TRIZ Today and in the Future
RESEARCH PROGRAM "CREATION OF FOUNDATIONS FOR NEW TRIZ"
INTRODUCTION
ETRIA conference TRIZ Future 2002 (6-8 November 2002, Strasbourg, France)
1. WHY IS CREATED OF TRIZ?
The person - a product of a nature. His consciousness was developed many thousand years on the decision of problems of a survival, i.e. on biological problems. Ten thousand years technical evolution back began, it went very slowly, then faster, and with the beginning of the First Scientific - technological Revolution (300 years back) is very fast. The Second STR (second half of 20 centuries) has passed with stunning pace.
At such paces of development of a science and technology at the person the conscious mechanism of development of technology had not time to be forming. The person does not acquired intellection in this area. It is the objective reason of occurrence of TRIZ.
TRIZ adapts human consciousness for properties and laws of technosphere. TRIZ-intellect is intellection trained on Laws of Technical Systems Development (LTSD). A basic difference in "prior-TRIZ-engineers" and of TRIZ-experts that: the first do not want to change of human style (of prior-technological) intellection. And even vice versa they seek help at the opposite side (deep into consciousnesses, in subconsciousness) - but there there are no concepts about technology, there are only subconscious vague instincts, the ancient past of the person. The world - from "bio" to "bio-technological" has changed, but intellection remained at a level "bio".
TRIZ is the tool for forcing of persons "correctly" think of technical systems (TS). This tool "adapt" a head of the engineer (of inventor) so as he might solve problems quickly. A dialectic method (intellection by contradictions) - the tool assisting to the person to understand problems in the world of technology. Actually contradictions in a nature and technology are not presented. So conveniently and effectively to think to the person. ARIZ (Algorithm of Inventive Problem Solving) - is most carefully created tool of TRIZ. The algorithm is a violence for human intellection, his "correction" under requirements of modern development of technology.
2. TRIZ IS A SCIENCE?
let's look the characteristics of TRIZ by the basic criteria of scientific character of theories.
1. The basic criterion (purpose) of a science - detection of objective laws in natural and artificial nature. Certainly in TRIZ such laws are formulated and described: LTSD, standards (it is detailed elaboration of LTSD). The law is an objective substantial and repeating communication of events. LTSD were repeatedly confirmed in real process of designing and in real industrial technologies.
2. A prediction of the future with the purpose of practical use. Research of the past - the Analysis of the present - the Prediction of the future. With help of LTSD it is possible to give exact enough "portrait" of the near future of TS and the approximate forecast of distant development of TS. We frequently use it during innovative designing.
3. Creation of system of knowledge - integration of knowledge in the entire system (theory) of constructed on definite theoretical principles. Today OF TRIZ is a system of the interconnected and interdependent laws, tools, of methods of the analysis, of algorithm and information fund.
4. Objectivity - elimination of the subjective moments from process of development of TS (extraction of a problem from an initial situation, the analysis of a problem, the decision of a problem). For the time being TRIZ only partially conform to this criterion. At many stages subjective factors strongly operate on decision of a problem.
5. Continuous self-updating of conceptual arsenal - contradictory process of reproduction of the knowledge which is forming upcoming system of concepts, theories, hypotheses, laws and other ideal forms and well-defined at natural or in artificial language. This process successfully was being in progress at Altshuller's life till 1985 and has absolutely stopped after his dying in 1998.
6. Strict demonstrative inference, validity of the received results, authenticity of conclusions. TRIZ only in part corresponds with this criterion. Alongside with well advanced tool (ARIZ) in TRIZ there are many effective receptions of the decision of problems (empirically found in patent fund, for example, standards), tools in one's infancy (SFA - Substance-Field Modeling and Analysis), the psychological receptions which only partially well founded (in course RTV - Improvement of Creative Imagination), badly structured information fund, out-of-date receptions (a part of Principles for Physical Contradictions Elimination). There are also hypotheses, guesses, assumptions, probabilistic judgements, which else it is necessary to prove or reject.
7. Formally noncontradictory knowledge. In this sense TRIZ internally noncontradictory, is uniform and is based on uniform principles.
8. Experimental verifiability. All tools of TRIZ were repeatedly checked in practice.
9. Reproducibility of results of use of tools at the decision of problems. If a good level of knowledge of TRIZ and sufficient practice of use of the theory for the decision of problems then very high percentage receiving the identical decisions is reached by different groups of trainees.
10. Openness for criticism. TRIZ was never closed for criticism. Furthermore, TRIZ experience a constant pressure of criticism from competitive scientific schools. It forced of TRIZ to develop intensively.
Thus, TRIZ correspond with the majority of criteria (attributes) of a modern science.
3. WHAT IS TRIZ TODAY?
Intellectual (theoretical) evolution of mankind (the basic law of development of any knowledge) advance via the following stages (French philosopher O.Kont):
♦ a theological stage - an explanation of a nature of objects and the phenomenons by influence of supernatural factors;
♦ a metaphysical (abstract) stage - unnatural factors are replaced with abstract forces ("true substance", "embodied abstraction ");
♦ a scientific stage - by a correct combination of a reasoning and supervision (experiment) the real laws of the phenomena will be learnt.
The scientific stage divide on:
♦ an empirical stage on which phenomenological theories will be forming,
♦ verily scientific on which the formalized theories will originate.
Once E.Rezerford has told: "All sciences about a nature share on physics and collecting of post stamps". Yes, today only the mathematics, physics, cybernetics, computer science and part of chemistry are the formalized sciences. At many other sciences the period of "descriptive zoology" was not finished.
TRIZ, certainly, the phenomenological theory based on empirical laws. In TRIZ a lot of descriptive. TRIZ unites separate knowledges and techniques (LTSD, ARIZ, standards, SFA, indexes of effects, RTV, TRTL - Theory of Creative Personality Evolution, FSA - Function and Cost Analysis.) in which the physics and psychology are mixed.
The purpose of any science - replacement of divine, supernatural, after that - of subjective, of humaniform, of psychological, etc. TRIZ from the very beginning was not comprising anything divine, there are no scholastic abstraction, but for the present are subjective, psychological. These unscientific parts gradually is necessary to replace with the formalized parts of knowledge, from which one step until automation. And creativity (psychology) will proceed in other area of ignorance.
Despite of declared by G.Altshuller the purpose - to make "creativity exact as the science" (it is name of one of his books) to reach this purpose yet was not success.
4. HOW IT WAS CREATED OF TRIZ?
At 60-70 years of the last century G.Altshuller has created system for scientific research, as he spoke: "Reliable system with unreliable elements" - he meant unessential character of connections between researchers of TRIZ. G.Altshuller alternated the periods of theoretical work of a house with departures to seminars of TRIZ in other cities of the USSR. During theoretical work he corresponded with tens active researchers of TRIZ and hundreds interested by the theory. At seminars were making experimental examination of theoretical ideas. To him the information (ideas and concepts) from all researchers was assembling. The main effect of this research program consisted at a filtration and summation of own ideas, experience of received on seminars and ideas from other researchers. Now it is impossible, because is no enough authoritative for all researcher - the continuer. Accepted in some public scientific associations and on sites in the Internet a principle of democratism (all ideas and concepts in one heap) almost useless - no systemic effect, no new quality, there is no progress of the theory. But in such a way many sciences develop - gradually accumulate micro-steps, then arise "especially clever" researcher which generalizes and advances a science forward. Whether it is possible to create "Collective G.Altshuller"? The quantity of different articles about TRIZ in scientific library of Chelyabinsk already now more than 2000 and will be continuously increasing but new the qualitative leap in the theory unlikely will be making.
5. CRITICISM OF TRIZ.
The future of TRIZ in its development. Discontent the present-day state of the theory - the engine of development. TRIZ requires criticism.
What is bad, what does not satisfy today?
At attentive studying of TRIZ there is a set of questions:
1. ARIZ - how to process initial (inventive) situation and precisely to formulate a problem? How correctly build the scheme of the conflict? How many all such schemes? Why quantity of modes of resolution of PhC (Physical contradiction)eleven? etc.
2. The system of LTSD - is incomplete, illogical, there is no general model of process of evolution of TS.
Quantitative insufficiency of laws, principles and heuristic methods for such huge field of knowledge as Technical Systems.
Qualitative heterogeneity of laws; part from them declaratory (the law of non-uniformity of development), others noninstrumental (law of increasing the degree of substance-field interactions), the third only specify directions of development (laws of transition in super-system and from macro- to micro-level).
There is no method of definition of a stage of development of TS with the purpose of forecasting the further steps of development and transformation of parts of TS.
3. Su-Field analysis - why it does not develop as language of the description and the decision of problems? What actions should be in a basis of a similar artificial language (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, implication...)? etc.
4. Standards - how many their should be? Why in them use only two fields (magnetic and electric) but other fields are not entered? Recommendations of standards are approximate - how to increase accuracy of the decision of any problems? etc.
5. Principles for technical contradiction elimination - why them only 40? How many their should be? A part from them have become outdated (in them a lot of casual, characteristic for the 40-years remoteness), where modern? (for example, intellectualization of technology) etc.
6. How to concern to so-called "Theory of Creative Personality Evolution"? Whether has this attitude to development of technical systems?
7. What destiny of methods Improvement of Creative Imagination - this prop (crutch) for TRIZ?
8. So-called "General Theory of Advanced Thinking", which else is not present, it will be simple the theory adequate (in relation to techno-sphere) thinking, i.e. reflecting of objective laws of development of TS. The technology - area in which of human (sensual) is less than 50 %, therefore here dictate technical laws, in contrast to, for example, art in which share of human (sensual) is 100 %.
9. Сarelessness and indeterminacy of TRIZ - the reason of occurrence of numerous "updatings" and distortions of the theory. Such theory is easy for transforming to everything. There are hybrids of TRIZ and activation of methods of search of variants more often. Not less frequently former researchers of TRIZ try to create certain mutants of TRIZ - the toolings, the own "great" theory. Now is beginning the period of entropy of TRIZ. The effort to some preservation of the basic nucleus of knowledge in TRIZ is necessary.
10. TRIZ consists of two parts: of verbal (expressed in language) and of nonverbal, implicit knowledge which is transferring from the teacher to the pupil.
It is possible to go on way of G.Altshuller: to search and accumulate laws, to expand area of standard decisions, to increase quantity Su-Field formulas, to burnish of ARIZ, to add new steps (first - the entrance block), to expand Indexes of effects and to try structuring them in a uniform database (DB) and if it will be possible - in base of knowledge (BK).
But many of TRIZ-experts which practically are engaged in innovative designing of complicated systems the verbal philosophy of TRIZ about the general laws of development of TS already does not suit. It is required to find ways and methods of strict formalization of these reasonings on the basis of mathematics, logic, cybernetics, computer science and other exact sciences.
6. WHY TRIZ DOES NOT DEVELOP AFTER 1984?
TRIZ approximated to limit of the development as a phenomenological science in 1984. Ideas of development of the theory were terminated and new concepts have not appeared. And the author of TRIZ has reached a level of his own incompetence therefore and development of TRIZ has stopped. The empirical part of researches where he felt himself as the virtuoso in creation of hypotheses, in their acknowledgement, in construction of algorithm and its check on tens of seminars was finished. He has made grandiose transition from the religious attitude to creativity, to invention - to scientific research of process of creativity in technology. Transition from belief to empiricism. But ideas which supplied his work of 40 years were terminated. One of the reasons was also our research work - (1).
Main objective of development of TRIZ - increasing of accuracy of the decision of problems and narrowing of area of nonsolved problems. For achievement of this purpose of G.Altshuller periodically changed direction of development of TRIZ - that tools of development of TS, that tools of development of the person (creative imagination, the creative person). Or otherwise: that TRIZ, that prop (crutch) for TRIZ. It is infinite process for the phenomenological theory. "Correction" of the person - absolutely unpromising process. Exception of subjectivity and increase of accuracy is possible only at creation of the formalized theory.
7. THE FOLLOWING STEP IN DEVELOPMENT OF TRIZ.
7.1. Formalization of knowledge.
The following transition - formalization of knowledge. Only formalization will precisely allow to reveal lacks, defects, an illogicality and discrepancy of separate tools, laws and recommendations. Only it will give a direction of scientific search and works.
What should lay in the basis of process of formalization of TRIZ? Only its "the senior brothers (sisters)" of science - mathematics (mathematical modelling and logic), systemic analysis and synthesis, cybernetics...
Formalization will enable performing of authentic computerization of TRIZ.
Laws in TRIZ are received from immediate supervision of a technical reality (the analysis of technical decisions concentrated in world's patent fund) therefore they is empirical laws. Empirical laws speak about repeatability of the phenomenas, but do not open their reason, do not reply to question "why?". In it difficulties of a recognition of TRIZ by science - frequently state doubts in objectivity of these laws, in their completeness and the truth. In this sense TRIZ situate on the first stage of development of scientific knowledge (the first layer of laws is formulated, this layer is fragmentary, incomplete, the part from them may be erroneous). And the name of TRIZ the theory (30 years back) had outstripping (desirable) sense. For these 30 years only top of an iceberg is created and realized: the part of laws is borrowed from other sciences, the part is taken from marxism and dialectic materialism, the part is formulated independently.
The following stage - creation of theoretical base of TRIZ (is more exact - Theory of Technical Systems Development - TTSD). What is the strong theoretical basis? It first of all a small set of the obvious truths (axioms) which ensue from an objective technical reality and founded on basic concepts of genuine (avowed) sciences - physics, cybernetics and mathematics (and may be chemistry). It also a set of precise (of unequivocal, of unambiguous) of definitions and statements which made by rules of formal logic. And, certainly, logically faultless deducing of empirical laws from axioms and initial statements. Only such "pile" (concepts - piles "hammer in" an objective reality) the structure has 100 %-s' right to be referred to as the scientific theory. In process of construction of such the structure simultaneously there will be originating two processes:
♦ rejection of false laws, formulations and concepts,
♦ revealing of true, logical elements of the theory.
The second process will provide also completeness of system of laws and standards. Today there are no criteria of selection of laws and standards, it is not known how many them should be - 100? 1000? Therefore today loses sense to develop of TRIZ on an empirical field (search of new laws and standards in patent fund) - such work is infinite and indefinite.
Classical example of formalization - geometry of Euclide. As the starting points is accepted (is formulated) 7 axioms and 5 postulates in result of deductive inference 460 theorems are received.
The verity, logicality and entirety of knowledge of laws of synthesis and development of technical systems will enable creating of genuine "machine of TRIZ" (more precisely "machine-TTSD"). Such "machine" will provide accuracy of development of TS - instead of today's (already numerous) of computerization of similaritys and imitations. At full end of work at the theory such "the logic machine" will be built (as "the genetic device") into self-generating and self-developing parts of technic-sphere - the second nature.
7.2. Model of work of tools of TRIZ.
It is possible to present occurrence, development and the future of TRIZ as follows (the idea of representation is taken from the book (2)).
Lj – Language object, name
Sj – Model of a condition of technical object in a brain of the person
Rj – Real technical object (or change of its condition, for example, as a result of the invention)
Some lack of technical object R1 is modelling (describing) in model S1 which then coded by language object L1 (for example, Su-Field formula). With the help of syntax (rules of operating language objects) make transformation L1 in L2 (the problem is solved). Language object L2 is decoded in model S2 over which any changes in real technical object will be making (R1 transform into R2). Transition from L1 to L2 with help ARIZ is do by steps, and with the help of standards - in one step. The forecast of development of TS is transition from L1 to L2, and further to Ln do without a stage of decoding.
Semantics and syntax of TRIZ were created by reverse motion: conditions of objects R1 and R2 - what is sense and what level of the invention were studied (were selected only most creatively strong). Then it was studied by what method transition from L1 to L2 was received. Such methods were classified (in Principles for Technical Contradiction Elimination, in Standards). Studying of groups of methods helped to formulate laws. Studying of transitions R1 → S1 → L1 has helped to formulate rules Su-Field analysis.
The special place occupies of ARIZ. In it the method of multicyclic (with repeated return to R1) of many steps (small steps) gradual approximation to L2 through transition R1→ S1→L1.is used.
In mathematics the opportunity of direct-reverse motion of model is describing by the equations. Rules of action with elements of the equations are operations (subtraction, multiplication, extraction of a root etc.).
The way of transformation L1 in L2 is reflected in the formula ("make so!"). The set of formulas, the equations, operations is a formal theory.
In TRIZ up to such level still far...
But the future of TRIZ - the formalized language of the theory.
7.3. What is the formalized language?
Transformation L1 in L2 may be carried out by one of two opportunities:
1. Transformation L1 in L2 make person on the basis of a complex of the information and some rules of a reasoning: the life experience, volume of knowledge, rules of the description of situation S1, rules of transition from S1 to L1 and further to L2 - it is today's TRIZ.
2. Transformation L1 in L2 makes person (or the machine) on the basis of formulas and operations of transition from L1 to L2 is absolute irrespective of the contents of description S1, from life experience, from volume of knowledge - it is the future (new) TRIZ, but more exactly TTSD.
The first case - is the not formalized language, the second - formalized.
Full formalization of language not necessarily means its full algorithmization i.e. when syntax represents a set of precise unequivocal instructions. Rules of transformation L1 in L2 may leave some freedom of actions. It is important only, that these rules and restrictions depend only from kind L1 and from potential object L2 and not depend from semantics and life experience of the person.
7.4. How the formal theory should work?
1. The person has need to improve some TS. This need may be accomplished by the decision of one of four classes of problems (to increase MUF - main useful function, to remove lack, to reduce WSE - weight, sizes, consumed energy, to add new useful function). This administrative contradiction (I want but I do not know as it to make).
2. The theory should have a set of exact rules and tools - as extract from this initial situation of problem R1.
3. The formulation of model of a problem - transition R1→S1 by rules or over formulas.
4. Transition from model to object of formal language S1→L1.
5. Transformation over formulas L1 in L2.
6. The formulation of model of the decision - transition L2→S2 by rules or over formulas.
7. A formulation of required change in TS transition S2→R2 by rules.
Well formalized theory is a language machine which may work with the minimal participation of the person. The person participates only at a stage of a formulation of a problem ("colouring" of technical reality by the subjective desires is consequence of the law of continuous growing of needs of the person) and at a stage of decoding of the received decision.
The formal theory will give correct results only if semantics of language will have three important properties: accuracy, definiteness, unambiguity. If semantics has no these properties, we can not make such formal transformations L1 in L2 which always resulted in right answers.
Language today's TRIZ does not correspond by this properties. Therefore is necessary, so as disciple of TRIZ will imbibed also nonverbal knowledge ("caught a virus of knowledge") which "is radiated" by the skilled teacher of TRIZ. Also methods improvement of creative imagination therefore are necessary. Attempts of creation "theory of creative personality evolution" therefore were undertaken. Therefore G.Altshuller last years was engaged in algorithm of synthesis of scenarios of fairy tales which the based over simple reception "thesis - antithesis".
8. WITH WHAT FORMALIZATION SHOULD BEGIN?
Simultaneously there should be two processes:
♦ a formulation of definitions, of axioms and postulates.
♦ "atomization" of knowledge about TS - designation of elementary (indivisible) parts of TS, of "bricks" from which is possible to compose model anyone of TS.
Only these two processes may lead to (when they will amalgamate) occurrence of formal language of descriptions, classifications and transformations of anyone of TS.
Only such language will enable creating of prognostic descriptions of the future of TS, of ways of development techno-sphere.
Process of "atomization" and of formalizations of knowledge about TS will enable to find out the most general and objective laws of development of TS - just as it has taken place, for example, in chemistry (table of D.M.Mendeleev) or in biology (laws of G.I.Mendel and T.C.Morgan). But for this purpose technical objects ("atoms", "bricks") should become identical, as atoms or genes. This generality, similarity of relations allow to establish laws and basis of a science. Laws of genetics were open by G.I.Mendel on peas and by T.C.Morgan on fly Drosophila, but used to all of biological objects.
Scientific method at which underlie objectivity, reproducibility, an openness to new, - great conquest of human intellect. This method developed and improved and was selected as the most rational - from the requirement of a minimum of losses of time and ideas. Already more than three centuries the science is guided by it, and thus of nothing not was ruining.
Ultimate aim of TRIZ is the exact prediction of processes of transformation of TS from initial a condition in a final condition. This transformation is always determined by connections between "atoms", by laws of change and development of TS.
9. BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE FORMAL THEORY.
The formalized theory should contain:
♦ the Initial bases - fundamental concepts, principles, laws, axioms etc.
♦ the Idealized object - abstract model of essential properties and connections of investigated subjects (absolutely black body, ideal gas), here - model of TSЛогика теории – совокупность правил и способов доказательства, нацеленных на прояснение структуры и процесса изменения знания.
♦ Philosophical purposes and value judgments.
♦ Set of laws and the statements deduced as consequences from substantive provisions of the given theory according to concrete principles.
The essence of creation of proven TRIZ (new TRIZ) consists in transition from intuitively-empirically found bases to rules and laws of substantiation of these bases by creation of the deductive theory. Here as a minimum two stages: 1) fragmentation of positions into the elementary atomic statements, 2) deducing from these statements of initial bases.
Main principles of construction of the formalized theory.
1. The principle of non-contradictory theory - quality of system of sentences (of bases of the theory) consisting in this what with the help of logic means (rules of deduction) in this theory is impossible to deduce the contradiction from these offers, i.e. a pair of sentences, each of which is denying of another (A and not-A). The logic contradiction is inadmissible.
This principle - the basic necessary condition of a correctness of reasonings, criterion of separation of correct reasonings from wrong.
First of all should be provided non-contradictory axioms (statements).
It is provided with the following requirements:
- Axioms should be CCF (correctly constructed formulas),
- Axioms should be minimal,
- Axioms should be most convenient for formation of the big formulas
The correctness of a conclusion of theorems from axioms should be intuitively clear and strictly logical.
2. A principle of completeness of axiomatics:
- Sufficiency of the chosen combination of the beginnings of system to express all other elements of system,
- Sufficiency extend not only on process of deduction (construction) of more complex formulas from the elementary, but also on process of deduction (construction) of statements about complex subjects from statements about the elementary.
Formalization means expression of the contents of knowledge in alphanumerical formalisms, in the formalized language. From the contents of initial concepts and axioms digress, and in the symbolical form represent rules of definition of derivative concepts, rules of construction of derivative offers, logic rules of a conclusion of theorems from axioms. The proof in this case appears as a sequence of formulas, each of which is or an axiom, or earlier deduced of formula. Check of correctness of the proof becomes mechanical procedure which can be carried out the computer.
The formalized axiomatic theory represents deductively closed system within of which aspire to comprehensive proof of all correctly formulated offers on the basis of the accepted axiomatics.
Isolation of the theory does not suppose connection with the empirical data, the theory appears as something independent of an external world, with internally sufficient means for the statement of the non-contradictory and the truth.
3. A principle of independence.
Aristotel:
- The beginnings are not deduced one from another, not from something another.
- The axiom which is not deduced from other axioms, will be called as independent of axioms, and the system of axioms in which any axiom is not deduced from the others, will be called as as independent system of axioms.
The syntactic requirement of inadmissibility of deductive dependences between axioms - main attribute of a principle of independence.
The researcher becomes above the theory and assort CCF (correctly formulated formulas), classifies them on deductively independent and deductively dependent. The first are included in axiomatics of the theory, the second - in set of derivative statements of the theory.
References
1. Salamatov Y.P., Kondrakov I.M. (1984) "Idealization of Technical Systems on example of TS - Thermal tube" Krasnoyarsk, USSR, the manuscript
2.Turchin V.F. (2000) "Phenomenon of the science. The cybernetic approach to evolution". Moscow, 2000, p. 219, ISBN 5-93386-019-0.
