Thursday, November 17, 2011

Video-George Whitesides

What is simplicity?

  • Examples: coffee cups, glasses, scissors, and books
  • More complex examples: Cellphone, birth control pill
  • We recognize their simplicity
  • Teapot problem: why is the liquid hot?
    • There is trouble when asking a question that has only one answer
  • Simplicity: almost non-existent
What is complexity?
  • Complexity: highly developed
  • Emergence

  • Stacking: Simplicity (to complexity)
    • Ex. Internet
    • Binary
    • Use simple systems to build complex systems
Simple Things
  • Reliable
  • Predictable
  • Cheap-people will always find uses for them
  • High performance or value/cost
  • Potential to serve as "building blocks"
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler"

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