Question the idea, discover the invention

WONG KAH WEIkahwei@nus.edu.sg

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What is an idea?• A formulated thought or opinion• The central meaning or chief end of a particular

action or situation

Merriam Websterhttps://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idea

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What is an invention?

• The action of inventing something, typically a process or device.

Oxford Living Dictionaryhttps://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/invention

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Idea Thought or opinion

InventionDevice or process

QuestioningWhat is the idea?Does the idea solve a problem?

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What is this workshop all about?Start:

1. Asking 5W 1H questions about your idea and the problem it is supposed to solve

2. Applying PESTLE analysis to ask questions from multiple perspectives

3. Asking questions using IDEO's Desirability, Viability and Feasibility

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Questioning

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Found Answers

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5W 1H

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Question To find out…What definition, description, examplesWhen time of the occurrence, frequency of

occurrenceWhere place, location, country, marketWho people affected, influencers, decision

makers, people with resourcesWhy reasons, justifications, motivationsHow method, process, technology, tools

Questioning

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5W 1H

Search for AnswersPrimary and Secondary Research

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Found Answers

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Does the idea solve a problem?

• What is the idea?• What is the problem?

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Exercise 1- What is the idea?

A water filter which is portable and filters contaminantsFor the villagers of Tangkae village, Timor-LesteThe water filter is used when villagers need to drink waterBecause the water filter provides clean drinking waterWater filter uses cloth to filter physical and some organic contaminants and UV light to kill pathogens

Question AnswerQ1. What is the problem? The lack of drinking waterQ2. Who is affected by the problem?

Villagers

Q3. Where does the problem occur?

Tangkae village, Timor-Leste

Q4. When would the problem occur?

Villagers drink water daily. They can get sick from bad water any time.

Q5. Why would the problem occur?

Water source is from groundwater or rivers which are polluted

Q6. How does the problem occur?

Water sources are polluted by unsanitary conditions in the village

Q7. So what if the problem occurs?

Villagers will get sick from waterborne diseases and die because they lack medical help.

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Question Answer MoreQuestions

Q1. What is the problem?

The lack of drinking water What is the quality of the water?

Q2. Who is affected by it?

Villagers

Q3. Where does the problem occur?

Tangkae village, Timor-Leste

Q4. When would the problem occur?

Daily as villagers consume water daily.

Q5. Why would the problem occur?

Water source are from groundwater or rivers which are polluted

Q6. How does the problem occur?

Water sources are polluted by unsanitary conditions in the village

Q7. So what if the problem occurs?

Villagers will get sick from waterborne diseases and die because they lack medical help. 12

Exercise 4: So, what is the problem?

Categorize the problems in PESTLE:PESTLEcategories

Problem Solution

Political/Legal No infrastructure for water, sanitation and medical care

EconomicSocial TechnologicalEnvironmental

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Answers from questioning the problemThe lack of drinking waterWater contaminated by sediments, pathogens, etc.Water sources are 1km away.Villagers don’t know boiling water can kill pathogensTimor-Leste, Tangkae village, 200 villagers, 45min from Dili Tropical forestVillagers drink water daily. They can get sick from bad water any time. They usually get sick after the dry season. The only water sources are polluted. There are no other sources. Water source is groundwater or rivers which are polluted. No proper sanitation or water supply infrastructure. Toilets are holes in the ground. No running water to wash hands.Villagers will get sick from waterborne diseases and die because they lack medical help. Villages are inaccessible as there is a lack of good roads.

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View problem from multiple perspectivesPESTLE categories Problem SolutionPolitical/Legal No infrastructure for water,

sanitation and medical careEconomic Government and people are

poor?Social Villagers lack education?Technological No system to deliver or filter

waterWaterfilter

Environmental Water comes from polluted groundwaterNo other sources of waterVillage is inaccessible 15

Idea Thought or opinion

InventionDevice or process

QuestioningWhat is the idea?Does the idea solve a problem?Is the idea Desirable?Is the idea Feasible?Is the idea Viable?

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Desirability(Human)

Feasibility(Tech)

Viability(Business)

https://designthinking.ideo.com/?page_id=1542

Question your idea

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Desirability(Human)

Feasibility(Technology)

Viability(Business)

Does it serve a need? Is it easily applied? Is there a market for it?

Will it fit into people’s lives?

Is it adaptable? Is it cost-effective to produce?

Will people know how to use it?

Is it sustainable? Who are the majorcompetitors?

Will people want to buy or own it?

What are the potential return on investment?

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Desirability (Human) Desirability questions about water filter

Does it serve a need? What need does the water filter serve?Do the villagers know that the water filter is critical to prevent deaths?

Will it fit into people’s lives? What are the cultural perceptions and attitudes of the villagers to technology?Is there a champion in the village who will readily use the water filter?

Will people know how to use it?

How easy or user-friendly is the water filter for villagers to use? Will they be able to assemble filter on their own?

Will people want to buy or own it?

Will the government or NGOs support equipping and sustain the water filter use? How will they do this?

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Feasibility (Technology) Feasibility questions about water filterIs it easily applied? What are the existing technologies of water

filters?What processes, systems, expertise, skills, time, materials, etc are required to make the water filter?

Is it adaptable? Can the water filters be adapted to produce other things such as electricity?What other types of water can it filter? Are water filter parts easily adapted from locally available materials?Can the water filter be used for different environments?

Is it sustainable? Is it resource-intensive to manufacture or to maintain?What are the environmental impacts of the manufacturing and use of the water filter?

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Viability (Business) Viability questions about water filter

Is there a market for it? Would the water filter be useful for other Timor-Leste villages?What about other Third World countries?What other situations could this water filter be useful for?

Is the product new or niche? What are the alternatives?

What other water filtering devices are in the market which are suitable for Tangkae?

Is it cost-effective to produce? What is the return on investment?

How much do the materials and other resources cost?

Who are the major competitors? What companies are making water filters for Third World countries? How well are they performing?

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Desirability (Human) Questions How to find answersWhat need does the water filter serve?Do the villagers know that water filter is critical to prevent deaths?

Primary research

What are the cultural perceptions and attitudes of the villagers to technology?Is there a champion in the village who will readily use the water filter?

Primary + secondary researchBooks, research papers, news on history, culture, ethnicity, religions, etc of Timor-Leste

Is the water filter easy enough for them to use? Will they be able to assemble filter on their own?

Primary research

Will the government or NGOs support equipping and sustaining the water filter use?

Primary + secondary researchGovernment + NGO websites and documents:Water resources, supply for Timor-Leste, Third World, Asia

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Feasibility (Tech) Questions How to find answersWhat existing technology for water filters are being applied?What processes, systems, expertise, skills, time, materials, etc are required?

Primary + secondary researchPatents, Standards, Handbooks, Manuals, etc

Can the water filters be adapted to produce other things such as electricity?What other type of water can it filter? Are water filters parts easily adapted from locally available materials?Can the water filter be used for different environments?

Primary + secondary researchPatents, Standards, Handbooks, Manuals, Journal Articles, etc

Is it resource-intensive to manufacture or to maintain?What are the environmental impacts of the manufacturing and use of the water filter?

Primary + secondary researchJournal Articles, Conference Papers, etc

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Viability Questions (Business) How to find answersWould the water filter be useful for other Timor-Leste villages?What about other Third World countries?What other situations could this water filter be useful for?

Primary + secondary researchGovernment and NGO documents Journal Articles, Conference Papers, News Sources, etc

What other water filtering devices are in the market which are suitable for Tangkae?

Primary + secondary researchMarket Research Reports, Industry Research Reports

How much do the materials and other resources cost?

Primary + secondary researchProduct reviews, price lists, etc

What companies are making water filters for Third World countries? How well are they performing?

Primary + secondary researchCompany Annual Reports, Investment Analysis, etc,

Idea Thought or opinion

InventionDevice or process

QuestioningWhat is the idea?Does the idea solve a problem?

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Idea Thought or opinion

InventionDevice or process

QuestioningWhat is the idea?Does the idea solve a problem?

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PESTLEcategories

Problem Solution

Political/LegalEconomicSocial TechnologicalEnvironmental

Idea Thought or opinion

InventionDevice or process

QuestioningWhat is the idea?Does the idea solve a problem?Is the idea Desirable?Is the idea Feasible?Is the idea Viable?

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Desirability(Human)

Feasibility(Tech)

Viability(Business)

https://designthinking.ideo.com/?page_id=1542

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Found Answers

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Questioning Increase knowledge Informed decisions

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CONTACT USPATRICK PUpatrick.pu@nus.edu.sg

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