Design thinking is something I have been exploring, it helps a lot in problem solving. It helps engineers and designers produce products that solves problems for the consumers in creative and innovative ways. Something new I’ve learnt today is “Experience Thinking”. Monica Menghini, EVP, Chief Strategy Officer of Dassault Systemes highlights how design thinking is no longer sufficient, and in the Age of Experience, we need to be designing for customer experience.
We then talked about something again very close at heart for me – women in engineering. It reminds me of the uni days where I’d be the 0.1% female in the class, and the Women in Engineering conference I’d attended organised by IIWE (International Institution of Women in Engineering). Why is this an important topic?
Bettina Chen, the young co-founder of Roominate shares with us, why having women in engineering is important (despite the obvious that they are more awesome). One of the important ingredients of innovation and creativity is diversity. We need different culture, background, stories, and gender in order to have different perspectives and that will lead to more diversified ideas, resulting in better solutions. Say no more, watch this video:
The last speaker from the General session was Dr. Michio Kaku, physicist and author of NYT’s #1 Best Seller, The Future of the Mind. He discussed about a lot of futuristic ideas and possibilities that are beyond imagination and completely change the way we do things or live. I will just pick the top 3 most fascinating idea that stuck to me:
1. We all know Google glasses. What about smart contact lenses which will be able to tell you the name of this person you met 2 years ago at SOLIDWORKS WORLD, along with all the biodata information? (I know I need this because I’m terrible at remembering names, to avoid the awkward moments of “Hi *trying hard to recall name*….”.
2. Long gone is the Mass Production era, we are moving towards the “Mass Customisation” era – made possible through 3D Printing. How would you like to be able to personalise and 3D print everything, including bio parts like your ear, organs, replacement valves and etc.
3. Computer screens as thin as papers and being used as wallpapers. Since they are computers, you could show anything on the wall and change as frequently as you may like. What about consulting a robo-doctor or robo-lawyer on your wall? The possibility of computing power and Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality is limitless and beyond our imagination.
Yours Truly,
Amanda
SWW15 Reporter