Visualization

Challenge:

As a participant of the district level Science exhibition, I had the task in hand of coming up with a science  project idea. The project scope included an idea about scientific solution or technique of managing the  pollutant emission from industries as well as vehicles by either reducing the emission or using it for  some constructive purpose. The project can be a non-working project which just displays the idea and  hence limits the budget. We were a team of 4 members and it was necessary for each of us to  understand various environmental issue and gain consensus on a single issue to stick to for building the  project and collectively derive the plan for building the project. Also the project should comply with  basics laws of science and there was a deadline of 20 days.

Selection:

The first tool I used was Visualization. Visualization is a Design Innovation technique that helps, using  graphics, to create a virtual simulation in one’s mind and tells the story. Basically, it’s a step by step  approach of connecting dots.

As it would have been useless to move randomly with the ideas and start building a project without an  end to end visual image of process flow and as a result incur additional cost by scrapping the project if  the idea fails, Visualization helped to gain proper understanding of the environmental problems through  constructive imagination and select one problem from it for the project and then use it to further  visualize the structure of our project. Also, constant feedback from each member visual understanding  can help in incorporating various minor and major drawbacks in implementation of the structural idea of  the process for the project. We used a set of questions before gaining confidence in one idea to make  sure we consider every possibility of the process implementation.

Application:

We started the process by noting down various pollutants present in the emissions from industries and  vehicles and their effects. Wherever we were unable to gain an insight or needed further information,  we consulted some environmental management mentors from few institutes. The pollutants list  included Sulphur which depletes ozone layer, Nitrous and carbon compounds which are harmful for  breathing. After jotting down everything, the final effect which came up was continuously increasing  temperatures due to greenhouse effect caused due to excess atmospheric carbon dioxide. Next,  everybody imagined about the various effects of increasing heat on the planet and each member  created sticky notes of their views. Once all the notes were in front of everybody, it helped the members  to consider a prominent effect which can be converted to one’s advantage. That was vaporization of  water which, if produced in a significant amount, has enough energy to run a small turbine to produce  enough electricity to light a small bulb.

Once the process flow was visualized, a basic flow chart was drawn which included the major processes  required from end to end.

After that we assigned individual process to each member. We created 4 columns, in the order of  process flow previously decided, on the vision board, representing the target process assigned to each  member. Then each column was provided with constraints, effects, solution and remarks field. One  could either write or use sticky notes for their columns. After each idea formation and validation using

some questionnaire like 1). Does it follow the basic law of nature? 2). Is the material for its construction  available? 3). What is the approximate cost incurred for its construction? 4). What will be the size of it?  etc., its possibility of connecting the flow to the subsequent process was ensured. If the flow was not  possible, modification in the idea was undertaken and again validated through questionnaire. Once the  entire process flow and its construction idea was formulated, each member was allowed to provide their  input and query for the overall process. After that a computerized labelled diagram and simulation was  prepared using animation software. This helped each member to get a visual image of the final project  construction and task needed to achieve it as well as precautions to be considered while construction of  the project.

Insight:

The major insight gained from this activity was that graphical representation is very essential to develop  the thinking process in a clear and understanding manner as well as it helps in eliminating design defects  through subsequent feedback process, finally resulting into a compelling product. The solution to a  challenge initiated with almost close to zero information gradually starts to develop using the step by  step visualization thinking. A significant rule one can follow in design thinking visualization is to always  consider the cause and effect of an idea into consideration and continuously validating the idea using  questionnaire. It saves huge number of random moves and keeps the team from deviating the target  vision and process flow.

Instead of moving randomly with loads of ideas and solutions, visualization tool helps in moving in well  organized pattern thus eliminating extra effort. Also, it helps in identifying the root cause as well as  potential root cause of any problem occurred during the implementation stage. Also, it helps in  identifying lack of information and data.

As an alternate approach, one may use various virtual visualization tools available to save time and  increase efficiency in idea generation as these tools automatically takes under consideration various  parameters and aspects connected to the idea according to the fed data dynamically displays the results  which serves as a feedback for modification in the idea formation.


Visualization Challenge : As a participant of the district level Science exhibition , I had the task in hand of coming up with a science project idea . The project scope included an idea about scientific solution or technique of managing the pollutant emission from industries as well as vehicles by either reducing the emission or using it for some constructive purpose . The project can be a non - working project which just displays the idea and hence limits the budget . We were a team of 4 members and it was necessary for each of us to understand various environmental issue and gain consensus on a single issue to stick to for building the project and collectively derive the plan for building the project . Also the project should comply with basics laws of science and there was a deadline of 20 days . Selection : The first tool I used was Visualization . Visualization is a Design Innovation technique that helps , using graphics , to create a virtual simulation in one ’s mind and tells the story . Basically , it ’s a step by step approach of connecting dots . As it would have been useless to move randomly with the ideas and start building a project without an end to end visual image of process flow and as a result incur additional cost by scrapping the project if the idea fails , Visualization helped to gain proper understanding of the environmental problems through constructive imagination and select one problem from it for the project and then use it to further visualize the structure of our project . Also , constant feedback from each member visual understanding can help in incorporating various minor and major drawbacks in implementation of the structural idea of the process for the project . We used a set of questions before gaining confidence in one idea to make sure we consider every possibility of the process implementation . Application : We started the process by noting down various pollutants present in the emissions from industries and vehicles and their effects . Wherever we were unable to gain an insight or needed further information , we consulted some environmental management mentors from few institutes . The pollutants list included Sulphur which depletes ozone layer , Nitrous and carbon compounds which are harmful for breathing . After jotting down everything , the final effect which came up was continuously increasing temperatures due to greenhouse effect caused due to excess atmospheric carbon dioxide . Next , everybody imagined about the various effects of increasing heat on the planet and each member created sticky notes of their views . Once all the notes were in front of everybody , it helped the members to consider a prominent effect which can be converted to one ’s advantage . That was vaporization of water which , if produced in a significant amount , has enough energy to run a small turbine to produce enough electricity to light a small bulb . Once the process flow was visualized , a basic flow chart was drawn which included the major processes required from end to end . After that we assigned individual process to each member . We created 4 columns , in the order of process flow previously decided , on the vision board , representing the target process assigned to each member . Then each column was provided with constraints , effects , solution and remarks field . One could either write or use sticky notes for their columns . After each idea formation and validation using some questionnaire like 1 ) . Does it follow the basic law of nature ? 2 ) . Is the material for its construction available ? 3 ) . What is the approximate cost incurred for its construction ? 4 ) . What will be the size of it ? etc . , its possibility of connecting the flow to the subsequent process was ensured . If the flow was not possible , modification in the idea was undertaken and again validated through questionnaire . Once the entire process flow and its construction idea was formulated , each member was allowed to provide their input and query for the overall process . After that a computerized labelled diagram and simulation was prepared using animation software . This helped each member to get a visual image of the final project construction and task needed to achieve it as well as precautions to be considered while construction of the project . Insight : The major insight gained from this activity was that graphical representation is very essential to develop the thinking process in a clear and understanding manner as well as it helps in eliminating design defects through subsequent feedback process , finally resulting into a compelling product . The solution to a challenge initiated with almost close to zero information gradually starts to develop using the step by step visualization thinking . A significant rule one can follow in design thinking visualization is to always consider the cause and effect of an idea into consideration and continuously validating the idea using questionnaire . It saves huge number of random moves and keeps the team from deviating the target vision and process flow . Instead of moving randomly with loads of ideas and solutions , visualization tool helps in moving in well organized pattern thus eliminating extra effort . Also , it helps in identifying the root cause as well as potential root cause of any problem occurred during the implementation stage . Also , it helps in identifying lack of information and data . As an alternate approach , one may use various virtual visualization tools available to save time and increase efficiency in idea generation as these tools automatically takes under consideration various parameters and aspects connected to the idea according to the fed data dynamically displays the results which serves as a feedback for modification in the idea formation .