40 inventive principles / #25
#25 Self-service
What it says
- Let the object serve, maintain or repair itself.
- Use waste material or energy the object already produces.
Examples
- Software
- Self-healing services that restart on failure; auto-generated docs.
- Business
- Self-service help centre and checkout.
- Engineering
- Self-sharpening blades; regenerative braking.
- Everyday life
- A self-cleaning oven.
Where the matrix suggests it
The classic contradiction matrix suggests Self-service in 49 of its 1,248 filled cells. Most often for these conflicts:
- Improving Weight of stationary object worsens Difficulty of detecting and measuring
- Improving Volume of moving object worsens Measurement accuracy
- Improving Volume of moving object worsens Manufacturing precision
- Improving Duration of action by stationary object worsens Difficulty of detecting and measuring
- Improving Manufacturing precision worsens Volume of stationary object
- Improving Manufacturing precision worsens Ease of repair
- Improving Ease of operation worsens Weight of moving object
- Improving Ease of operation worsens Measurement accuracy