Innovator's Field Day -- Learning from Nature

Nature furnishes a wealth of examples of the nature of 'relationships' that leads to chaos, complexities, emergence, uncertainty and transformations -- embraced by the Rapidinnovation model. 

In this post we would discuss one of the fundamental laws that relates two fundamental terms quantitiy and quality. We observe in Nature that quantity changes the quality of an emergence. Even a small quantity can produce a dramatic effect on the output quality or create a dramatic emergent pattern. This would give innovators a clue as to what we might we use to create new relations, new systems, new products or simply solve nagging social and business problems. 

For instance, let us examine the relation between the different kinds of electromagnetic waves and their frequencies, that is, the speed with which they pulsate or vibrate at a given energy level.

Maxwell’s work showed that electromagnetic waves and light waves were of the same kind. However, at a later date, Quantum mechanics proved that the situation is much more complex and contradictory, but at lower frequencies, the wave theory holds good.

It is interesting to note that the properties of different waves is determined by the 'number of oscillations per second' or Hertz (the technical term used in the study of vibration).

The difference squarely lies is in the frequency of the waves, the speed with which they pulsate or the frequency of vibration. Hence it is quite clear that the property (or quality) of the waves changes (an emergent property) when the frequency (or quantity) changes. This change of property implies a change of behavior too. That is to say, quantitative changes give rise to different kinds of signals that differ in quality.

Translated into colours, red light indicates light waves of low frequency. An increased frequency of vibration turns the colour to orange-yellow, then to violet, then to the invisible ultra-violet and X-rays and finally to gamma rays. If we reverse the process, at the lower end, we go from infrared and heat rays to radio-waves. Thus, the same phenomenon manifests itself differently, completely depending on the frequency of vibration (higher to lower frequency). And this is determined by the quanity of energy we add or substract.

Interesting to note that as we move up the frequency ladder the emergent behavior changes from 'fields' to 'waves' and then to 'particles'. This is an important insight, the significance of which we would understand in a moment.

Thus Quantity changes into Quality.

Refer the Electromagnetic Table below.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Frequency in Hertz	Name	Rough behavior
102	Electrical disturbance	Field
5 X 105-106	Radio Broadcast
108	FM-TV	Waves
1010	Radar
5 X 1014-1015	Light
1018	X-rays
1021	y-rays, nuclear	Particle
1024	y-rays, "artificial"
1027	y-rays, in cosmic rays

Source: R. P. Feynman, Lectures on Physics, chapter 2, p. 7, Table 2-1.

The Innovators' Field Day.

Application of this law to both engineering and mangement can make any innovator or problem solver very happy.

This is because, as innovators or problem solvers we may cleverly use this law to innovate.For example, the microwave oven is based on this principle. Or invention of infra-red ports, mouses and thermal imaging are based on this principle. Similarly, NASA effectively uses cosmic rays to cure and heal astronauts orbitting the space for months. Likewise we can also understand as to how the use of CFL (compact flurorescent lamp) can affect our health. Or for example, we also notice how low frequency electromagetic radiation affects our hearts and anti-friction bearings in machines alike (fields).

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Similarly, when we apply the principle in management systems we can also effectively use the concepts of fields, waves and particles all differeing in energy content, where all changes in management systems are composed of low frequency slow cycles -- fields -- the culture, ethics, vision and strategy of the company and faster cycles of change (medium to high frequencies) which are in the form of waves (general improvement initiatives for a short duration of time) and particles (focussed improvements). It is fair to admit that both low, medium and high frequency cycles co-exist, just as it does in Nature. 

It would not be therefore surprizing to see Design and Systems Thinkers use this prinicple to effectively bring about social changes in fields like health, education and sustainable living. 

And it would also not be difficult to envisage how designers might use this principle to design effective machines and systems (energy, transportations etc) to reduce global energy consumption and global warming.

And architects can also bring about dramatic changes by using the same prinicple of Quanity to Quality to bring about unique relationships between human beings and their dwellings and their energy consumption and their activities and of course their pets.

They are all important for the brave new world that lies before us begging our intelligent thinking and action.

Posted via email from systemvibes