Jack Hipple
As the science of TRIZ developed, we went from simple contradiction analysis to standard solutions, a general algorithm (ARIZ), and eventually to Lines and Patterns of Evolution. This is again one of these areas where long time TRIZ Scientists debate how many lines and patterns there are, what they are called, etc. In this discussion, I am going to use the high level 8 lines that I and others learned from Boris Zlotin and Alla Zusman, TRIZ Masters. No offense is intended if you think there are more or less lines, you call them something else, use different verbiage to describe, etc. Many "new" lines have been defined, which in some cases are merely subdivisions of the top level lines, while others can be considered actually newly defined. These next two columns are about applying the thinking imbedded in these lines as opposed to an academic debate. This will at least provide a framework to assist you in translating whatever lines you are using, or what you call them. We can all debate these points at a future Altshuller conference panel discussion.