40 inventive principles / #27
#27 Cheap short-living objects
What it says
- Replace a costly object with several cheap ones, accepting shorter life.
Examples
- Software
- Throwaway prototypes; ephemeral test environments.
- Business
- Short low-cost experiments instead of one big bet.
- Engineering
- Disposable surgical instruments.
- Everyday life
- Paper plates for a party.
Where the matrix suggests it
The classic contradiction matrix suggests Cheap short-living objects in 122 of its 1,248 filled cells. Most often for these conflicts:
- Improving Weight of moving object worsens Ease of manufacture
- Improving Area of stationary object worsens External harm affects the object
- Improving Stability of the object's composition worsens Use of energy by stationary object
- Improving Strength worsens Duration of action of moving object
- Improving Strength worsens Ease of repair
- Improving Strength worsens Difficulty of detecting and measuring
- Improving Duration of action of moving object worsens Strength
- Improving Duration of action of moving object worsens Ease of manufacture