Design News has a highly creative, intelligent, and innovative audience.
The more I read and respond to comments on the stories posted on our site, the more impressed I am with you, our readers, and your knowledge. Many audience members not only have theoretical knowledge in the areas they've trained in to track down problems, but also the kind of practical, hands-on experience that makes it possible to fix washing machines or re-engineer a lawnmower. We see both in the Sherlock Ohms and Made by Monkeys columns.
But I also see readers make creative, interesting comments on posts that go beyond immediate concerns, along the lines of "what would happen if you combined this feature or technology over here to solve a design problem with that entirely different other product class over there." For instance, in my recent article, 3D Printing & Robots at MD&M West, a thread started during a discussion about Rethink Robotics' Baxter, mentioned in the article as being designed from the ground up to be safer around humans. Readers were discussing various methods of making robots sense that a human was present or nearby, not a part to be picked up, so the robot would not run into the human or harm them in any way.
One reader commented:
I wonder if the flesh-sensing technology used in saws (i.e. table saws) would be able to be integrated into the 'skin' of a robot to help it identify humans. Since the saw companies are resisting using the technology, perhaps the robot industry would be able to incorporate it.
That kind of cross-platform creative thinking reminded me of the best of Silicon Valley-style innovation, which is where we got the now overused, but once illuminating, phrase "thinking outside the box."
As it turned out, other readers chimed in with some experience about that SawStop technology and the result is it may not make sense for robots. But that's important to know. It's especially helpful to know why, so engineers can make up their own minds and decide if the trade-offs are worthwhile, or if perhaps the technology could be applied in other designs.
For example, one reader said the SawStop technology has a sensing mechanism that wouldn't work around humans, an expensive reset process, and a tendency toward false stops. Another said SawStop has licensing fees, presumably expensive ones, and pointed out one reason it may not have caught on in the power tool industry was the need for retooling.
What if this was an idea that would work in this application? Maybe Rethink Robotics has already thought of it, but maybe they haven't. Or maybe one of their competitors would be interested in this idea. But all the potentially great ideas like this tend to get buried on the comment boards.
So I'd like to propose a forum on Design News that focuses on innovative, problem-solving design ideas where individual engineers and companies like robot manufacturers can trade comments and suggestions like these. What do you think? What are your ideas about how this could or should work? Please give us your suggestions in the comments section below about how to pull these ideas together, and what kind of forum it should be.
"we're still feeling out interest level at this point and haven't made any decisions yet. After a few more days I'll write another post summarizing what everyone has said."
Ann, it's ok. Many people's have different opinions, you can select the best and adaptable one.
A good Internet forum with a focused subject can definitely become a good community for sharing information and ideas. I visit the Syracuse basketball forum almost everyday even in the offseason as a way to scan for news, links, etc.
In about two weeks, most of the country will be joining you at the college basketball websites, Al. Maybe we can all take a few pointers from the March Madness sites.
It's an interesting idea. There are a number of companies that find solutions for clients through networks of known subject experts. This sounds like an open web version.
I wouldn't worry about IP or NDA's. It's the commenter's responsibility to not reveal a trade secret, and/or protect any IP before it is revealed. Likewise any questioner has to realize that anything published as a response is now in the public domain. So anything good can be used, but the solutions can't be protected and made proprietary. But for most that's okay if it gets you to market earlier.
If you get questions like "how does Cadbury get the caramel in the Caramilk bar", then you may have someone fishing for trade secret's. But if they tell you their problem and don't care if others know the solution, it would work as we expect. Having said that though, you also need a confidential way for anyone who wants to talk off-line to make contact, so they can protect any potential IP they don't want public. In that way the forum can still find solutions for people, without publishing it.
Mydesign, we're still feeling out interest level at this point and haven't made any decisions yet. After a few more days I'll write another post summarizing what everyone has said.
Thanks, Chuck. I especially wanted to hear what you thought. I'm not wedded to the idea, just thought it might make sense if others would use it in the intended way. I do think it would need moderating, though, to keep out unrelated politics, etc. What do you think about that aspect? And what do you think is needed to do it right?
I think a Design Ideas Forum is a GREAT idea. I have always had a deep appreciation of online forums as a great resource and have utilized them frequently. The Microchip forum for PIC programming is a favorite of mine.
I definitely agree with the comment that it needs to be moderated - that will solve many issues that could undermine the purpose of a forum including inappropriate postings and spam.
I believe there should be a disclaimer that warns users not to infringe open NDAs or confidentiality agreements, but a bit of common sense should go a long way here. We shouldn't be afraid to stifle the creativity that occurs when people coming from different perspectives join together to solve a problem because we are afraid of stepping on someones toes...we just need to be wise about it. And as any engineer knows - it is a very long road from idea to actual conception...I think talking about topics and trading ideas does not neccesarily endanger someone's potential for profit as long as confidential information is not divulged.
I think one of the biggest challenges will be structure - organizing it in a way that allows folks to address topics without being scattered all over the place...and who moderates what...is there one topic at a time? Or like Elizabeth suggested - categories similar to what is in place now? Should it be modeled after other online forums? What categories make sense?
While I haven't taken the time to read the comments posted so far, my initial reaction is that whoever is going to host this forum better make it emanently clear of the limits of liability for anyone adopting a circuit / design idea posted. In this modern era of "LITIGATE FIRST, ask questions later", I'd hate to see someone's noble efforts be trashed by some overzealous type!
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