Genrich Altschuller's theory of inventive problem solving, TRIZ, is built on the vast quantities of manmade solutions available in patent databases. By defining contradictions, TRIZ leads the design engineer to principles that have been applied by inventors faced with similar contradictions. The authors propose a technique, which they are dubbing Bio-TRIZ, that extends the basic philosophy of TRIZ so that an engineer/designer faced with a contradiction who is referred to one or several of Altschuller's principles is simultaneously presented not only with manmade illustrations of the relevant principles but also biological examples of those principles.
The authors believe the proposed approach will more efficiently and routinely allow designers to employ principles of biomimicry to everyday problems.
