The selected 3 conceptions among 25 are,
1. Beer for non-smoking
2. Underwear equipped with the non-smoking pad
3. Special Electronic machine for non-smoking(We can hold it in hands)
As a healthcare company which helps people quit smoking, we focused on our basic life styles such as food, suits, and housing. Then, we chose the most practical and effective 3 ideas. We selected the number one, beer, because we usually feel like smoking when we drink beer or whisky, so this beer for non-smoking will be able to control the feeling to smoke effectively. Then, we chose the number 2, underwear having the non-smoking pad, so we will make the useful wear that protects the smoking temptation all the time. Finally, customers can use the non-smoking machine at any time when they want to do. So we thought the number three, the special electronic machine for non-smoking.
Please review and point out some conflicts or better solutions... Thank you
Oooh this is a tough one. You guys have made an important distinction in that this is a very personal decision and would most likely require a fairly personal solution in order to stick. From what you mentioned, it looks like the beer might work for your particular group. On the other hand, for a larger group of early-adopters the underwear might be a good choice. I really like the way you approached this issue.
ReplyDeletecan you explain number 3 more? is it something that shocks you? that would probably work if you started to associate pain with smoking.
ReplyDeleteIs this beer filled with nicotine? Is that what #1 is proposing?
ReplyDeletePerhaps you guys haven't noticed the connections between drinking, cigarettes and bars. As a reformed smoker, I would urge you to throw out the beer option. There are few things that sap a quitting cigarette addict's willpower faster than alcohol, and cigarette machines are placed in bars and restaurants for a very good reason. You would find that beer would result in many more serious relapses.
ReplyDeleteVery commendable and a great idea! However, the idea where you get a beer for not smoking may not be the best way to help someone quit, especially if that person already associates smoking with drinking (whether conscious or unconsciously). If the idea is meant to reward someone for not smoking, I would perhaps try and find a reward that may not have an inherent connection to smoking already in the users mind. Maybe putting a dollar or two in a jar for each day that you don't smoke. After a while, use the money accumulated to buy something nice for yourself (clothing, a nice dinner, a dvd). You also get to see how much money you save by not smoking and getting to put it towards somethign else.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this article:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=01d64344-ed78-40e8-b809-f14edbd664d8&
It talks about a new study from Duke University (Go Blue Devils!). Researchers found that drinking alcohol actually enhances the taste of cigarettes (most college freshman already knew that, but now it is officially research....). However, dairy products, juice, water, fruits, and vegetables actually were found to actually worsen the taste of cigarettes. In other words, beer might make it harder to quit, but a new diet might make it a bit easier.
Are there ways to solve the problem without a new invention? Maybe you can have a "stop smoking" group at Owen that helps people overcome the VERY difficult habit that has formed over many years. Maybe this group can put together a package of information about the best ways to stop and then offer it to the members (along with social support) in their quest to stop smoking.
ReplyDeleteSome ex-smokers report that it is easier to quit when they make a public committment to quitting to their friends a family. Maybe you could make a ex-smokers blog where people can post their experience and how long they have been able to go without a cigarette.
As some others have pointed out, alcohol is often a "trigger" for smoking (as is coffee). Many smokers have to quit these other habits while they are trying to quit smoking.
Wow, each one of these ideas is very complex. Is your company willing to spend the R&D requirements for these solutions? I like the underwear idea but what happens when you are at a bar drinking and not smoking, then find yourself going home with someone? Once they see the "patch pants" they might turn and run!
ReplyDeleteIf you can come up with beer that stops the desire to smoke, I think y'all can quit b-school and chill for the rest of your lives in Aruba. That would be amazing!
ReplyDeleteI like #3, but I don't know what that would entail. Are you thinking of designing this, or building this, or is there a prototype already in the works?
As for #2, like scott said, cant you put the patch wherever you want?
But like Dave said, are there ways to stop smoking without inventing something? A process for example which has all the smokers going to Hot Yoga, or a buddy system to help each other out?
This is a great problem to tackle, good luck!
mmm... most people i know only smoke when they are drinking so beer to encourage people not to smoke may create more problems than it solves. unless of course you can infuse the beer with a large amount of nicotine. i'm sure if you put enough in there you might even be able to discourage people from drinking as well as smoking, however they might also choose to drink something else instead.
ReplyDeleteHuge Problem and Huge Solutions. Theoretically, if I understand the solutions correctly they seem reasonable. I am very curious what the other 200 solutions were if these are the ones that were ultimately selected. The easiest one to implement for the purposes of the class would be to sew a nicotine patch inside of some boxers or other under garment as a prototype. The others seem to require some sort of chemical or engineering expertise, which you guys may have and I just don't know.
ReplyDelete