvers must start by gathering the necessary information to solve the problem.

This includes reference materials, processes, materials, and tools.

Organize the information

Information related to the problem should also be collected, organized, and analyzed.

This may pertain to the practical experience of the problem, competitor solutions, and historical trial-and-error attempts.

Transform the information into a generic problem

Once the specific problem has been identified, the TRIZ method encourages the problem solvers to transform it into a generic problem.

Generic solutions can then be formulated and, with the tools at hand, the team can then create a specific solution that solves the specific problem.

Make sense of that

The last step in the TRIZ method appears to be rather complicated. But it is important for innovators to remember that most problems are not specific or unique to their particular circumstances.

Someone in the world at some point in time has faced the same issue and overcome it.

When to Use TRIZ:

TRIZ is a valuable problem-solving approach in a variety of scenarios:

1. Complex Technical Challenges:

TRIZ is particularly effective for solving complex engineering and technical problems, especially those involving conflicting requirements or constraints.

2. Innovation and Design:

When organizations seek to foster innovation in product design, TRIZ can help identify inventive solutions and drive creativity.

3. Product Development:

TRIZ can be applied at various stages of product development, from concept generation to troubleshooting and optimization.

4. Process Improvement:

It is useful for optimizing processes and operations, reducing inefficiencies, and eliminating bottlenecks.

5. Patent Analysis:

TRIZ can assist in analyzing patents and inventions to uncover the inventive principles and strategies used by others.

How to Use TRIZ:

Applying TRIZ effectively involves a systematic approach that leverages its principles and tools:

1. Define the Problem:

Clearly define the problem or challenge you are facing, including any contradictions or conflicts within the problem statement.

2. Identify Contradictions:

Identify the contradictions or conflicts inherent in the problem. These could be technical contradictions (e.g., increase strength vs. reduce weight) or physical contradictions (e.g., increase temperature vs. reduce temperature).

3. Apply Inventive Principles:

Consult the TRIZ inventive principles and tools to identify solutions that resolve the contradictions. These principles provide guidance on how to overcome specific challenges.

4. Ideate and Innovate:

Encourage creative thinking and brainstorming to generate potential solutions based on the inventive principles and insights gained from TRIZ analysis .

5. Evaluate and Select Solutions:

Evaluate the generated solutions for feasibility, effectiveness, and alignment with the ideal final result (IFR). Select the most promising solutions for further development.

6. Implement and Test:

Implement the chosen solutions and test them in practice. Monitor their effectiveness and make adjustments as needed.

Drawbacks and Limitations of TRIZ:

While TRIZ is a powerful methodology for inventive problem-solving, it is not without its drawbacks and limitations:

1. Complexity:

TRIZ can be complex and may require training and expertise to apply effectively, especially for novices.

2. Not a Panacea:

TRIZ may not be suitable for every problem. Some challenges may be better addressed through simpler problem-solving methods.

3. Cultural and Language Barriers:

TRIZ originated in Russia and has its own terminology, which can be a barrier for individuals from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

4. Resource-Intensive:

The extensive analysis and application of TRIZ principles can be resource-intensive, particularly in terms of time and expertise.

5. Not Suited for Non-Technical Problems:

TRIZ is primarily designed for technical and engineering problems and may not be well-suited for non-technical challenges.

What to Expect from Using TRIZ:

Using TRIZ can lead to several outcomes and benefits:

1. Creative Solutions:

TRIZ helps individuals and teams identify inventive solutions that may not be obvious through traditional problem-solving approaches.

2. Contradiction Resolution:

It offers a systematic way to address and resolve contradictions and conflicts within problems.

3. Innovation and Optimization:

TRIZ can drive innovation in product design, process improvement, and optimization efforts.

4. Structured Problem-Solving:

It provides a structured and systematic approach to problem-solving, making it easier to tackle complex challenges.

5. Knowledge Transfer:

TRIZ allows organizations to capture and transfer knowledge about inventive solutions across different projects and teams.

Complementary Frameworks to Enhance TRIZ:

TRIZ can be further enhanced when combined with complementary frameworks and techniques:

1. Lean Six Sigma:

Lean Six Sigma complements TRIZ by focusing on process improvement and waste reduction. Combining both approaches can lead to optimized processes with inventive solutions.

2. Design Thinking:

Design thinking complements TRIZ by emphasizing user-centered design, empathy, and iterative ideation. It encourages innovative solutions that meet user needs.

3. Brainstorming:

Brainstorming sessions can be used in conjunction with TRIZ to generate a wide range of ideas before applying TRIZ’s systematic analysis .

4. Root Cause Analysis:

Root cause analysis techniques help identify the underlying causes of problems, which can then be addressed using TRIZ’s inventive principles.

5. Simulation and Modeling:

Simulations and modeling tools can be used to test and validate TRIZ-based solutions before implementation.

Conclusion:

The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) is a powerful and structured methodology for inventive problem-solving.

By leveraging the principles of TRIZ, individuals and teams can identify inventive solutions to complex technical challenges, foster innovation in product design, and optimize processes.

While TRIZ may have some limitations and complexities, its benefits in driving creativity, resolving contradictions, and providing a structured problem-solving approach make it a valuable tool for individuals and organizations seeking inventive solutions.

When combined with complementary frameworks and techniques, TRIZ becomes an even more potent force for innovation and creative problem-solving, allowing organizations to overcome technical challenges and achieve breakthroughs in their fields.

Case Studies

Product Design Improvement

Imagine a company that manufactures smartphones and wants to enhance the design of their devices to stand out in the market. They identify the problem as “Stagnant Smartphone Design.”

• Gather Necessary Information : The team collects data on existing smartphone designs, materials, user feedback, and market trends.
• Organize the Information : They analyze existing smartphone designs, including those of competitors, and categorize common design elements and user preferences.
• Transform into a Generic Problem : The generic problem becomes “How to create a smartphone design that appeals to a wide range of users and differentiates from competitors.”
• Apply Tools and Create a Solution : The team utilizes TRIZ tools to generate innovative design concepts. They explore principles like “Use of Contradictions” to balance features like aesthetics and functionality.
• Recognize Commonality : The team researches historical smartphone design breakthroughs and identifies elements that have successfully appealed to users in the past.

This process may lead to a novel smartphone design that incorporates innovative features, such as flexible displays, while addressing common user preferences.

Supply Chain Optimization

A logistics company faces challenges in optimizing its supply chain operations to reduce costs and improve efficiency. They define the problem as “Inefficient Supply Chain Operations.”

• Gather Necessary Information : Data on current supply chain processes, transportation methods, warehousing, and inventory management are gathered.
• Organize the Information : The team analyzes existing supply chain operations, identifies bottlenecks, and reviews industry best practices.
• Transform into a Generic Problem : The generic problem becomes “How to create a highly efficient and cost-effective supply chain system.”
• Apply Tools and Create a Solution : TRIZ tools are applied to generate innovative solutions. Principles like “Trimming” are used to eliminate redundant steps in the supply chain.
• Recognize Commonality : The team researches successful supply chain optimizations in other industries and adapts relevant strategies.

The result may be a streamlined supply chain system that reduces transportation costs, minimizes inventory waste, and enhances overall efficiency.

Energy-Efficient Building Design

An architectural firm aims to design environmentally friendly buildings with superior energy efficiency. They identify the problem as “Inefficient Building Energy Consumption.”

• Gather Necessary Information : Data on existing building designs, construction materials, HVAC systems, and renewable energy technologies are collected.
• Organize the Information : The team analyzes current building designs, identifies energy consumption patterns, and reviews sustainable building practices.
• Transform into a Generic Problem : The generic problem becomes “How to design buildings that maximize energy efficiency and minimize environmental impact.”
• Apply Tools and Create a Solution : TRIZ tools are used to generate innovative building design concepts. Principles like “Ideal Final Result” help in envisioning energy-neutral structures.
• Recognize Commonality : The team studies environmentally friendly building designs worldwide and integrates successful strategies into their projects.

The outcome may be groundbreaking building designs that incorporate passive heating and cooling, energy-efficient materials, and renewable energy sources to achieve net-zero energy consumption.

Medical Device Innovation

A medical device manufacturer wants to develop a groundbreaking medical device to revolutionize patient care. They identify the problem as “Limited Innovation in Medical Devices.”

• Gather Necessary Information : Data on current medical device technologies, patient needs, regulatory requirements, and clinical studies are gathered.
• Organize the Information : The team reviews existing medical devices, identifies gaps in patient care, and studies medical technology advancements.
• Transform into a Generic Problem : The generic problem becomes “How to create a transformative medical device that significantly improves patient outcomes.”
• Apply Tools and Create a Solution : TRIZ tools are applied to generate innovative medical device concepts. Principles like “Contradiction Resolution” help address challenges like miniaturization and enhanced functionality.
• Recognize Commonality : The team studies pioneering medical device innovations and incorporates successful design elements into their project.

Key takeaways

• TRIZ Method: The TRIZ method is a problem-solving framework developed by Genrich Altshuller in 1946. TRIZ stands for “Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadatch,” which translates to “The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving.”
• Origin and Purpose: Altshuller studied thousands of patents to identify patterns in innovation and problem-solving across various industries. He aimed to create a systematic methodology for problem-solving that encourages creativity and innovation .
• Level 1: Obvious or conventional solutions using well-established techniques (32% of patents).
• Level 2: Minor innovations overcoming technical contradictions by combining knowledge from related industries (45%).
• Level 3: Inventions resolving physical contradictions using knowledge from non-related industries (18%).
• Level 4: Innovations synthesizing new technical systems based on science and creativity (4%).
• Level 5: Pioneering inventions that lead to new systems and inspire innovation in other levels (1%).
• Gather Necessary Information: Collect relevant information about the problem, processes, materials, and tools.
• Organize the Information: Analyze and organize information related to the problem, including practical experience, competitor solutions, and historical attempts.
• Transform into a Generic Problem: Transform the specific problem into a generic form to formulate generic solutions.
• Apply Tools and Create a Solution: Use available tools to create a specific solution that addresses the specific problem.
• Recognize Commonality: Recognize that most problems have been faced by others in the past and have likely been overcome.
• TRIZ is a systematic problem-solving framework developed by Genrich Altshuller.
• It categorizes innovation into five levels based on the nature of the solution.
• The TRIZ method involves gathering and organizing information, transforming the problem into a generic form, applying tools, and recognizing commonality with past solutions.
• The method encourages problem-solvers to leverage existing solutions and patterns to creatively address new challenges.

The 40 TRIZ Principles

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An Overview of TRIZ Problem-Solving Methodology and its Applications

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• Open access
• Published: 29 April 2024

Achieving eco-innovative smart glass design with the integration of opinion mining, QFD and TRIZ

• C. K. M. Lee 1 , 2 ,
• Y. P. Tsang 1 ,
• W. W. Chong 2 ,
• Y. S. Au 2 &
• J. Y. Liang 2  

Scientific Reports volume  14 , Article number:  9822 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

• Engineering
• Information technology

Modern consumption patterns lead to massive waste, which poses challenges in storage and highlights the urgent need for more sustainable product development. Customer feedback on products plays a crucial role in product design, yet previous studies overlooked these invaluable insights. In response, this study introduces a novel systematic methodology that integrates the strengths of text mining, Quality Function Deployment (QFD), and the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ). Text mining techniques are utilized to extract customer requirements from online platforms, while QFD is used to translate these requirements into technical specifications. By integrating the contradiction matrix from TRIZ theory with the triptych, technical conflicts are resolved. The design process for next-generation smart glasses is employed as an illustrative case to validate the proposed integrated innovation design approach. Analytical outcomes suggest that the introduced methodology can effectively address sustainable product design challenges and sets the stage for future advancements in smart glasses.

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Introduction.

With the growing popularity of smart devices, Augmented Reality (AR) technology has undergone significant development and established itself as a crucial domain for these intelligent devices. Augmented Reality (AR) integrates digital elements with the physical world, creating an interactive environment where real and virtual components coexist. This technology enhances real-world surroundings by overlaying them with digital information and interfaces 1 . According to a market analysis report by Grand View Research 2 , the market value of augmented reality was at $38.56 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.8% from 2023 to 2030. Smart glasses, standing out as a promising major platform for AR, are on the verge of becoming the next leading smart devices in the upcoming years. Smart glasses are wearable devices that integrate a see-through optical display, typically within the user's field of vision, to facilitate the merging of the physical environment with virtual elements.

The surge of interest in smart glasses from leading technology leaders like Google LLC, Microsoft Corporation, Apple, Inc., and others, who are exploring diverse applications for smart glasses, is creating new opportunities in this field 3 .

However, this boom in new smart glasses has also contributed to a rise in e-waste 4 , presenting manufacturers with a new challenge: How to extend the lifespan of smart products during the maturity phase to avoid them being phased out of the market?

Sustainable Design offers a solution to these problems by specializing on the development of products, services, and systems that promote sustainable development 5 . This approach considers the entire lifecycle of a product, from design and manufacturing to use and eventual disposal, with an aim to minimize ecological footprints and promote responsible resource usage. Sustainable design tools, particularly QFD and TRIZ, have been explored and applied to design process by engineers and designers to develop more environmentally friendly product designs 6 , 7 , 8 . Their combine application has shown promising outcomes in facilitating sustainable design strategies.

However, the application of sustainable design in smart glasses remains limited. Most research focuses on utilizing smart glasses for efficient sustainable applications, like advancing sustainable education 9 , 10 , 11 . There is limited literature that addresses the sustainable design aspects of smart glasses as a product 12 .

In addition, traditional research approaches in sustainable design often overlook the evolving customer preferences from product reviews, as it is challenging for them to leverage the vast volume of unstructured data available on the digital platforms 13 . Incorporating customer feedback into product design is crucial for gaining insights into user experiences and expectations 14 . This approach not only identifies areas for innovation and improvement but also influences production costs and market strategies. By integrating these insights into the design process, products become more technologically advanced and user-centric, thus extending the lifespan of products and furthering sustainability goals. In summary, three research questions (RQs) are formulated as follows:

How can the customer feedback from digital platforms be identified and analyzed to improve the design of smart glasses?

What are the key factors that influence customer satisfaction with smart glasses, and how can these insights be integrated into QFD and TRIZ methodologies to guide the design of next-generation smart glasses for more customer satisfaction and sustainability?

What is the next-generation smart glasses design based on latest customer requirements?

Text mining techniques (also known as Opinion Mining), through automated sentiment analysis and topic extraction, could enable designers and manufacturers to identify and respond to real-time issues and evolving trends in customer feedback 15 . Numerous studies highlight the integration of text mining techniques into the design process as an efficient and insightful approach 16 , 17 , 18 . Traditional methods like Face-to-Face Interviews, Telephone Surveys, and Paper and Pencil Recording are time-consuming and not suited for processing large volumes of unstructured data 19 . Text mining poses the ability of analyzing extensive textual data in real-time, which could facilitate the rapid and efficient collection of users feedback and foster a more responsive and user-centered approach to product design.

Therefore, a systematic approach for supporting sustainable product design based on text mining, Quality Function Deployment (QFD), and the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) is proposed. The proposed methodology aims to evaluate customer feedback from online product reviews and identify the most important design attributes based on that feedback.

The process starts by web scraping to extract product reviews from online platforms. The mined text data then undergoes pre-processing using the Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK). Following by this, TextRank 20 , a text mining algorithm, is employed to identify frequently occurring keywords in product reviews and capture what consumers feel and focus on about the product. The QFD technique 21 is applied to analyse customer requirements from the extracted textual data and transform them into technical specifications through a structured relationship matrix 22 . Furthermore, an assessment of the correlation between customer needs and corresponding technical solutions is conducted to identify product attributes that resonate with potential customers and match with design objectives. Based on the technical specifications and customer requirements derived from QFD analysis, TRIZ and Triptych 23 are combined to identify and address technical contradictions that might arise during the product design process. The contradiction matrix can categorize these technical contradictions and propose standardized solutions for each pair of contradictions, known as ‘inventive principles’. By leveraging these recommended principles, designers can systematically address design contradictions, thereby meeting the diverse requirements of customers and amplifying the product's popularity in the marketplace.

The proposed system offers a multi-faceted advantage in sustainable design by guiding designers and manufacturers toward understanding market demands. The systematic approach transforms sustainability from a mere buzzword into a vital product attribute, which aids in addressing the challenges of new customer requirements and technical disparities. To verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed system, a case study on smart glasses was conducted. Eco-innovation guidelines for the next-generation smart glasses were generated through the proposed system to meet both consumer preferences and environmental standards. In summary, by fusing customer insights, technical expertise, and innovative solutions, the proposed system emphasizes sustainability across the entire supply chain of innovative tech products.

The rest of this study is organized as follows: Section " Literature review " reviews the literature on sustainable design thinking, text mining approaches, and outline the motivation of this study. Section " Methodology " presents the research methodology for identifying customer requirements from online reviews to facilitate the customer-oriented product design. Smart glasses are considered as an example to validate the proposed system in Section " Case analysis ", while research findings and suggested features for future smart glasses design are discussed in Section " Results and discussion ". Finally, the conclusion of this study is drawn in Section " Conclusions ".

Literature review

Sustainable design refers to the design concept that considers the whole product and service design process. It is described as recognizing the symbiotic relationship between enterprises, consumers, and the ecological environment 24 .

Incorporating sustainable design thinking during the initial design and development stage is essential 25 . As noted by the European Commission 26 , over 80% of a product's sustainability is established during this phase, with each decision made by the product development team being crucial for achieving sustainable outcomes 27 . Steenis et al. 28 further highlighted that integrating sustainability into redesign efforts not only boosts consumer satisfaction but also increases purchase intentions.

Key principles of sustainable design, such as Life Cycle Thinking, Circular Economy, Material Selection, Energy Efficiency, Minimizing Waste, User-Centered Design, Biomimicry 29 , etc., have been explored and implemented across various industries. For instance, in construction 30 , 31 , 32 , packaging 33 , fashion 34 , transportation 35 , etc.

Some design techniques, such as QFD and TRIZ, have proven successful in incorporating sustainable design concepts into product development.

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) 21 is a tool in quality management and product development that formulates connections between customer requirements, often known as the Voice of the Customer, and the attributes and specifications of a product or service. It is used to align design and manufacturing decisions with customer needs by creating a House of Quality (HOQ) that links customer requirements to the product or service features and specifications. QFD assists designers in understanding customer expectations, improving product or service quality, reducing design and production errors, and ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction.

TRIZ theory, developed by Genrich Altshuller 23 , serves as an approach to help designers quickly identify problems and utilize inventive principles to find optimal solutions. The core of TRIZ involves the detection of contradictions among different design parameters, where one aspect requires improvement while enhancing it may potentially worsen another. This process leads to the identification of relevant inventive principles, which offer partial solutions to the problem. TRIZ comprises a total of 40 inventive principles, which were summarized by Genrich Altshuller 23 and his peers from an extensive analysis of patent data. TRIZ demonstrates remarkable adaptability and is applicable across diverse domains, including engineering, product design, and technology development. It assists designers in selecting the optimal methods to enhance the quality and effectiveness of innovation.

The integration of QFD, TRIZ and other methodologies in the design process has been explored by many scholars. For instance, Chunjing, Wu, Chen, and Ling 36 introduced an integrated innovation design model based on KANO, QFD, and TRIZ theories for rewinding machine design. Hameed et al. 37 combine FMEA, QFD, TRIZ, LCA, and fuzzy TOPSIS methodologies to redesign a pressure relief valve (PRV) in an economic, sustainable, and innovative way. Li et al. 38 proposed a design methodology that incorporates input from VTS personnel, QFD, TRIZ, and software quality characteristics to improve the interaction between alarm systems and operators.

However, these traditional methods often struggle to adapt to changing customer demands. With individuals now openly expressing their views on products and services, the task of gathering the vast amount of unstructured data from digital platforms presents a challenge for designers and manufacturers. This customer feedback could have an impact on the design process, the production costs associated with the product, and customer satisfaction levels with the products.

Applying text mining techniques provides an effective solution to address the challenges posed by changing customer demands and the abundance of unstructured digital data 39 . Text mining enables designers and manufacturers to efficiently analyse customer feedback, automating sentiment analysis and topic extraction to identify emerging trends and issues in real-time 15 . This not only aids in adapting product designs instantly but also optimizes production processes and cost management. By measuring customer sentiment and addressing concerns, text mining enhances overall customer satisfaction and associates products with market demands. TextRank, introduced by Mihalcea and Tarau 40 in 2004, offers a frequently used approach for summarizing text without the need for prior linguistic or domain knowledge 41 . It is language-agnostic, focusing on word consistency, eliminating the need for language-specific technologies. While it may face variations in sentence splitting among languages, it remains a well-developed and accessible system for developers interested in leveraging its advantages for extraction-based summarization 42 .

After analysing the three methods mentioned above, it becomes evident that each of them plays a distinct role and function within the product design process. This study proposes a systematic approach for product design that integrates text mining, QFD, and TRIZ methods. It begins with gathering product reviews through web scraping and then utilizes NLTK and TextRank to analyse consumer feedback. QFD is employed to convert customer needs into technical specifications, and the relationship between these needs and technical solutions is assessed to identify suitable product features. TRIZ and Triptych help resolve technical conflicts using a contradiction matrix and inventive principles. This systematic approach can be applied to the product design process for smart devices and offers the benefits of improved alignment with customer requirements, streamlined conflict resolution, and enhanced market competitiveness.

Methodology

The proposed methodology consists of three processes for examining customer feedback from online product reviews and evaluating the functions of recommended design attributes: text mining, QFD and TRIZ approaches. The framework of the proposed system is depicted in Fig.  1 .

Product design framework with online review.

Step 1: text mining

The text mining technique is applied to extract valuable patterns and insights from vast quantities of unstructured customer reviews. It aids in understanding customer sentiments and primary concerns about products so as to make it crucial for identifying key features for improvement.

Data collection

Web scraping is a technology used to access and retrieve massive amounts of data from public websites 43 . It aims to convert unstructured data into structured information to make it useful and actionable 44 . In this study, a web scraper was built to collect information about customer reviews from an online platform for further analysis by using the library Selenium, provided by Python.

Data pre-processing

The mined text data then pre-processed using the Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK), which includes text cleaning, tokenization, part-of-speech tagging/stemming, lemmatization, and the stop words removal. Firstly, during the tokenization, since the product reviews containing irrelevant or noisy input like symbols, special characters, illustrations, and issues with cases, several procedures were taken to ensure an accurate result, including the removal of special characters, URLs, and some identical and repeated comments. The stemming process was also utilized to converts the inflected words to their root form. Secondly, part-of-speech (POS) tagging breaks down a phrase into its individual components, which includes a list of words or tuples accompanied by identifiers indicating the word type, such as a noun or verb. Thirdly, lemmatization is the process of appropriately utilizing the vocabulary and morphological interpretation of words, intending to eliminate only inflectional ends and return to the base or dictionary form of a word, referred to as the lemma. For example, turning “listening”, “listened” and “listen” into the basic form of “listen”. Lastly, stop words are the most commonly used words in any language (such as articles, prepositions, pronouns, and conjunctions) that provide little information to the text and must be filtered out before natural language processing. For instance, the words "the", "a", and "an".

Table 1 shows an example of data pre-processing of an extracted comment. The term “worst” has been lemmatized back to its base form of “bad”. The frequently found word “the” was eliminated during the removal of stop words. A collection of specified stop words was also defined in this case. For example, one of the all-too-common words would be “glasses”.

Mining process: Wordcloud and TextRank algorithm

Word clouds are a quicker way to evaluate text retrieved from extracted comments than coding since they decompose the text into component words and calculate their frequency of recurrence within the body of text 45 . Counting the frequency of keywords within the product review, the word cloud provides an overview of the function items and features being discussed.

Following by this, TextRank 40 is employed for text mining. TextRank is an efficient text mining technique designed for extracting key content from vast textual data. It is a graph-based ranking algorithm that can split textual content, such as articles or product reviews, into individual sentences. Then, it breaks the sentences into smaller phrases and formulates a sparse matrix to clearly lists the words in each phrase or sentence and how often they appear 46 . Different from the traditional co-occurrence relationships, TextRank utilizes similarity scores to determine the importance of each word. This may help in identifying common keywords in product reviews and reveal the consumer sentiments and priorities on products. There are five steps in the TextRank algorithm:

Text Segmentation and Part-of-Speech Filtering:

The target text T is segmented into sentences S 1 , S 2 , …, S m . Each sentence S i , a subset of T , undergoes a filtering process where stop words and words not belonging to a specific part-of-speech are removed. This results in a representation S i = [t i,1 , t i,2 , …, t i,n ] , where t i,j represents candidate keywords that annotate the word segmentation and filtering process.

Candidate Word Graph Construction:

Hence, the candidate word graph G = (V, E) is constructed. Here, the value V refers to the vertex set formed of the candidate words from the previous step, while E refers to the subset of V × V’s edge set. Edges are established between nodes based on co-occurrence within a window of length K , where K refers to the window size and indicates the maximum allowable word count for co-occurrence.

Node Weight Calculation:

The weight of each node in the candidate word graph is computed iteratively using Eq. ( 1 ) until the computation result converges 47 .

In Eq. ( 1 ), In(vi) denotes the set of nodes that connect to node vi, and the damping factor d ∈ [0,1] is s akin to the random walk probability utilized in the PageRank algorithm. This factor was originally introduced to prevent pages without external links from impeding user navigation, and its typical value is 0.85. If a candidate word graph node's failure rate is less than a set limit value, the node is regarded to have attained convergence; this limit value is often set at 0.0001.

Transition Probability:

From the traditional TextRank algorithm, as shown in Eq. ( 2 ), the transition probability, p (v j ⟶ v i ) , denotes the probability of jumping from node v j to node v i .

In Eq. ( 2 ), out (v j ) denotes the set of nodes referred to by v j , and w ji denotes the edge weight from node w j to node w i , which is calculated by the co-occurrence of two words in the conventional algorithm.

Keyword Extraction:

Finally, the node weights are sorted in reverse order, and the first K -word in the target text is utilized as the keyword, where K is the desired number of keywords for extraction.

In summary, this step facilitates the extraction of key customer insights, including the most frequently discussed product features, customer preferences, and commonly mentioned issues in product reviews. The application of TextRank algorithm and the visualization of text data via word clouds assists in identifying important insights into current customer preferences and expectations for smart products, which lays the groundwork for further analysis in next steps.

Step 2: quality function deployment

The Quality Function Deployment (QFD) technique 21 serves as a bridge to convert identified consumer demands into technical specifications. It ensures that products are not only functionally robust but also resonate with the target customer, thus achieving a harmonious balance between technical feasibility and consumer desirability.

The QFD process employs specific terms such as the House of Quality (HOQ), WHATs, and HOWs. The HOQ outlines the steps required when implementing QFD. "WHATs" represent essential customer requirements, often conveyed in imprecise language, and serve as the primary input to the HOQ. "HOWs" denote the technical design characteristics that address these requirements. During the requirements planning phase, customer feedback is gathered through a text mining process. This information aids in constructing the relationship matrix, which depicts the connection between product attributes and customer needs. After identifying the technical specifications (WHATs) and the necessary manufacturing procedures (HOWs), experts assess the strength of their association using technical weights. This relationship is typically rated on a scale of 1 (low), 3 (medium), and 9 (high), with a dash indicating no connection. Technical targets, aligned with the identified product attributes, are then established to encompass target descriptions, units, and preliminary design concepts.

In this step, the customer needs for smart products, identified through text mining in Step 1, are translated into specific technical specifications. A list of product features prioritized based on customer feedback is conducted through QFD methodology, which helps in understanding which aspects of smart glasses are most crucial to consumers and need to be focused on in the design.

Step 3: theory of inventive problem solving

TRIZ 23 is utilized to identify contradictions and challenges in the design process. By applying the inventive principles of TRIZ to these design conflicts, innovative design ideas for products are generated. Not only does TRIZ provide solutions for the present, but it also offers strategic insights for future sustainable design and development initiatives.

To derive valuable insights from TRIZ, a series of systematic steps is conducted. First, after employing QFD technique, both customer and technical requirements are identified. The technical contradiction matrix of TRIZ serves a dual purpose: it helps in identifying the technical conflict and translates it into a mix of the 39 design parameters. Once a contradiction is identified, the design parameters of the product that have been enhanced or regressed are determined. Finally, it aids in selecting the most inventive principles tailored for addressing the contradiction. In addressing these technical contradictions, it's imperative to ascertain the aspects of the conflict that need emphasis and those that should be subdued. The most feasible solution is then integrated into product development practices, relying heavily on these principles.

In this step, design contradictions associated with the prioritized product features found in the QFD process could be identified using TRIZ contradiction matrix, and these specific contradictions would be resolved by developing innovative design solutions and alternative strategies utilizing TRIZ inventive principles. This approach aids in improving the functionality of smart products while also considering potential future design challenges.

Case analysis

As mentioned before, the growing interest in smart devices indicates a trend in the electronics industry towards rapid product evolution and frequent new releases 48 . However, this boom also symbolizes challenges, especially the increase in e-waste. Therefore, smart glasses, as emerging products of smart devices, consider as a case study to assess if our proposed system can investigate the relationship between consumer needs and product design and provide eco-innovative solutions on extending product life and reducing obsolescence.

Smart glasses are now focused on the enterprise market, and the glasses experience did not result in a large-scale consumer ecology. The main reason smart glasses are not widely used in the market at this time is that customers are dissatisfied with the design of smart glasses, rendering them unsuitable for continuous use. For example, the smart glasses that have been officially released on the market, such as Microsoft's Hololens and Lenovo's ThinkReality, are different from ordinary glasses in daily use. The design of the clunky glasses falls short of the thin and sleek look that consumers expect. Meanwhile, there is a lack of strategic design and development of systematic sustainable solutions in the product market. Hence, producing novel and innovative smart glasses for consumers has huge market potential.

Data collection and data pre-processing

Product reviews on smart glasses from Amazon between 2020–2021 were extracted and saved in a CSV format. There were 1997 reviews for 60 different models of smart glasses. These smart glasses not only possess augmented reality features but also integrate the functionalities of sunglasses and headphones, as seen in renowned brands like Epson and MAD Gaze. Figure  2 shows an example of a product review for smart glasses. To better analyse consumers’ feedback, the title column of the reviews was considered for keyword extraction as it typically encapsulates the primary views of customers. Furthermore, the body column from 10 comments was extracted to represent the most frequently appearing or noteworthy comments within each 1–5 star rating category.

An example of a product review for smart glasses.

Figure  3 shows the results of the web scrapping. Reviews of the chosen smart glasses’ brands are listed in Appendix A . To further analyse the content of the reviews, Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK) was employed to remove stop words, a total of 245,715 tokens were obtained from the 1997 reviews.

Sample of web scrapping results.

Deployment of Wordcloud and TextRank algorithm

Since a single review comment usually does not comprise a complete and meaningful paragraph for summarization, the body of the reviews is first ranked by their ratings, then concatenated into a single string or text, and ultimately split to obtain a sentence ranking so as to effectively rank the relationship between each sentence. As a result, the output contains a total of 50 comments, five of which are the most frequently appearing or noteworthy comments in each 1–5-star rating category. This data, viewed as the 'Voice of Customer,' interconnects with the QFD technique to provide valuable feedback related to the conceptual design of smart glasses:

As product reviews on websites are typically short in length, multiple brief reviews are concatenated to form a longer text string to ensure the integrity of the data. The comments are then classified into ten categories based on the five ratings (1–5 star rating). Since each review comment usually does not comprise a complete and meaningful paragraph for summarization, the body of review comments should be firstly ranked by their ratings, then concatenate to a single string or text and ultimately split to obtain a sentence ranking so as to rank the relationship between each sentence. As a result, the output contains a total of 50 comments, five of which are the most frequently appearing or noteworthy comments in each 1–5-star rating category. The data, viewed as the voice of customers, interconnects with the QFD technique to provide valuable feedback related to the conceptual design of smart glasses:

1-star reviews of smart glasses mostly commented on the appearance, battery issues, poor quality, and high cost of smart glasses.

2-star reviews discussed the poor audio quality compared to other intelligent music devices, showing the preference for headphones among some customers.

3-star reviews mentioned the sound quality issues as well, with some viewing the glasses as affordable alternatives to luxury items though they still questioned their value. Discussions also included appearance design, materials, and accessories.

4-star reviews commended the lens quality, comfort, and sound quality, remarking the glasses' lightness and versatility for various occasions.

5-star reviews discussed excellent audio quality and the benefit of polarized lenses for sun protection. One stood out for its superior sound without the bass vibration found in other music glasses.

In addition, the most commonly used phrases in smart glasses product reviews are visualized through a wordcloud in Fig.  4 to highlight the main concerns of customers. The size of each keyword in the word cloud corresponds to its frequency in the reviews: the larger the font size of a keyword, the greater the attention that product characteristic receives from consumers. For instance, the largest words like 'screen' and 'display' suggest that these features are frequently mentioned in reviews, which indicates a strong consumer preference for good display resolution and a wide field of view. Appendix A illustrates the findings of five rating levels of comments on smart glasses.

Word cloud of most commonly used phrases in product reviews.

Deployment of the QFD

Data from the Amazon online comment assists QFD in capturing the voice of the customers and effectively formulating the attributes of customer needs and technique requirements, as shown in Tables 2 and 3 . Based on the results of potential customers who give priority to the importance of smart glasses requirements, customers believe that the top three attributes are long battery life, good display resolution, and a wide field of view, which confirm the explicit and implicit needs of customers. Meanwhile, experts rate optical components as the most important technical requirement in smart glasses design, followed by display resolution and battery capacity. Therefore, the optical components are closely linked with customer needs and have high overall weighting.

Figure  5 presents the house of quality (HoQ) of smart glasses and Fig.  6 shows the interaction matrix of technical requirements of smart glasses. The findings suggest that the preferable attributes for the next-generation smart glasses should be concentrated on battery life, display resolution, wide field of view, and optical components. This also assists the R&D and design teams in building a clear emphasis in the future. Whereas each smart glass characteristic has a set target value or standard value taken from the relevant standards or opinions of experts to achieve development with technological quality while meeting the customer requirement. The target values of smart glasses are detailed as follows:

(C1) Appearance design is considered to be a three-element design, shape, color, and material. The shape may be designed to be streamlined and ergonomic. Different colors using complementary colors provide feelings of energy and vitality. The material affects the durability, lightness, and uniqueness of smart glasses. For example, frames made of memory metal are extremely flexible and can be twisted or bent; polyamides and gliamides are strong, lightweight, flexible materials suitable for sports and performance frames.

(C2) Volume calculated as 150 Length × 95–185 Width × 22 mm Bridge.

(C3) Weight of 80 g.

(C4) Battery capacity 1000 mAh.

(C5) Display resolution 1080p.

(C6) Total harmonic distortion lower than 0.1% based on the high-end headphones’ standard.

(C7) Processor speed 1.5 GHz.

(C8) Optical component has a pitch of 55 degrees.

(C9) Operating procedure considers a number of aspects, including touchpad, hand gesture control, 3D space control, and so on.

(C10) Connectivity considers a number of aspects, including Bluetooth, WIFI, NFC, Type C support, and so on.

(C11) Sensor considers a number of quantities, including IMU 9 axis (accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope), camera, LIDAR, and so on.

The House of Quality of Smart Glasses.

The Interaction Matrix of Technical Requirements of Smart Glasses.

Deployment of the TRIZ

Based on the target technical specifications for smart glasses identified through QFD analysis, a combined methodology of TRIZ and Triptych was applied to address the technical contradictions in the design. The analysis revealed that 8 TRIZ inventive Principles, which were generated from the 39 design parameters, closely match the improving and degraded features, including Universality, Periodic Action, Another Dimension, Taking Out, Beforehand Cushioning, Parameter Changes, Self-service, and Mechanics Substitution, as listed in Table 4 . These TRIZ principles can be utilized to provide valuable insights for designing the next-generation smart glasses.

Based on the project ideas generated with Triptych TRIZ above, the concept for smart glasses is shown in Fig.  7 . These glasses offer users hands-free digital interaction through a real-time AR display. Designed like traditional eyewear, they weigh only 80 g and are constructed from memory metal and advanced polymers with photochromic lenses that adapt to lighting. The augmented reality experience is enhanced with hand gesture and 3D space control features, facilitated by a 3D LiDAR and a 1080p camera. Voice control is supported by integrated noise-cancelling microphones and speakers, eliminating touchpad use. With a 1.5 GHz processor and a modular 1000 mAh battery, these glasses are designed for optimal performance.

Conceptual design for next-generation smart glasses.

Results and discussion

The findings from the case study are outlined in response to the research questions introduced in Section " Introduction ". Each question is sequentially addressed to provide a structured and comprehensive understanding of the results:

In our study, a web scraper was developed with Python's Selenium library to collect product reviews on smart glasses from Amazon for analysis. The Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK) was then used for data preprocessing. TextRank algorithm was implemented to rank these reviews by their ratings, which resulted in 50 significant comments from one to five stars rating categories. This feedback, seen as the 'Voice of Customer,' was crucial for the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) process in designing smart glasses. Wordcloud was used to visualize the keywords in customer feedback on smart glasses, which offers a clear picture of customer priorities. These insights into customer preferences and experiences played a key role in guiding the design process towards features that users value the most. By connecting the design with these insights, the lifespan of smart glasses could be extended and contributed to achieving sustainability goals.

What are the key factors that influence customer satisfaction with smart glasses, and how can these insights be integrated into QFD and TRIZ methodologies?

Key product features, such as comfort, functionality, and aesthetic appeal, were identified and prioritized in this analysis. Then, these insights were converted into technical specifications using the QFD method. For example, comfort might be translated into specifications for weight and material choices, functionality into user interface design, and aesthetic appeal into the shape and color of the product. Furthermore, the TRIZ contradiction matrix and inventive principles were employed to develop innovative solutions for technical challenges identified in the design process. A typical example of such a contradiction might be balancing the need for lightweight glasses with sufficient battery life and high-resolution displays. Applying TRIZ inventive principles helped find innovative ways to balance these requirements. This methodology, which combines customer feedback with technical innovation, not only enhanced the user experience of the smart glasses but also drove innovation in their design.

What is the next-generation smart glasses design based on the latest customer requirements?

The conceptual design of the next-generation smart glasses is elaborated in detail in Section " Deployment of the TRIZ ". These advanced smart glasses are characterized by their lightweight design and feature a real-time augmented reality (AR) display. They are equipped with a fast processor and a durable battery, alongside adaptive lenses that respond to varying lighting conditions. For user interaction, the glasses offer intuitive control through hand gestures and voice commands, facilitated by a 3D LiDAR sensor and an integrated camera. Through the combination of these innovative design features, the next-gen smart glasses result in a cutting-edge and sustainable wearable technology.

Discussion on energy efficiency of smart glasses

The results of case analysis indicates that battery life is the top concern of customers according to the findings through QFD analysis. Smart glasses often require a high energy density and a long battery lifespan to operate various components like displays, cameras, sensors, and wireless connections, etc. Hereby, it is necessary to consider the future development direction of battery development for smart glasses. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate battery durability, which includes investigating the impact of battery power and different levels of camera resolution on smart glasses.

Therefore, it is necessary to consider the future direction of battery development for smart glasses. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate battery durability, which includes investigating the effects of battery power and camera resolution on smart glasses.

One compared two smart glasses batteries: the black headset (ENMESI E633 Head-mounted Smart Glasses) dependent on smartphone chipsets, and the white headset, with their specifications shown in Table 5 . Both glasses were set to the lowest brightness and charged to 100% to assess the battery drain rate. The battery level was recorded every 15 min until the battery level drop to 50%. Figure  8 reveals that the battery drain rate of the black headset dropped was twice as fast, with a half-life of 110 min. Whereas the white headset decreased by an average drop of 7% every half hour, with a half-life of 209 min.

Battery Level of Smart glasses.

It was found that the lowest resolution (640 × 480) was the most battery-efficient, lasting 116 min to half-battery. In contrast, the highest resolution (1920 × 1080) consumed the most power with a half-life of 104 min. The other resolutions, (1280 × 720) and (1280 × 960), showed similar patterns, depleting 12–13% every 15 min with half-lives of 106 and 108 min, respectively.

The resolution was the most important factor when influencing the energy usage, and there were Another test explored the energy consumption across four different levels of camera resolution. The procedures for this experiment are similar to the previous one. Figure  9 show that the lowest resolution (640 × 480) has the best battery performance, lasting 116 min to half-battery. In contrast, the highest resolution (1920 × 1080) consumed the most power with a half-life of 104 min. The other two resolution levels, (1280 × 720) and 1280 × 960), show the similar patterns, depleting 12 to 13% every 15 min with the half-life of 106 and 108 min, respectively.

Different levels of Camera Resolution.

The research results above indicate that the battery design of smart glasses should focus on high energy efficiency and long device usage. For instance, it's beneficial to prioritize advanced battery technologies, such as solid-state batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, and other renewable battery components, to achieve longer usage times between charges and extend the overall battery lifespan. In addition, the integration of renewable or bio-based components in battery production can also reduce the carbon footprint of the manufacturing process. Furthermore, a modular design can be considered as a ground-breaking approach for batteries. It allows users to replace just the drained battery component rather than the entire device, which could effectively extend the device's lifespan, minimize electronic waste, and pave the way for future upgrades without the need for a complete device replacement.

When equipped with energy-efficient components, like optimized cameras that require less power, and user interfaces that guide on power conservation, such design principles can also boost the energy efficiency of smart glasses. These strategies could not only improve the device performance but also play a pivotal role in minimizing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the product's life cycle.

Discussion on sustainable design of smart glasses

Using the conceptual design of smart glasses products as an example, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methodology are demonstrated. According to the results, eight eco-innovation suggestions have been generated to improve the sustainable design of smart glasses, which can be grouped into three categories:

Battery System: It is designed to improve battery longevity, as the high-power consumption of smart glasses and design constraints limit the storage of large batteries. It is based on the Principles of Self-service, Universality, and Periodic Action. Self-sustaining operations, such as harvesting energy from the human body or the environment—like skin charging, sports charging, or solar energy—can be employed as well. Meanwhile, automatically adjusting the frames per second (FPS) of the display content according to need can further increase the battery life of smart glasses, which paves the way for more streamlined designs.

Modularization: Components can be interchanged flexibly to address appearance design, battery life, and optical components, based on the Principles of Taking Out, Beforehand Cushioning, and Parameter Changes. Users can customize their devices according to their preferences, and damaged parts can be replaced individually, thus reducing waste. This design also emphasizes the reusability of products beyond their primary lifecycle.

Sensory Recognition System: Current smart glasses have intricate interfaces, often requiring multiple steps using buttons or touchpads 49 . By applying the Principle of Mechanics Substitution and Another Dimension, these processes can be simplified. Introducing intuitive controls that resonate with users' mental models can help reduce the number of components and boost usability. For instance, while the Nreal AR smart glasses feature a more extensive touchpad, they still miss out on intuitive operations. A shift from traditional buttons or touchpads to sensory interactions, like gestures and voice commands, simplifies user engagement. Such adaptations not only reduce components but also improve the overall user experience.

Each of these categories demonstrates the application of text mining, TRIZ and QFD methodologies in designing smart glasses that are not only technologically advanced but also connect with consumer preferences and sustainability objectives.

Conclusions

The large amount of waste generated by current consumption patterns causes enormous problems in storage, processing, and disposal space. This study introduces a systematic methodology for sustainable product development. The contribution from this study include:

A novel methodology integrating text mining, QFD, and TRIZ has been developed. This framework offers an in-depth. overview of both customer preferences and technical requirements for smart devices, which helps to prevent these smart products from exiting the market and extend their lifespan, aligning with the sustainability goal.

Drawing from the vast data in product reviews, insights into consumer preferences for smart glasses were identified. Key features, such as long battery life, exceptional display resolution, and a broad field of view, are vital in consumer choices. Meanwhile, optical components, specific display resolutions, and battery capacity are considered as core elements for design and development teams.

Recommendations have been formulated for future product development in the smart device industrybased on analysed consumer feedback and technical evaluations. A roadmap for upcoming innovations in this domain has also been proposed through the identified TRIZ principles. For example, unconventional energy-harnessing solutions, modular design approaches, and a shift to intuitive interaction methods, such as gesture controls, indicate the future direction of smart glasses.

In summary, this study not only addressed the challenges faced in sustainable product design, but also demonstrated the feasibility of an integrated innovation design process based on text mining, QFD, and TRIZ. The proposed approach, pioneering in smart device design, combines customer feedback with QFD and TRIZ methodologies to recommend next-gen smart devices, which indicates the importance of feedback in design refinement and production cost reduction. Limitations of the study include the limited data that may not represent all consumer preferences. Future research is required to expand data sources to include more platforms and consumer reviews from diverse cultural backgrounds for greater diversity. Moreover, investigating the sustainable design and development of other smart products to improve their sustainable product development is also necessary.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This research is funded by the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (Project Code: RP2-2) under the InnoHK Research Clusters, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

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Credit Author Statement CKM Lee: Conceptualization, Methodology, PI of the research Funding, Revising YP Tsang: Data curation, Conceptual design formulation. WW Chong, Original draft preparation. YS Au: Writing- Reviewing and Editing JY Liang: Editing.

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Lee, C.K.M., Tsang, Y.P., Chong, W.W. et al. Achieving eco-innovative smart glass design with the integration of opinion mining, QFD and TRIZ. Sci Rep 14 , 9822 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58867-1

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58867-1

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Novel Gas Meter Designs with Improved Accuracy, Reliability, and Cost-Effectiveness

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• Published: 26 April 2024

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• Ishant Jain   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-0189-9092 1 &
• Ganesh Bhoye 1  

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Conventional gas meters are often encumbered by intricate designs and numerous components, leading to complexities and operational challenges. This paper presents a groundbreaking approach to gas meter design simplification, employing the TRIZ methodology to systematically identify and resolve engineering contradictions inherent in traditional designs. Through this rigorous problem-solving approach, four innovative gas meter concepts were conceptualized and thoroughly validated using finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The four novel designs—Scotch yoke mechanism, Möbius loop-based mechanism, turbine mechanism integrated into the floe tube and magnetic ball/plate mechanism—collectively represent a transformative leap forward in gas meter technology. These designs not only offer significant reductions in cost and complexity but also demonstrate enhanced accuracy, reliability, and self-charging capabilities. The Scotch yoke mechanism, with its inherent simplicity and robust performance, emerges as a compelling alternative to conventional pantograph mechanisms. The Möbius loop-based mechanism, characterized by exceptional innovation and a streamlined component count, holds the promise of revolutionizing gas meter design. The turbine mechanism integrated into the piping system, equipped with a self-charging feature and minimal component count, paves the way for the development of smart gas meters powered by thermal sensors. Finally, the magnetic ball/plate mechanism, with its remarkable simplicity and potential for smart system conversion using Hall effect sensors, represents a significant advancement in gas meter design. The successful development and validation of these four gas meter concepts, driven by the TRIZ methodology, mark a pivotal turning point in the gas meter industry. These designs have the potential to revolutionize gas meter technology, paving the way for more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective gas metering solutions.

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Abbreviations.

Inner diaphragm plate

Outer diaphragm plate

End Cap 1 (EC1)

End Cap 2 (EC2)

Measuring Unit Body (MUB)

Manifold grid

Theory of Inventive Problem Solving

Functional Body Diagram

Cause Effect Chain Analysis

Finite Element Analysis

Fluid Structure Interaction

Computational Fluid Dynamics

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Jain, I., Bhoye, G. Novel Gas Meter Designs with Improved Accuracy, Reliability, and Cost-Effectiveness. J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. C (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40032-024-01031-5

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Received : 20 October 2023

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Published : 26 April 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s40032-024-01031-5

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