Part 9 (2/2)

The favorable features in ns are: directness of mechanism for the purpose; its simplicity and its efficiency; its adaptability to the habit of thought and action of makers and users

The obstacles to its success are any of the features it may have that cannot be readily comprehended by those who are to build, sell, buy, and use these devices It is of little value for real success for a machine to be one that is readily understood by a draftser, or that it is one that may be made to perform wonders in the hands of a skilled expert

The real economic success depends on the number of machines that will be used The number of machines that will be used depends on the readiness hich the real workers take hold and et a true conception of the value of aof a business engaged in itsbusiness for this purpose it is custoood will”

Easiest Way to Ireat econo in opposition to this principle of conformity to the habit of the world But the easiest way is to direct i lines that are the s to be considered, and this may be said to be one of thethe first model of a new machine may be under the direct supervision of the inventor, and if only one machine is to be made, the inventor can folloherever it is used By patience and industry he may instruct some one in the use of it, but in these days there is no chance for a great econo just one e market Hence, ill confine our attention to e quantities that the complete supervision of manufacture, sale, and use is beyond the capacity of one person

For all such ht and habits of work of all concerned Sons have failed to s in an unusual way The unusual way is a blind way, and is difficult to find In some instances it amounts to no way at all, for it is never used

If a radical change in design is to be made, the new machine should be one that will be the most readily understood Obscure parts or unusualparts must be covered, some way should be provided for convenient observation It is the obscure departure that is thethat offers the least resistance to progress

There is a chance to progress by obvious devices, and such progress is enjoyed by all, from the makers to the users It stiress

Technical View Insufficient

But whether the clear view of the designer is due to peculiar fitness for seeing such things, or to proper application, the fact remains that this clear view of the technical side is insufficient in itself The et the same view He s of interest to it and wards off others Even when the individual apparently tries to co in which he has no special interest, it only results in a superficial mental impression, one that has no appreciable effect on the actions

This failure of es of a new ht part of the troubles to be encountered by a progressive designer

He has to contend with habits of thought and action of all the hus affected by the new roup ofplant in which the anization both in this plant and the one in which it is to be used, and, after all this, the greatest obstacle of this kind is to be met in the man who uses the machine For it is in his hands that a machine must prove its value

When we consider the inertia of mind and body, it is truly n In fact, if the ression, with only a fetaken in there would be little or no excuse for et along about as ithout the improvedIt is a great fact that we should grasp if we are to design machinery successfully

It is difficult for the uine temperament to really accept this view, and it is also hard for one who is continually searching for knowledge But it must be appreciated, and all work must confor the lines of easiest progress

Accepting this view is no barrier to progress It will not ultimately delay the work of a reformer if he is induced to act in accordance with this principle It only prevents a wreck

The knowledge of the force of habit of man should therefore be used in tays:

First, when the designer is trying to make the most natural machine for the purpose Then he must overcome his own tendency to follow precedent Second, when considering the kind of a ive due consideration to the inertia of others, for their inertia he cannot hope to quickly change Reforenerally have a hard time whenever they under estiner of machinery, by close application to his tasks, should obtain a clearer view than it is possible for others to possess, of the way a ned, made, and used It is not necessary to assuiven subject sees it more clearly than an abler ht interest

Inventions Should Not Mix With Details