Cardboard Bicycles and Rubber Ducks on Ice (Low-Cost Solutions to Expensive Problems)
By: David MastersThe Space Pen
In the 1960’s space race NASA invests billions of dollars in new technologies that will make American astronauts first on the moon.
One important technology is a pen; the astronauts must record their findings. Ordinary pens can’t function in zero gravity (ink needs gravitational pull to move from pen to page), so over $1 million is invested designing a specialist space pen that works in weightless conditions.
At the same time, the Russians are also spending billions on space technology. However, when it comes to writing in space, they decide to save money for more important research and opt for a simpler, cheaper solution. They look around them for an answer that already exists, and they don’t have to look far.
Russian astronauts use a pencil.
NASA failed to remember this lesson. As frustrated NASA scientists re-discovered recently, great ideas don’t have to come at great expense. It’s often the cheapest solutions that work best.
“Our greatest lack is not money for any undertaking, but rather ideas.”
~ Robert H. Schuller
How to Measure Climate Change with Children’s Toys
NASA scientists want to find out whether melted glacial ice from the Arctic ends up in the ocean. Installing their most sophisticated probes, they wait for data. No data comes. The probes are refusing to share their discoveries.
America’s space agency, one of the most well-funded scientific research groups in the world, has tried their best technology to solve a problem, and failed.
A meeting is held to find another way to collect the data. Having exhausted every possible solution from their usual box of scientific tricks, the researchers must radically transform their approach.
Idea after idea is talked through, analysed, and rejected. Then one scientist who has been sitting deep in thought whilst the others argue, speaks up:
“We could use rubber ducks.”
The room erupts with laughter. Has he lost his mind?
The speaker’s face remains serious, and the laughter stutters to a halt. He explains his idea, and after much deliberation, rubber ducks are accepted as the ideal solution.
The NASA scientists decide to put numbered rubber ducks on the melting glacial ice, with contact details and the promise of a reward attached. If the rubber ducks are found floating out at sea, it is obvious that melted glacial ice ends up in the ocean. If the rubber ducks are discovered in pools of melted ice between piles of snow, then it’s clear that melted glacial ice remains in the Arctic.
The rubber duck solution was backwards to NASA’s usual approach. The scientists were stuck in the habit of solving problems by researching more advanced technology. Before they came up with a solution, they were forced to realised that in following a well trodden path, they were looking for ideas in the wrong places.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
~ Robert Frost
How to Destroy the Profit-Margins of Bicycle Thieves
In the UK, a bike is stolen every 71 seconds. Bike makers know this. They also know that the fear of bike theft makes people think twice before buying a bike. So they research more effective locks and chains.
The problem is that the strongest locks are the most expensive to make. People buying bikes want strong but cheap locks.
Engineering student Phil Bridge approaches the problem backwards and comes up with a wacky but highly effective solution. Instead of designing a shiny-new superlock, make it unprofitable for thieves to steal. Make the bikes very, very cheap.
Costing $25 brand new, and just $5 for a replacement frame, Phil’s bike is almost worthless and completely pointless to steal. The low price is possible because the bike is made from recycled waterproof cardboard.
Action Summary
- The greatest ideas are often the simplest and cheapest, but not the most obvious.
- Key to being a good idea maker is creating ideas for which you have access to the necessary resources.
- When your usual problem-solving approach fails, turn the problem upside down, inside out , and back to front.
###
American pen maker Paul Fisher spent $1 million developing a space pen that works in a vacuum, with no gravity, and at temperatures as high as 150°C and as low as -120°C. The pen does not burn even in a 100% oxygen atmosphere.
NASA astronauts started using the pen in 1967. Russian astronauts adopted the pen in 1969.
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David-
The space pen story is an urban legend.
See http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp
Thanks Ken. Snopes was one of my main research sources for this story. Legends tell important truths about being human.
It’s also true that NASA adopted the space pen two years before Russian astronauts, who still chose to use a pencil.
Nice stuff.
So I’m volunteering for this event at Stanford, and very eager to get attendees. What’s the smart way to get people there? Ppl recommend Twitter? Any tips are more than welcome.
Thx.
I’m not a marketing expert, but in basic terms you need to know who you’re targeting, where these people hang out, and what you’re offering that these people want.
If the people you’re targeting follow you on Twitter, and you can make it clear on Twitter what you’re offering, then Twitter could work.
For local events, posters and leafleting to your target audience will probably be more effective.
Reminds me of the time I had to give an underwater test for a scuba diving exam. The study manual came with a slate and nothing to write with. We scratched our heads over what was used to write underwater until we remembered the space pen story. Turns out the pencil serves it’s purpose underwater just as it does in space and on land. Lesson learned. =)
Simplicity & just plain old common sense does goes a long way.
This is a very well presented article with a very simple but often forgotten point.
Noreen, that’s an awesome story! Wonderful creative thinking.
Glad you enjoyed the post.
Nice article Ankesh. Thanks.
Back in the days before health care costs skyrocketed, due in part to expensive technology, and a demand by the public that somebody else be responsible for their health care – like insurance companies or the government, nurses used to have simple solutions for tough problems.
A friend of mine was an Army nurse in the 60s. She told me they treated soldiers who had to have catheters inserted in their bladders by irrigating the bladder with vinegar. They never had any problems with bladder infections… an all to frequent problem with people who have to have catheters today.
And if you happen to think having a catheter is something uncommon, I assure you it isn’t. Anyone who has surgery where there is a need for general anesthetic must have a catheter inserted during the surgery. And because it can take at least 24 hrs before normal bladder control is possible, it’s not unusual to leave it in for several days.
Thanks Rod, that’s a great example of how simpler and cheaper solutions can often be more effective.
Fascinating stories to say the least there. The rubber ducks idea was brilliant.
Thanks Michael. I expect there was a lot of debate between NASA scientists before the rubber ducks were accepted – being able to think differently tends to create conflict.
The problem with pencils in space is that the graphite shavings can float around and short out electrical panels.
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NASA scientists want to find out whether melted glacial ice from the Arctic ends up in the ocean. Installing their most sophisticated probes, they wait for data. No data comes. The probes are refusing to share their discoveries.
America’s space agency, one of the most well-funded scientific research groups in the world, has tried their best technology to solve a problem, and failed.
A meeting is held to find another way to collect the data. Having exhausted every possible solution from their usual box of scientific tricks, the researchers must radically transform their approach.
The problem with pencils in space could be that the graphite in the pencil could be flammible in the 100% oxygen environment that they used in the early space capsules. Since the fire, less flammible mixtures were used, but I bet that new less flammible mixture required redesigning the capsule for higher pressure, costing many millions of dollars.