Why We Do What We Do | Muhammad Mustafa Hussain | TEDxKAUST

do you know that only in the United

do you know that only in the United States 53 million population they suffer

States 53 million population they suffer

States 53 million population they suffer from arthritis while a lot of them are

from arthritis while a lot of them are

from arthritis while a lot of them are aged a significant portion of 300

aged a significant portion of 300

aged a significant portion of 300 thousands of them are children

thousands of them are children

thousands of them are children – and this unfortunate situation

– and this unfortunate situation

– and this unfortunate situation replicates all over the world so would

replicates all over the world so would

replicates all over the world so would it be great if we can find out a

it be great if we can find out a

it be great if we can find out a low-cost

low-cost

low-cost digital solution to relieve them from

digital solution to relieve them from

digital solution to relieve them from their pain so if you can dream about

their pain so if you can dream about

their pain so if you can dream about that can we also imagine the world with

that can we also imagine the world with

that can we also imagine the world with grid lists lighting system where teen

grid lists lighting system where teen

grid lists lighting system where teen posts are like a flexible lighting that

posts are like a flexible lighting that

posts are like a flexible lighting that we can stick on any surface without the

we can stick on any surface without the

we can stick on any surface without the need of traditional power grid lines the

need of traditional power grid lines the

need of traditional power grid lines the exciting news is both of them are near

exciting news is both of them are near

exciting news is both of them are near reality and I’ll share with you how we

reality and I’ll share with you how we

reality and I’ll share with you how we made those advances through a specific

made those advances through a specific

made those advances through a specific question that I ask myself every day why

question that I ask myself every day why

question that I ask myself every day why I do what I do

I do what I do

I do what I do discussion has kept me inspired to

discussion has kept me inspired to

discussion has kept me inspired to pursue my relentless goal to augment the

pursue my relentless goal to augment the

pursue my relentless goal to augment the quality of life everyday for everyone as

quality of life everyday for everyone as

quality of life everyday for everyone as an academic researcher we often are

an academic researcher we often are

an academic researcher we often are being asked the question what really

being asked the question what really

being asked the question what really excites us to choose a specific research

excites us to choose a specific research

excites us to choose a specific research topic and the standard answer is going

topic and the standard answer is going

topic and the standard answer is going to be curiosity which I agree in

to be curiosity which I agree in

to be curiosity which I agree in addition to that in my case it gets

addition to that in my case it gets

addition to that in my case it gets strengthened by the inspiration that I

strengthened by the inspiration that I

strengthened by the inspiration that I get from everyday life take the example

get from everyday life take the example

get from everyday life take the example of arthritis four years back my mom was

of arthritis four years back my mom was

of arthritis four years back my mom was describing me about her misery with our

describing me about her misery with our

describing me about her misery with our try teasing her finger joint and her

try teasing her finger joint and her

try teasing her finger joint and her kneecap and she showed her options warm

kneecap and she showed her options warm

kneecap and she showed her options warm towel a laser stick and then a chemical

towel a laser stick and then a chemical

towel a laser stick and then a chemical patches and he suggested the last one is

patches and he suggested the last one is

patches and he suggested the last one is a favorite one

a favorite one

a favorite one now the chemical patch is not mostly

now the chemical patch is not mostly

now the chemical patch is not mostly suitable for children because they are

suitable for children because they are

suitable for children because they are based on chemical reactions they have

based on chemical reactions they have

based on chemical reactions they have limited hitting range and at the most

limited hitting range and at the most

limited hitting range and at the most you can use them for 10 hours and after

you can use them for 10 hours and after

you can use them for 10 hours and after one time you have to throw it away and

one time you have to throw it away and

one time you have to throw it away and more importantly if you look very

more importantly if you look very

more importantly if you look very carefully for small areas like finger

carefully for small areas like finger

carefully for small areas like finger joint you have to buy one size for a

joint you have to buy one size for a

joint you have to buy one size for a large area like shoulder or kneecap you

large area like shoulder or kneecap you

large area like shoulder or kneecap you have to get another one right so in a

have to get another one right so in a

have to get another one right so in a minute to strike my mind that why cannot

minute to strike my mind that why cannot

minute to strike my mind that why cannot we have a flexible and stretchable

we have a flexible and stretchable

we have a flexible and stretchable digital thermal patch so when any

digital thermal patch so when any

digital thermal patch so when any question like that comes to me I assume

question like that comes to me I assume

question like that comes to me I assume three roles first role as the user I

three roles first role as the user I

three roles first role as the user I make a dream wish list if I were a user

make a dream wish list if I were a user

make a dream wish list if I were a user what I really want I don’t care whether

what I really want I don’t care whether

what I really want I don’t care whether it’s possible or not

it’s possible or not

it’s possible or not then I change my shoe and I then become

then I change my shoe and I then become

then I change my shoe and I then become a scientist to ask all the

a scientist to ask all the

a scientist to ask all the curiosity-driven cushion that what can

curiosity-driven cushion that what can

curiosity-driven cushion that what can really make these dreams come true and

really make these dreams come true and

really make these dreams come true and then I go back to myself as an engineer

then I go back to myself as an engineer

then I go back to myself as an engineer honest comprehensive optimal simple

honest comprehensive optimal simple

honest comprehensive optimal simple solution giver right so in this case

solution giver right so in this case

solution giver right so in this case what are the questions what are my wish

what are the questions what are my wish

what are the questions what are my wish list and how we came to conclusion so

list and how we came to conclusion so

list and how we came to conclusion so the first the wish list is it’s going to

the first the wish list is it’s going to

the first the wish list is it’s going to be flexible it’s going to be stretchable

be flexible it’s going to be stretchable

be flexible it’s going to be stretchable I can use it multiple times children can

I can use it multiple times children can

I can use it multiple times children can use it I most probably can control its

use it I most probably can control its

use it I most probably can control its temperature precisely and even if I fall

temperature precisely and even if I fall

temperature precisely and even if I fall asleep it will not burn me it will not

asleep it will not burn me it will not

asleep it will not burn me it will not give me any skin irritation

give me any skin irritation

give me any skin irritation it will also shut down after it has

it will also shut down after it has

it will also shut down after it has provided halves he’ll my pain for that

provided halves he’ll my pain for that

provided halves he’ll my pain for that time right okay so what are the

time right okay so what are the

time right okay so what are the questions I have to answer what’s going

questions I have to answer what’s going

questions I have to answer what’s going to be the scientific principle well the

to be the scientific principle well the

to be the scientific principle well the scientific principle is pretty simple

scientific principle is pretty simple

scientific principle is pretty simple Joule heating effect which is basically

Joule heating effect which is basically

Joule heating effect which is basically electrical engineer achill energy

electrical engineer achill energy

electrical engineer achill energy becomes thermal energy so it’s cute but

becomes thermal energy so it’s cute but

becomes thermal energy so it’s cute but they

they

they is nothing more in-depth there for the

is nothing more in-depth there for the

is nothing more in-depth there for the scientists so what would be my

scientists so what would be my

scientists so what would be my engineering their thermostat you set the

engineering their thermostat you set the

engineering their thermostat you set the temperature and based on the room

temperature and based on the room

temperature and based on the room temperature it allows the cool air to

temperature it allows the cool air to

temperature it allows the cool air to flow or it turns from the heater now

flow or it turns from the heater now

flow or it turns from the heater now when we would like to bring that kind of

when we would like to bring that kind of

when we would like to bring that kind of solution in a body integrated system

solution in a body integrated system

solution in a body integrated system then I have to figure out what are the

then I have to figure out what are the

then I have to figure out what are the most thermally conductive material

most thermally conductive material

most thermally conductive material metals

metals

metals however metals Sun neither flexible nor

however metals Sun neither flexible nor

however metals Sun neither flexible nor stretchable hey there is a solution

stretchable hey there is a solution

stretchable hey there is a solution dictionary pretty large thousands of

dictionary pretty large thousands of

dictionary pretty large thousands of pages too hard you take up one page you

pages too hard you take up one page you

pages too hard you take up one page you can crumple it so if I can make metal

can crumple it so if I can make metal

can crumple it so if I can make metal spin there will be flexible well that’s

spin there will be flexible well that’s

spin there will be flexible well that’s one way how they can be stretchable you

one way how they can be stretchable you

one way how they can be stretchable you get here when I’m just putting a punch

get here when I’m just putting a punch

get here when I’m just putting a punch then a lot of a stretch in my skin but

then a lot of a stretch in my skin but

then a lot of a stretch in my skin but when I’m keeping it here you can see

when I’m keeping it here you can see

when I’m keeping it here you can see there is like in a lot of contortion

there is like in a lot of contortion

there is like in a lot of contortion maybe I can adopt something like that

maybe I can adopt something like that

maybe I can adopt something like that fractal design to make them stretchable

fractal design to make them stretchable

fractal design to make them stretchable and then whether whether they will be

and then whether whether they will be

and then whether whether they will be causing a skin irritation how much power

causing a skin irritation how much power

causing a skin irritation how much power that will require what kind of

that will require what kind of

that will require what kind of convenience it can give me right so

convenience it can give me right so

convenience it can give me right so there is a barrage of cushions and as an

there is a barrage of cushions and as an

there is a barrage of cushions and as an engineer I have to give answer to each

engineer I have to give answer to each

engineer I have to give answer to each of them because otherwise it’s not going

of them because otherwise it’s not going

of them because otherwise it’s not going to make an impact to all of you if I

to make an impact to all of you if I

to make an impact to all of you if I just choose one cushion an elegant

just choose one cushion an elegant

just choose one cushion an elegant question to find out an elegant solution

question to find out an elegant solution

question to find out an elegant solution then I can do it and that’s how most of

then I can do it and that’s how most of

then I can do it and that’s how most of the academic we actually solve or try to

the academic we actually solve or try to

the academic we actually solve or try to solve our problem but I try to if you

solve our problem but I try to if you

solve our problem but I try to if you look at from a different way that no we

look at from a different way that no we

look at from a different way that no we have to provide a much more

have to provide a much more

have to provide a much more comprehensive solution so today we have

comprehensive solution so today we have

comprehensive solution so today we have a thermal patch which is flexible

a thermal patch which is flexible

a thermal patch which is flexible stretchable up to eight hundred percent

stretchable up to eight hundred percent

stretchable up to eight hundred percent has been made with the lowest cost

has been made with the lowest cost

has been made with the lowest cost material like copper does not corrode so

material like copper does not corrode so

material like copper does not corrode so easily right and today the world’s

easily right and today the world’s

easily right and today the world’s largest pharmaceutical company is

largest pharmaceutical company is

largest pharmaceutical company is making trying to commercialize it by

making trying to commercialize it by

making trying to commercialize it by making the product shape of it so what

making the product shape of it so what

making the product shape of it so what did we do as I said we have to go for

did we do as I said we have to go for

did we do as I said we have to go for simple solution that’s the best solution

simple solution that’s the best solution

simple solution that’s the best solution because there the optimal solution and

because there the optimal solution and

because there the optimal solution and the most effective solutions are never

the most effective solutions are never

the most effective solutions are never the ideal solution there the always

the ideal solution there the always

the ideal solution there the always optimal solution and that we have to

optimal solution and that we have to

optimal solution and that we have to keep it in mind next example the

keep it in mind next example the

keep it in mind next example the lighting last summer my dad asked me to

lighting last summer my dad asked me to

lighting last summer my dad asked me to hold a spotlight while he was changing

hold a spotlight while he was changing

hold a spotlight while he was changing one which was fused he is 75 years old

one which was fused he is 75 years old

one which was fused he is 75 years old and after a couple of tries both of us

and after a couple of tries both of us

and after a couple of tries both of us we figured out that the hook itself is

we figured out that the hook itself is

we figured out that the hook itself is broken and then so we had to call the

broken and then so we had to call the

broken and then so we had to call the electrician and then he came and he

electrician and then he came and he

electrician and then he came and he fixed it I just thought how can it be

fixed it I just thought how can it be

fixed it I just thought how can it be this is so simple lighting we need right

this is so simple lighting we need right

this is so simple lighting we need right that’s why we live in the 21st century

that’s why we live in the 21st century

that’s why we live in the 21st century and we still do that why is that and

and we still do that why is that and

and we still do that why is that and when I grew up I have seen I grew up in

when I grew up I have seen I grew up in

when I grew up I have seen I grew up in Bangladesh there is like you know the

Bangladesh there is like you know the

Bangladesh there is like you know the many places where there is no

many places where there is no

many places where there is no electrification in the rural areas

electrification in the rural areas

electrification in the rural areas people is still there are many areas in

people is still there are many areas in

people is still there are many areas in the world where they don’t have that way

the world where they don’t have that way

the world where they don’t have that way accessibility to electrification right

accessibility to electrification right

accessibility to electrification right and lighting is the symbol of that

and lighting is the symbol of that

and lighting is the symbol of that advances so then I started thinking

advances so then I started thinking

advances so then I started thinking about that why is that so let’s assume

about that why is that so let’s assume

about that why is that so let’s assume that the major challenge comes from the

that the major challenge comes from the

that the major challenge comes from the fact that we do have always the grid

fact that we do have always the grid

fact that we do have always the grid lines and we are so much dependent on

lines and we are so much dependent on

lines and we are so much dependent on that we just hook up the light that way

that we just hook up the light that way

that we just hook up the light that way right so the fundamental challenge is

right so the fundamental challenge is

right so the fundamental challenge is care get rid of the all these grid lines

care get rid of the all these grid lines

care get rid of the all these grid lines and that’s exactly where the wishlist of

and that’s exactly where the wishlist of

and that’s exactly where the wishlist of the user so now as a scientist I have to

the user so now as a scientist I have to

the user so now as a scientist I have to ask question well if I can have energy

ask question well if I can have energy

ask question well if I can have energy harvesters like photovoltaic you have

harvesters like photovoltaic you have

harvesters like photovoltaic you have seen the solar garden life lamp you have

seen the solar garden life lamp you have

seen the solar garden life lamp you have seen those Chargers torch which actually

seen those Chargers torch which actually

seen those Chargers torch which actually also has batteries but why they’re heavy

also has batteries but why they’re heavy

also has batteries but why they’re heavy because the battery technology as of

because the battery technology as of

because the battery technology as of today is volumetric

today is volumetric

today is volumetric a lot of weight large area you have a

a lot of weight large area you have a

a lot of weight large area you have a lot of capacity so then I started

lot of capacity so then I started

lot of capacity so then I started putting down all the range of questions

putting down all the range of questions

putting down all the range of questions okay is it possible for me to find out

okay is it possible for me to find out

okay is it possible for me to find out light source which is going to be

light source which is going to be

light source which is going to be flexible thin enough like sticker type

flexible thin enough like sticker type

flexible thin enough like sticker type teen as I said okay it will the battery

teen as I said okay it will the battery

teen as I said okay it will the battery be like that that’s another question

be like that that’s another question

be like that that’s another question will it be water-resistant how much cost

will it be water-resistant how much cost

will it be water-resistant how much cost there will be what kind of sizes shapes

there will be what kind of sizes shapes

there will be what kind of sizes shapes all these things to today we have made

all these things to today we have made

all these things to today we have made lot of advances and there is a

lot of advances and there is a

lot of advances and there is a interesting thing about being an

interesting thing about being an

interesting thing about being an engineer because we can learn everyday

engineer because we can learn everyday

engineer because we can learn everyday we don’t need to be complete expert you

we don’t need to be complete expert you

we don’t need to be complete expert you know I came from industry in academia

know I came from industry in academia

know I came from industry in academia maybe I have to be the expert of a

maybe I have to be the expert of a

maybe I have to be the expert of a certain field but as an engineer I can

certain field but as an engineer I can

certain field but as an engineer I can learn every day I reached out to my

learn every day I reached out to my

learn every day I reached out to my colleagues who are experts in the

colleagues who are experts in the

colleagues who are experts in the technology which is related to energy

technology which is related to energy

technology which is related to energy harvesting battery like you know the

harvesting battery like you know the

harvesting battery like you know the lighting like LEDs and we added our

lighting like LEDs and we added our

lighting like LEDs and we added our competency to theirs and then in a

competency to theirs and then in a

competency to theirs and then in a complementary fashion today we do have

complementary fashion today we do have

complementary fashion today we do have at least the pseudo version which you

at least the pseudo version which you

at least the pseudo version which you can say a poster like flyer like sticker

can say a poster like flyer like sticker

can say a poster like flyer like sticker type lighting that you take you attach

type lighting that you take you attach

type lighting that you take you attach it to anywhere and it will light up if

it to anywhere and it will light up if

it to anywhere and it will light up if you are like that communicating it with

you are like that communicating it with

you are like that communicating it with your cell phone or with a numeric button

your cell phone or with a numeric button

your cell phone or with a numeric button and it will if it comes true if it’s not

and it will if it comes true if it’s not

and it will if it comes true if it’s not gonna be me

gonna be me

gonna be me but someone because do you think that it

but someone because do you think that it

but someone because do you think that it is also your wish list because it will

is also your wish list because it will

is also your wish list because it will eliminate the requirement for all the

eliminate the requirement for all the

eliminate the requirement for all the grid power sources that we know today

grid power sources that we know today

grid power sources that we know today right so the stories that I shared with

right so the stories that I shared with

right so the stories that I shared with you today they tell us that we should

you today they tell us that we should

you today they tell us that we should defy the common knowledge we should

defy the common knowledge we should

defy the common knowledge we should constantly challenge them because

constantly challenge them because

constantly challenge them because otherwise how can we create new

otherwise how can we create new

otherwise how can we create new knowledge we have to define

knowledge we have to define

knowledge we have to define the orthodoxy and that’s quite important

the orthodoxy and that’s quite important

the orthodoxy and that’s quite important because nothing can be more empowering

because nothing can be more empowering

because nothing can be more empowering than empowering others this cushion

than empowering others this cushion

than empowering others this cushion why I do what I do it is for all because

why I do what I do it is for all because

why I do what I do it is for all because that defines who we are what we are

that defines who we are what we are

that defines who we are what we are going to do and what impact will be

going to do and what impact will be

going to do and what impact will be making and you know this journey is

making and you know this journey is

making and you know this journey is going to be risky you’re gonna get

going to be risky you’re gonna get

going to be risky you’re gonna get wounded because you might be alone but

wounded because you might be alone but

wounded because you might be alone but that’s what the pioneers are right so

that’s what the pioneers are right so

that’s what the pioneers are right so oddly enough that just less than two

oddly enough that just less than two

oddly enough that just less than two weeks back Boston Globe they ran an

weeks back Boston Globe they ran an

weeks back Boston Globe they ran an editorial why we do what we do they

editorial why we do what we do they

editorial why we do what we do they presented a strong compelling case for

presented a strong compelling case for

presented a strong compelling case for the need of free prayers and that’s why

the need of free prayers and that’s why

the need of free prayers and that’s why today before I walk away from this stage

today before I walk away from this stage

today before I walk away from this stage I’ll request all of you to close your

I’ll request all of you to close your

I’ll request all of you to close your eyes please

eyes please

eyes please and for once ask yourself why you do

and for once ask yourself why you do

and for once ask yourself why you do what do you do thank you

what do you do thank you

what do you do thank you [Applause]