Cognitive Design

I received 10+ emails and even some phone calls on an earlier post, Cognitive Design for the Smart Grid? Lots of interesting views on how we can apply cognitive design to the mega makeover our power generation and distribution system is getting.  Perhaps the most interesting feedback came from a colleague at GE that shared her firm is sponsoring a $200M ecomagination challenge to come up with ideas to improve how we create, connect and use power on the Smart Grid.

 ”GE’s Ecomagination Challenge is a $200 million call to action for businesses, entrepreneurs, innovators, and students to share their best ideas and come together to take on one of the world’s toughest challenges – building the next-generation power grid to meet the needs of the 21st century.”

 Of the three areas (create, connect, use),  use seems to be most relevant to cognitive designers:

What new technologies, processes or business models can help consumers use energy more wisely and improve our energy balance?

They are offering $50K to the idea that gets the most public votes, $100K to five ideas that illustrate innovation and entrepreneurship and the $200M to those ideas they may want to invest in to commercialize.  Entries are being accepted now and must be in by September 30th.  

My guess is that most of the ideas will be technology/gadget oriented. A team that is able to propose high-value service designs and consumer experiences that make the most of the emerging Smart Grid to improve the environment will really stand out. Just the stuff for ambitious cognitive designers.