40 inventive principles / #34
#34 Discarding and recovering
What it says
- Let parts that have done their job go away (dissolve, evaporate, drop off) or change them while in use.
- Restore used-up parts while the system runs.
Examples
- Software
- Temporary scaffolding code removed after migration; garbage collection.
- Business
- Sunset products that served their purpose.
- Engineering
- Dissolving capsules; rocket stages that drop off.
- Everyday life
- Biodegradable plant pots that go into the soil.
Where the matrix suggests it
The classic contradiction matrix suggests Discarding and recovering in 105 of its 1,248 filled cells. Most often for these conflicts:
- Improving Volume of moving object worsens Temperature
- Improving Volume of stationary object worsens Stability of the object's composition
- Improving Volume of stationary object worsens External harm affects the object
- Improving Speed worsens Ease of repair
- Improving Shape worsens Stress or pressure
- Improving Stability of the object's composition worsens Volume of stationary object
- Improving Duration of action by stationary object worsens Reliability
- Improving Temperature worsens Volume of moving object