Overall, the tool presented within this research has, in its current state of design, a number of both positive and negative issues that affect its usability. There are some improvements and further developments that could be made to increase its overall effectiveness of this tool. These pertain primarily to a few main aspects of the tool and are outlined below.
Illustrations
One area that could benefit from further refinement is the pop up information that opens upon selection of a more defined function from the main sub-category page. Currently, this information is presented in text format, relying on links and general descriptions to convey the various processes associated with functional achievement. Further work on this tool could potentially see the addition of illustrations to accompany this text, which would allow for a more accurate portrayal of the specific methods of functional achievement described.
For example, if the text mentions the structural color found in a feather, the user could click to see a larger image of exactly how this is accomplished.
Keyword Search Tool
Currently, this feature is limited in functionality due to both an incomplete range of synonyms and troponyms in addition to a lack of advanced search options. While the range of words associated with each main category is currently fairly narrow, this is an issue that the user can potentially assist with the refinement of. As it is designed now, the user has the option of adding relevant key words to the listings for each main category. One possible direction for future work on this tool would be to allow unidentified words to automatically be added to the list, only prompting the user to select the correct category or categories to assign the word to and subsequently opening the chosen category. Another issue which future work on this
tool should address is the issue of duplicate keywords - possibly through the use of a simple selection box that would open on entry of a repeated keyword.
While the tool presented here, as noted above, could benefit from some additional refinements in regards to both its design and functionality, there are still numerous benefits to be gained from usage in its current form.
For designers, particularly those unfamiliar with the concept of biomimetic design, this tool offers numerous benefits pertaining to biomimetic design in general, as well as the actual process of applying biomimetic design. On a broad scale, this tool serves an important function of introducing designers to a potentially new, novel approach to design. With new approaches may come new insights and new perspectives on the problems being addressed, which, in turn can lead to new and novel solutions.
Because this particular approach, biomimicry, carries with it some inherent aspects of sustainability, the implications of its introduction to the designer’s repertoire may yield many far-reaching benefits beyond those typically associated with design methodology and process. Due to the potentially greener attributes of biomimetically inspired products and processes, this tool brings with it the potential to reshape both the way goods and systems are designed and produced as well as the subsequent utilization of resources in the production of these goods. In light of current issues surrounding resource availability, climate concerns and general environmental well-being, the need for a shift in thinking is necessary – a shift which this tool can help to encourage.
On a more design focused level, biomimetic design can give designers a competitive edge in the marketplace. With the current consumer interest in green and sustainable design, providing designers with an approach to design that is not only greener but also has great
potential to generate consumer interest due to the novelty and unique environmentally inspired product design and development story can be a powerful advantage. From the client perspective these assets can, with the help of word of mouth and good public relations, potentially increase sales and profits.
Looking at the benefits afforded by this tool at an even more design focused level; it also assists with the design process in a few important ways. By clearly and succinctly illustrating the main functional categories through generic, abstract, forms, designers are quickly able to visually identify the most relevant function to their specific problem without being hampered by lengthy textual descriptions or by imagery that focuses on a specific type of product, which may impede the recognition of potentially relevant solutions. Although not currently optimally functional, the keyword search option can efficiently direct designers to the appropriate categories in addition to identifying previously unexplored, yet similar, possible design solutions. The addition of written examples and hyperlinks to more information pertaining to specific methods of functional adaptations at the sub-category level will provide designers with not just an efficient method for identification of specific sources of inspiration but also with resources to instantly learn more about these sources.
From the standpoint of the design of the tool itself, through the usage of Excel users are able to modify or add to the tool with relative ease. This adaptability may be particularly beneficial in regards to refining and improving the accuracy of the keyword search and also in updating the external links to additional sources (since this is a currently expanding area of research, more resources are continually being added to the internet).
Appendix A
TABLE 17:
TABLE 18:
Send Signals Light (visible spectrum) Light (non-visible spectrum) Sound
TABLE 19:
Biomimicry Institute Biological Taxonomy, cont.
Group Subgroup Function
Process Information, cont. Send Signals, cont. Tactile
Chemical (odor, taste, etc.) Physically break down Abiotic materials
Biotic materials Get, Store or Distribute
Resources Capture, absorb or filter Organisms
Solid Particles Bulk solids Gases
TABLE 20:
Biomimicry Institute Biological Taxonomy, cont.
Group Subgroup Function
Get, Store or Distribute
Resources Capture, absorb or filter, cont. Liquids Energy
Appendix B
The keyword search option in this tool relies on Visual Basic coding to achieve the desired functionality. For readers interested in the specific coding used, the commands in this process are shown in Figure 53 and explained below.
The first section of code identifies the location and boundaries of the data being searched (StartRow, StartCol, NumCols and NumRows). The next section identifies the location of the data which it is searching for, which is in this case the text entered into the text box adjacent to the search field (Text = TextBox). The next lines of code identify the sheet that the search word is compared to each column on the sheet “Keywords” and if it is found, the user will
Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()
For j = StartRow To StartRow + NumRows For k = StartCol To StartCol + NumCols ColHead = ActiveSheet.Cells(2, k)
If StrComp(Text, ActiveSheet.Cells(j, 2)) = 0 Then Sheets("Move").Select
ActiveSheet.Cells(1, 1) = ColHead Sheets("Move").Select
End If
If StrComp(Text, ActiveSheet.Cells(j, 3)) = 0 Then Sheets("Move").Select
ActiveSheet.Cells(1, 1) = ColHead Sheets("Move").Select
End If FIGURE 48
Visual Basic Keyword Search Code
automatically be directed to the sheet for the column’s main heading. For example, a search for the term “direct” will take the user to the main page for the category “Navigation”.
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