Group 4 Invention Process

1
Group 4 Invention Process

• Brian Barnes, Dan Bowman,
• Ross Gilmore, Lauren Marsh

2
The Beginning

• Arbitrarily chose photophone transmitter
• Brainstormed a day in class, talked to TAs
• Researched individually
• Came together to suggest ideas and write caveat

3
Adversity

• ALL Ideas in caveat rejected
• Misinterpreted directions
• Only made minor changes, nothing novel
• Team member drops class
• Other team member becomes deathly ill

4
Starting Over

• Basically went back to brainstorming phase
• Next few meetings were spent tossing around ideas
• Gathered materials, tried crude prototypes to
  witness mechanical properties
• Eliminated ideas based on time, resources, and
  practicality

5
The Turning Point

• In our third brainstorming session, we stumbled
  across our final idea
• Reflective hinged member
• Had idea approved by Prof Gorman and TAs

6
Finishing Touches

• Built a complete prototype
• Began writing patent in the meantime
• Decided to rebuild prototype using better
  materials
• Finished everything and presented it

7
Team Roles

• Brian
• Kept journal
• Sketches / Illustrations
• Prototype
• Dan
• Prototype
• Patent

• Ross
• Prototype
• Powerpoint
• Lauren
• Prototype
• Patent
• Powerpoint

A lot of the work was done collaboratively as a
group
8
What We Learned

• Understand Objectives and Guidelines of Task
• Hands-on Learning is Best
• Found Good Mix Between Collaboration and
  Specialization
• Never Be Afraid to Ask for Help