Bike washing facility

A nice example of innovation categories:

A car wash for bicycles

Everyone knows a car wash. Bicycles too. A (car) wash for bicycles is a novelty.

It's nice when such inventions are reported on the radio.

It is a combination of known categories. Something that innovations live on. The combination is new and creates values. Cognitively it is not difficult to understand what it is about. It ties in with familiar things. You know what you can do with a car wash. And yes, bicycles get dirty, too. It's actually logical that there should be a bike wash.

The fresh combination of familiar things has a big advantage. Those who are to be inspired for the service (customers) don't have a hard time understanding how it would fit into their lives. And what it brings. It was different with Segway. For some, it can even solve a problem or relieve a pain.

The innovation consists of parts that are familiar enough. And yet there is a twist. That evokes curiosity. It's a reason to report on it. Also for media makers (after all, I learned about it on the radio).

A novel combination of known things can make innovation easier. Establishing a new category also works (like with the fax machine), is a bit more difficult and risky.

I wonder if the bike wash will work as an idea in the long run?

Probably it will. Again, there will be different designs depending on how much usage there is. Some people prefer the frequent but less customized version. Some people prefer to have a mini-care with the cleaning of the bicycle.