The future is here: Electric outlets that come to you

Have you ever been siting somewhere working diligently on something important when your computer suddenly alerts you that it is low on charge. Of course the relatively comfortable area you have chosen to work in has no electrical outlet nearby to fix the problem. The nearest outlet is somewhere in the room but it is in a far more uncomfortable position than you are now.

If you have experienced this inconvenience I have good news for you. A small group of engineering students at Campbell university are working on a solution, an extendable outlet. In other words this team is transforming an outlet into a fully functional extension cord.

Turning this:

Into this:

In order to do this these engineers must use the design thinking process. The design thinking process is a series of 5 steps each one handling a different section of the design process. The engineering team will use these steps in order to design the outlet extension cord. The Design Thinking Process is actually impotent for many areas of our lives. Many people don't realize it but we use these steps most of the time we solve problems. Don't let the name of the steps fool you these, read the description and think about how it might apply to you.

1). Empathize: in this step designers look at things like what do people see as the problem. How do they interpret your potential solution i.e. negatively, enthusiastically etc. For most of us we usually empathize with ourselves or our close family.

2) Define: in this step designers decide what the problem actually is based on the information gained in the Empathize step. Most of us do this first where we define a problem and then empathize.

3) Ideate: in this step designers will come up with their own possible solution using the information from the Define and Empathize step. The team will, eventually, choose an idea and will move forward with this plan. We all have done this before where we think of multiple ways to make the world around us better in both small and large ways.

4) Prototype: here designers create several small models of there idea from the Ideate step. This is where the average person will often stop, unless the person has severe determination. Those with this determination will often push forward and see their idea succeed.

5) Test: This is the final step of the Design Thinking Process where the designers test their prototype. If it works then the team will move forward from there, if not then the team will go back to the Ideate step and repeat the process correcting any flaws. For us this is the most grueling step. You prototype a project, test it and it fails. Many people have experienced this set back but only the great ones pressed forward to correct their mistakes.

The engineering team will follow these steps to learn the best way to to bring these extendable outlets to us. The team will keep customers input in mind throughout the process. This team is working hard on this project as we speak and before the spring semester is out they will have a functional prototype.

They will create, find flaws, and improve their design. It may take them a hundred times to get it right but they will press on. These engineering students are not only working to pass their class they are working for us. They are trying to bring the future here faster, they are the ones who create the world around us. It is their job to work with us and for us. No matter if they are building a the worlds tallest skyscraper or and outlet that comes out of the wall to make our lives more comfortable. These and other engineers will continue to make our world a better place using the simple but concrete Design Thinking Process.

However even they can't do it alone; these engineers rely on us to come up with problems for them to solve. They also rely on us to solve the problems that they cannot see. So next time you notice a problem, or something doesn't sit quite right with you go out and fix it. Use the process used by those professional problem solvers and make the world a better place.