Macramé App Digital Tile Design Reduces Material Waste

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing macramé projects require manual trial and error, consuming time and material as users experiment with knotting techniques, and lack a digital platform for designing and visualizing projects before physical creation.

Innovation Solution

A computing device and app server system that allows users to download a macramé app, enabling the selection and placement of digital macramé tiles to design and visualize projects, including options for cord color and metadata-driven tile interactions, facilitating the creation of virtual projects and providing step-by-step instructions for physical creation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users engage in manual trial and error for macramé projects, then they can experiment with knotting techniques, but it consumes time and material resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexperimentation with knotting techniquesVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a digital copy of the macramé project in the form of a virtual tile-based representation. Users can design and visualize the entire macramé pattern on a screen before physically creating it, eliminating the need for time-consuming trial and error with actual cords and knots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables users to plan and visualize the complete macramé project layout in advance using virtual tiles that represent different knot types and cord arrangements. This preliminary digital design allows users to preview the final product before investing time and materials into physical creation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If users engage in manual trial and error for macramé projects, then they can experiment with knotting techniques, but it consumes material resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexperimentation with knotting techniquesVSAvoidmaterial consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a digital virtual representation of the macramé project instead of physical materials for experimentation. Users can repeatedly design, modify, and visualize different knotting patterns using virtual tiles without consuming any physical cords, beads, or other macramé materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual tile-based design system acts as a disposable digital prototype that can be created and discarded without cost. Users can experiment with multiple design variations using inexpensive digital elements rather than investing in physical materials that would be wasted during trial and error.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If users manually create macramé projects from scratch, then they can customize their designs, but it lacks a digital platform for design and visualization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign customizationVSAvoidlack of digital design platform

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides a digital copy system where users can create virtual macramé designs using interactive tile-based interfaces. This digital platform allows for easy customization of patterns, colors, and configurations while providing visual feedback before physical creation begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a digital intermediary system between the user's design ideas and the final physical macramé product. The virtual tile-based platform serves as a mediator that translates conceptual designs into visual representations, bridging the gap between idea generation and physical execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If users physically experiment with macramé knotting, then they can learn techniques, but it is time-consuming and inefficient for complex patterns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproject creation efficiencyVSAvoidtime for physical experimentation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables users to perform preliminary design work digitally by arranging virtual tiles to visualize complex macramé patterns before physical creation. This preliminary digital planning significantly reduces the time required for physical experimentation and helps users understand complex knotting sequences in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual tile-based system creates a digital replica of the macramé project that can be manipulated and visualized instantly. Users can review and adjust complex patterns multiple times without the time penalty of physical re-knotting, dramatically improving productivity for intricate designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11483404B2Macramé tile based macramé application and method of using the macramé application

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 CARTER GLOBAL LLC

AI summary

A method and system include a computing device. The computing device includes a network interface, to communicate with an app server, to download a macramé app from the app server. The computing device further includes a processing unit to execute the macramé app to select a plurality of macramé tiles and place the plurality of macramé tiles against each other to form a macramé project.