functional embeddedness

  

Neal G, who I walk with on occasion, has invented a device that allows one to use their iPad in a much more ergonomically correct position than currently possible. He showed me his invention the other day. It seemed quite ingenious and I advised him to get a patent.

He described the process of invention as being one of "functional embeddedness". Imagine being in a dark room and needing light. You see no light switch on the wall. Finally, when your eyes are accustomed to the dark, you can see there is a ceiling lamp and that the switch has been installed beside it on the ceiling. Hmm...there's no ladder. Hmm...there is a broom in the corner of the room. You grab the broom, push a chair into the middle of the room, stand on the chair and reach with the handle of the broom to the switch beside the ceiling lamp, and Voila, you have light.

That's 'functional embeddedeness.' The notion that the solution to any problem is available, is within you, is accessible. (Though when I googled "functional embeddedness" all that came up were strange arcane responses i.e. 'embeddedness in custodial banking' etc. etc.). 

I've always liked Marcel Duchamp's 'there is no solution because there is no problem.' A sort of reverse functional embeddedness, I suppose.

Well, Gracie (pictured above) is about to solve a problem she's having with a hot fudge sundae with the great earnestness all creators share.