CREAX Directed Variation newsletter

Dear CREAX newsreader,
October was a busy month. Our innovation school (INNEU) is almost ready, the TRIZ conference was a success and our new online software, DIVA, is ready to be previewed. Read more below.
The highlights of this issue are:

A-Knopf - An asymmetrical button	Integrated bike rack - Bike rack fits inside car bumper
Monopackaging - Bottle and closure in one part	PowerRoof - Roof covering that generates electricity
USBCell - AA batteries charge via USB	Company news

Innovation Highlights

	A-Knopf
	This asymmetrical button is so designed that the elderly and people with a handicap, can easily use the button for closing their clothes. The button is easier to grip, and the lip helps the user to find the button hole and push the button through. http://www.sentha.udk-berlin.de filed under: textile & clothing, personal care Property spectrum: Asymmetry Changing the asymmetry of an object can greatly increase its operability. This button is an excellent example of changing asymmetry. From a symmetrical round button to one that is non-symmetric makes it easier to use.
	Integrated, foldable bike rack
	Opel has managed something quite unique; a smart feature. The integrated, foldable bicycle holder. Available as an option for the Opel Antara and Opel Corsa models at about SEK 7.000:- (approx. GBP 500:-). It's an ingenious little contraption. The FlexFix system is essentially a drawer that can be pulled out from the car's rear bumper. On it are two wheel-mount bike racks, an extra rear license plate, and supplemental brake lights. When not in use, you wouldn't even know the system was there if not for the drawer cutout. It's the kind of killer innovation that's been sorely lacking from the American automakers for some time. http://www.smartstuff.se filed under: leisure, automotive Property spectrum: Flexibility Increasing flexibility is one of the most applied properties. Many products evolve from rigid to completely flexible. The main benefits that can be gained from making a similar evolution are better damage protection, more compact folding and the ability to make variations in size. The integrated bike rack has compact storage capabilities.
	Monopackaging
	Unlike the multiple parts usually used in plastic bottles, here the bottle and closure is an integrated single part. This clever solution allows it to create a bottle from a single material in a single process with good recycling potential PRINCIPLE: For the first time a container with integral closure. Bottle and resealable cap consist of just one not as usual two or more parts. RESULT: Substantial cost reduction during production and handling processes, excellent recycling qualities, highly recognizable, single-handed use. USE: The shapes of container and cap-opening can be altered according to the packaged goods (powders, granules, pills or liquids) without compromising the closure principle. http://www.iondesign.de filed under: packaging Property spectrum: Flexibility Similar to the bike rack, this monopackaging has evolved from immobile to completely flexible. The two main advantages here are; the packaging can easily be compacted for recycling and the shape of the packaging can be altered according to the contents.
	PowerRoof
	Powerroof is a high quality roofing membrane with flexible and integrated photovoltaic modules. The direct coversion of solar energy into electric flow ensures distinct energy savings for your house or company. One can speak of 1kWp per 22m˛, even at scattered light the Powerroof system provides electricity. After 20 years, Powerroof still has a guaranteed electrical output of no less than 20%. http://www.waterdicht.be filed under: building & construction, energy, materials Property spectrum: Number of functions This property describes integrating different functions in your product to increase the user convenience. Some of the benefits of adding additional functions are: reducing number of systems required, improved operability and in the case of the PowerRoof, easier to apply. The PowerRoof also leans towards the completely flexible property.
	AA batteries charge via USB
	This month we selected the submission of Leo Muys from Stork Fokker. Rechargeable batteries that charge via USB? Sure, why not? The Moixa USBCELL batteries can be charged using a regular charging station as well as the USB port in your PC, laptop, Xbox 360, or USB car charger. At this point, a USB port is so readily found in your home or office it may be easier to charge it using that instead of lugging around a charger. http://www.usbcell.com/ filed under: energy, computers & accessories Property spectrum: Rhythm coordination Rhythmic action evolves so that continuous action of a system or subsystem evolves towards periodic action. Continuous action allows the batteries to be recharged in a USB port, while the user goes about his other tasks.

Please do not hesitate to send us a great innovation you have spotted. We might include it in our next month issue.

CREAX company news

CREAX seminar
If you enjoy CREAX newsletters, you will enjoy our hands-on Systematic Innovation seminar. Our next 2day seminar is scheduled for the 29th & 30th of November.

CREAX also offers exclusive company specific corporate seminars. Participants learn how to apply the Systematic Innovation Methodology in their day-to-day job in an interactive way. (more info)


Over the last years, over 500 people subscribed and participated with enthusiasm to the Systematic Innovation Methodology seminars. CREAX trains people both during company-specific in-house seminars, and open training seminars:


INNEU website launched
Innovation is the lifeblood of any business enterprise in today’s hypercompetitive global marketplace. The Innovation Institute Europe – INNEU – is, therefore, dedicated to empowering your capability in value creation. Our institution fills a need for a gathering place where people can come together in a spirit of support and cooperation to study and apply innovation methodologies.

On the one hand, our course aims to provide you with practical oriented knowledge and experience-based insights. On the other hand, its structure intends to build the theoretical basis that business leaders require for developing sound judgements.

The Innovation program consists of a comprehensive and highly integrated set of learning experiences that develop management, engineering, and design students into professionals capable of managing and leading the innovation process. The aim is for students to obtain practical experience and training in the innovation process.

By choosing to study with INNEU, students will be making the right choice for achieving their goals as the following set of words embody the spirit of INNEU at its best: passionate, teamwork, accountable, committed, open-minded, energizing.

Interested? Have a look at the INNEU website.

DIVA innovative software tool released
DIVA is an online tool for making your product innovation process a lot easier. The tool helps you solve problems in a creative way by using the knowledge from succes stories across all industries. DIVA has the power of the best minds, combined in one tool.

A special preview of our DIVA software is available for readers of this newsletter. If you are interested in a preview, please send a mail to diva@creax.com, or visit the DIVA site.

A successful TRIZ conference
TRIZ FUTURE CONFERENCE has brought together representatives of over 20 countries, with some of these countries represented by more than 10 people. We had a total of over 220 participants during the 3 days, divided relatively equal between TRIZ and Quality. For the sessions' part, a total of 91 proposals of communications (abstracts) have been received while 46 papers have been accepted and presented. This underlines the continuous evolution of the TRIZ community and a growing interest from newcomers.

The tutorials performers
This year, Jack Hipple (basic) and Valery Krasnoslobodtsev (advanced) have successfully completed their task of presenting the TRIZ theory in an pedagogic and reliable way. We do want to thank them for their effort and dedicated time.

The keynote speakers
Any conference has its keynote speakers! The organisational committee has asked their keynote speakers to share their original initiatives or thoughts of importance with the TRIZ FUTURE and Quality Conference audience. We’d like to thank Aleksey Pinyayev, Stephen Lu, Geert Tanghe and Yves Carton, Larry Smith and Jos Borremans

The book Proceedings of the ETRIA TRIZ Future Conference 2006 is available for sale. Send a mail to Nadine Rits for more information and pricing, or check out the link on our website.

The contribution of CREAX: The paper, as published in the conference proceedings book as well as the presentation given by Simon Dewulf on the first day of the conference are available for download. Download the paper and the presentation here.

Upcoming events
CREAX has some busy months ahead, with participation in the following events:

03/11 - Innovation conference
Istanbul - Turkey

06-08/11 - 5th Annual World Food & Innovation Forum
Dublin - Ireland

15-16/11 - Creativity World Forum
Gent - Belgium

21-22/11 - Conference Innovation
Prague - Czech Republic

23-24/11 - Innova
Brussels - Belgium

07-08/12 - 3rd Conference on New products development trends
Moscow - Russia

Miscellaneous

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