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Where do ideas come from? L.A. experience uses techniques and tech to tap into creative energy.

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@well-being-tech
Emmanuel Swedenborg and William James, among others, observed that there is a brief time, between waking and sleep, when reality begins to w
Where do ideas come from? L.A. experience uses techniques and tech to tap into creative energy.

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Altered states and technology
Neumascape Studio doing two workshops for engineering students at Australian College of Business and Technology - Kandy (Sri Lanka) on creativity, leadership, innovation, and design thinking
Process Reflection
Process Reflection
Acceptance – In this stage, we accepted the prompt for innovation. In this case, rather than being given a specific challenge to tackle, we were given latitude to identify possible problem-opportunity themes. It was interesting to find areas of individual interest, find common areas and then lead to new ideas based on the initial ones. We quickly converged on a general theme that we all found promising.
Analysis - We were able to do a deep dive and confirm our suspicions that we had identified something novel. We found it was not all together new, but rather, we could find a particular angle or application that is original and challenging. This was an important fact finding mission about the problem and available technologies that could support various applications and approaches. We ended rquipped with knowledge about the problem space, who had done what in the space, and what kinds of opportunities exist.
Definition — Now, we could define the problem we wished to address. It was important to state it clearly, succinctly, and in a way that could be easily understood. Framing it as a “how might we” question was a powerful technique. Seven more words were sufficient and made it clear what our solution should. There was still room for defining how exactly and even for whom. We revisited analysis for potential audiences and leaned toward workers who wear PPE and are exposed to high risk.
Ideation - We exercised disciple to put off coming up with solutions until this stage. Now, armed with digital sticky notes, we came up with various user needs. Then, around those, we came up with technology and methods to address said needs. We were able to group the requirements and potential features. Revisiting our morphological analysis, we identified the top 3 ways to deliver a solution.
Selection - I am good with this step as proposed as long as we understand it to be a preliminary selection. The process is iterative and lessons from the trial and testing can lead to redesign.
Implementation - I am also supportive of a parallel process of testing out the top concepts and prototyping them simultaneously, getting feedback from users and putting the ideas to the test for ultimate selection. In our case, we looked at various smart PPE options, while focusing on one. We inquired users about the various options and prompted them to suggest improvements and relay concerns. We rolled all of that back into design and found that a whole range of products would be ideal for the long term. Then, it became an issue of selecting a first product, envisioned as part of a range. We also kept getting feedback of applications for other types of users and novel features, again pointing toward future developments. We decided to exercise restraint and keep to a minimally livable product: just enough to be viable, desirable and feasible.
Feedback / Iterate / Plan - This process is iterative and can also be a generator of the next project as well as valuable lessons learned about the overall process of creative and collaborative problem solving.
Evaluation
For evaluating the performance of the creative problem solving group projects, I would look at originality and impact of the problem, how well the solution speaks to the problem definition, the research depth, the creativity or uniqueness of the solution, sufficient technical feasibility, evidence of commercial viability, evidence of user buy-in (desirability), the aesthetic quality of the solution and visual language of communication, clarity and persuasiveness of the narrative or pitch, the team dynamic (inclusive and enthusiastic), and degree of effort. How likely would I be to invest, donate, purchase or feel excited to be a part of such a project?
I believe that team OnSpyre has been able to focus on the intent and deliverables of each step, making a good faith effort to get a full experience of each stage of the creative problem solving journey. Selecting a project that could save life and limb and improve quality of life made it meaningful and incorporating cutting-edge tech made it exciting and challenging, which all team members craved. We were divergent and creative at the appropriate times and able to make nimble convergent decisions at others, not afraid to make the process as iterative as necessary to reach a satisfying and exciting point, within the given constraints. There was commitment from all members to R&D in-depth and finally to develop user-evidence, a narrative and visual and physical assets to make tangible and credible the technical homework. Something that worked well for our team was a compatibility in regards to trusting each other and the team’s collective chops to figure things out and a commitment to keep the ball rolling and stay ahead of the curve, even as we constantly re-litigated previous steps in a healthy iterative fashion. Nominating a PM and domain leads to moderate that effort and keep us on task was pivotal. Creating assignments while keeping the door open to collaboration and working on things outside our comfort zones for growth and enjoyment was helpful.
Our moment of truth will be the final presentation: can we make an obscure challenge relatable and our solution exciting to a lay audience? (most people do not use PPE on a regular basis, do not know much about the underlying tech, and aren’t familiar with the hazards or work faced by our potential clients).

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Process Journal: Conceptualize It Team OnSpyre collected video stories of real-life accidents and near-misses and developed a story board to illustrate the importance of the unmet need. We ran our solution concept by field personnel who gave us valuable feedback. We collected written and video field feedback confirming the need, learning about “deal breakers” and getting input on features to make PPE smarter but also more comfortable. We worked on 3D modeling as well as building a mockup with integrated EEG and mock modulation, which we photographed and video-recorded. Finally, we also developed illustrative wireframe screens for the companion app. With these visual aides, we intend to build an effective narrative for the “why” and illustrate the solution in a tangible way. This is even more critical for us because we are dealing with a niche area that is foreign to most people. However, everyone can relate to wanting to come home in one piece, if there is a greater appreciation for some of the dangers that these construction/utility workers can face. Having a project manager to keep us on scope and time was very helpful and leaning on and trusting business, design and technical expertise of each lead was helpful. However, there were opportunities for criss-crossing and collaboration, learning and sharing talents that go beyond the silos. @shannondseeger @warren-usc
Implementation
Team Onspyre utilized a business canvas to obtain further clarity on our solution’s audience, how we might reach, communicate and best serve our potential customers. While we fully plan to cooperate and exchange experiences and perspectives, we found it appropriate to assign lead roles overall and for each implementation task: - Technical/Engineering Lead: Nelson @well-being-tech - Design Lead: Warren @warren-usc - Project Manager: Shannon @shannondseeger
At this stage, we consolidated our initial focus on workers who are full-time wearers of personal protective equipment, such as construction and power plant workers. Our solution aims to prevent accidents and critical damage by alerting workers about at-risk states of body and mind, such as rushing or distraction. Sensors and modulation options will be integrated into PPE, creating a whole range of solutions. After securing a foothold in this niche market, we see potential to expand product offerings to other workers who perform high-risk tasks and later on to anyone who suffers from the effects of long-term stress (most people alive). Our team is planning on utilizing wireframing to illustrate what our MVP of an app might look and feel like; the initial device offering can be depicted using modeling or sketches or even a prototype or mockup. To work on our narrative to connect with customers as well as other stakeholders, we began experimenting with storyboarding, obtaining testimonials and soundbytes from “the field,” and stories of accidents or close calls (including video).
Business Model Canvas
Onspyre created this Business Model Canvas collaboratively using an online tool, Canvanizer. As you’ll see shortly, we liked the format for capturing detail.
@warren-usc managed to capture it all in one shot, here.
Mine just looked like this:
Utterly illegible! So here it is in bite-size pieces:
This week, as Team OnSpyre entered implementation, we utilized a business canvas to guide this stage of the creative problem solving process #USC-IYA #ProcessesAndPerspectives
SELECTION: To select the most appropriate idea to address the problem team OnSpyre defined, we reviewed our problem definition and the ideation results. We identified clusters of ideas that reflected key parameters or requirements. We discussed the differences in how the team and customers might respond to the various forms of solutions identified. We converged on a wearable which we thought could help with adoption rate due to the “wow” or “coolness” factor. Generally, and narrowed it down to smart safety eyewear after applying the Kepner-Tregoe method individually and meeting to discuss. We broke off to refine and converged further during a second touch point meeting. At the end, going through the analysis stage morphological exercise was a helpful cross-reference and validation. We found that some items that didn’t seem to correlate well, could work together well, upon further review.
Problem: How might we modulate body and mind to avoid accidents?
Broad Solution: We will modulate body and mind by embedding technology into the personal protective equipment already used in the industries where workers are at a high risk.
Use of the Kepner-Tregoe Method followed by re-visiting Morphological Analysis for validation led to smart safety eyewear with biomonitoring, AR, sound, soft and direct biomodulation, AI/data analytics for individual tracking and for non-identifiable data insights;
Selection
To selected the most appropriate idea to address the problem we have defined, we reviewed our problem definition and the ideation results. We identified clusters of ideas that reflected key parameters or requirements. We discussed the differences in how the team and customers might respond to the various forms of solutions identified. We converged on a wearable which we thought could help with adoption rate due to the “wow” or “coolness” factor. Generally, and narrowed it down to smart safety eyewear after applying the Kepner-Tregoe method individually and meeting to discuss. We broke off to refine and converged further during a second touch point meeting. At the end, going through the analysis stage morphological exercise was a helpful cross-reference and validation. We found that some items that didn’t seem to correlate well, could work together well, upon further review.
Problem: How might we modulate body and mind to avoid accidents?
Broad Solution: We will modulate body and mind by embedding technology into the personal protective equipment already used in the industries where workers are at a high risk.
Use of the Kepner-Tregoe Method followed by re-visiting Morphological Analysis for validation led to smart safety eyewear with biomonitoring, AR, sound, soft and direct biomodulation, AI/data analytics for individual tracking and for non-identifiable data insights;

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Choosing a Solution (Group)
Selection
How might we modulate body and mind to avoid accidents?
Selected solution: Smart Protective Eyewear
Must meet safety requirements for impact as well as heat and chemical resistance.
Monitoring tech:
A combination (EEG, sEMG)
Body temperature
Heart rate
Motion
Additional tech:
Companion mobile app (iOS, Android)
AR for messages/images to be displayed
Audio
AI/Machine learning (could be deployed in v2)
Location/Cam: Hazard recognition (could be deployed in v2)
Modulation:
Alerts/prompts to raise awareness
Pulsing or vibration
Audio guidance - music, guided breathing, mindfulness exercises, safety tips
Bio-modulation (i.e. light, vagus nerve)
Guidance, Proactivity:
Preferences - allows user to customize level and type of modulation
Device prompts you to self-report state of mind and emotions to help validate information inferred from data.
Data:
Dashboard that displays user’s historical data. User can choose level of engagement.
Personal data available only to the user
Anonymous data available in the aggregate for insight gathering
Criteria used:
Established goals (elements and outcomes our product must have) and weighed ideas to accomplish/exhibit these
For a first phase release, determined features that would fit into a minimum viable product, saving additional features for future releases
Determine minimum tech that monitors physiological data and add-ons that would be beneficial
Consider user concerns such as privacy and level of modulation
Pragmatic & Logistical concerns?
Complex ideas like machine learning, bio-modulations
Integrating the different sensors and bio-modulation options.
Regulations: bio-modulations, certification of safety glasses, potential OSHA input
Workers may feel they would be under more scrutiny and pressured to provide data in court of law
Compromises: Decided to begin with an MVP (version 1) product for these purposes.
Techniques: Big Questions; Criteria from Brain Storm clusters; Kepner-Tregoe Method: used individually; Validation from revisiting analysis stage (morphological analysis)
Discussion:
Solution Ideas
Embedded in personal protective equipment like:
hard hat,
steel-toed boots,
protective vests,
gloves,
goggles/eyewear: core solution; all else can be an add-on accessory
respiratory protection
Smart watch
Tattoo or flat wearable
Jewelry, pendant
Smart environment
Steering wheel, controls, tools
Modulation set (Mr. Potato Head)
Features Ideas by Goal
Monitor different states
EEG
Heart rate
Emotion sensor
Muscles sEMG (face tension?)
Breath rate
Body temperature (helps track circadian rhythm)
Modulate user awareness
Vagus nerve stimulation
Light stimulation
Neuropriming
Vibration or pulses
Music
Audio coach
Reminders
Alerts
Exercises
Historical tracking (trends over time)
Based on data, tips can be provided to subject in future work sessions
Week, day, month (etc.) in review in user dashboard
Machine learning will make use of data from subject and collective anonymous data to improve its modulation
Minimally invasive & unobstructive
User has control of modulation
UV Protection
Blue light filtration to minimize strain
Guidance, proactivity, and productivit
Coach them to develop greater emotional resilience and awareness over time
Device prompts you to self-report state of mind and emotions to help validate information inferred from data.
Incentivize use/remove de-incentives
They’re cool…
Software
Mobile iOS / Android companion app
Website
AI / Machine Learning
Wearable software
Who will use?
Nelson: Most unmet need is likely construction industry.
PPE also used:
In labs (chemical, engineering, pharmaceuticals)
Air traffic controller
Medical professionals and researchers: nurse / doctor (possible biohazards, chemical exposure)
Hazardous waste environments
Police on the job: help detect fatigue
Emergency dispatchers
Mining & drilling (oil and gas)
Manufacturing and fabrication
Workers in high-risk environments who need to maintain alertness to stay safe. An error, distraction, or lapse of judgment could cause a serious accident.
Must-haves:
Impact resistance and rated for high temperatures.
Group Brainstorming and Debriefing Session
Team Onspyre used Google Drawing as a means to collaborate. We listed out the user goals we wanted, followed by specific product features that can meet those goals.
Root causes (pink) and reasons for accidents (green) are shown in upper left.
User goals are shown in blue.
Stickies were grouped based on similarity, an affinity-diagram methodology.
Product requirements (yellow) are listed near associated user goals.
Ideation
Process
Our group borrowed ideas from the fishbone diagram to list out the underlying causes and reason for accidents in high-risk work environments.
We spent the next 10 minutes posting stickies for user goals, framed “As a user I want…” This helped us build empathy and think about the product direction from the user’s perspective.
We came together and discussed each user goal and grouped them by similarity. This is a fundamental concept in affinity diagrams, which can be used to organize thoughts and see recurring themes.
We spent an additional 10 minutes listing out potential product features that can meet the intended user goals. The features (yellow) were listed right next to the user goals (blue)
Key Takeaways
Users would like to avoid distraction when they perform high risk tasks that are prone to accidents. The new technology piece can become a distraction, and a hindrance if it’s not carefully designed. Basically, the tech should be invisible to the user’s workflow and provide stimulus only when it’s essentially helpful. Users may also feel like certain modulations are invasive. To mitigate the risk of distraction and invasive feelings, the product should allow the user to customize the impact of the device through user preferences.
Aside from EEG signals, data points from other sensors can prove to invaluable in informing the system of user fatigue, alertness, frustration, stress levels, etc. Examples include changes in blood pressure, cortisol levels, body temperatures, galvanic skin response, oxygen and carbon in breath, and their heart rate. To confirm the user’s current mental and physical state, the system can probe the user with a question. Ex — “On a scale of 1-5, how stressed are you…“ Questions that help the system validate the information deciphered from data would be immensely useful to improve the intelligence of the system.
Users may be conscientious of their privacy and how that data might be accessible by their employer of an organization. As a result, statistical information on employee performance from the product should be anonymous and used strictly for analytics purposes. The data should be used to understand the overall group performance, rather than to scrutinize an individual.
IDEATION (Group): Team OnSpyre (Warren @warren-usc Shannon @shannondseeger and Nelson @well-being-tech) used a combination of Ishikawa fish-bone root-cause analysis, brainstorming and affinity-mapping to flesh out various ways in which we might modulate body and mind to avoid accidents, in this IDEATION stage of the creative problem solving. Here, you can see the gradual development from root-causes of our problem definition, to potential user requirements, to potential ways of satisfying those requirements.
Ideation
In this stage of the Universal Traveller’s creative problem-solving process, team OnSpyre was informed by UX design processes introduced by Warren and root-causes and potential technological solutions identified during our research phase. We started by listing the problem definition and primary and secondary root-causes identified for the problem. We framed the first brainstorming session through the voice of the customer by asking “as a user, I would like to...” We spent about 15 minutes writing down possible user requirements. Afterwards, we grouped them by affinity groups. At this stage, we moved to answering ways in which the user needs might be expressed or satisfied. Some of the ideas were not surprising, since we had identified several technologies and potential requirements during the analysis stage. However, there were several surprises that emerged in a relatively short amount of time. Essentially, we asked how might we modulate body and mind to avoid accidents? We identified several physical, emotional, and mental root-causes and requirements that could help with each and concerns that users might have with such systems, including privacy and nuisance. Solutions included detection of at-risk states based on neurophysiological measurements, facial expression, activity tracking using environmental, clothing, and other sensors; cues on what to do to recover from said state; ways to develop self-awareness through data trends and insights; ways to cultivate attention, health and happiness traits to improve long-term performance; and ways to reward and motivate continued use and achievements. Several technologies and examples of use cases were identified, laying the ground work for conceiving of alternatives and selecting the most promising one.
I enjoyed doing the brain-storming in stages with de-briefing sessions after each one, identifying coincident and different ideas and attempting to organize them into clusters or categories. These in turn, informed the next brain storm: from the problem definition, we moved to root-causes; from those, we moved to customer needs; from the previous two, we reached potential countermeasures and features to solve the problem in a way that is customer-centric. I found the whole experience very productive and creative, allowing for a combination of free-flowing individual input and discussion and riffing. At the same time, it was methodical or process-oriented without being stifling. There is a lot to work with to carry on to the next stage of our creative-problem solving process.
@warren-usc @shannondseeger

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Problem Definition
Group Discussion with @warren-usc and @well-being-tech
Problem to address: High-risk environments where physical, mental, and emotional states where harm might be done to people or equipment.
We seek to develop a system that can:
Help the operator to identify…
At-risk states of body and mind
Avoidable accidents before they happen
Coach the operator to develop greater emotional resilience and awareness over time:
How to mitigate factors that may make people more accident-prone
Do not rely on training alone.
User feels empowered, not monitored (self-monitoring/ownership)
Constraints (Actual and Team-Imposed):
Limit to high-risk tasks where it is possible to become complacent: piloting a plane, performing surgery, driving a car/truck, EMS emergency dispatch, high-voltage switching, construction/operating large/heavy machinery
Technology must exist or be feasible to create.
Initial product concept should be a minimum viable product (MVP)
Product should be unobstructive or be incorporated/integrated into the environment. Must be safe (can’t introduce a safety hazard)
Necessary mobility of user (as it informs/limits solution)
Time and resources.
Cost and affordability of product/solution.
Our own abilities.
Create a product that is widely adopted by the target demographic. This can be achieved through user research. If a product is an effective solution, but has no adopters, it’s useless.
Objectives identified for current phase:
Create a solution that will be useful/sought out/seamlessly integrated.
Create a solution that provides effective feedback (that is discreet and not distracting).
Team becomes expert in technology used and states being studied/identified.
Reduce costs associated with illness and injury – sick time, worker’s comp, malpractice, and insurance rates.
Objectives for remaining phases:
In the status quo, there are few assistive technologies developed that help improve the user’s focus in such situations. There is room to innovate in this niche. The objective is to develop a wearable for risk aversion when a subject performs a high-risk task. This will ultimately improve public safety and advance the industry in safety technology.
Identify specific wearable devices and sensors that will work holistically in the solution.
Measure: Identify the research put into each device and the depth of thought in the system. Engineering and software expertise can help determine feasibility of solution.
Brainstorm different solutions and identify the best few ideas. Consider factors such as the level of effort to deliver solution, complexity, financial capacity, and project deadlines.
Measure: Gauge the level of effort and depth in each idea. The best ideas will be determined from feedback from the team, the class, and the professor.
Create effective prototypes
Measure: Validate each solution against the initial product requirements. Has all the requirements been met?
Test design solutions and iterate for an effective solution
Measure: Test the solution for design flaws. Iterate on the solution and test again to reduce design flaws to a minimal. Solution can always be approved upon, but a good measurement is to track the marked improvements between the initial solution and the successive iterations.
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