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The eureka moment, the moment when you have a brilliant idea or a sudden discovery. We asked UT researchers about their eureka experience.
EUREKA
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It is important to make a distinction first. People operate
pieces, sometimes a bit of Mahler. A while ago, as I was riding
in one of two ways: for most of the day, they are quite ac-
along, I had a eureka moment about telemanipulation.
tive, yet not particularly creative. Only when one is relaxed
With telemanipulation, a person can remotely control a robot
– which can be quite a rare occurrence – does one’s creativity
via a display using a joystick. During the development of this
begin to flow. That is when you can have a eureka experience.
technology, the problem of time delay came up. I often use the
There are three ways for me to reach that state of relaxation:
example of a shower to explain this concept to my students.
in the shower, while swimming and while riding my bike.
Right before a lecture, a student decides to hop into the show-
I mostly commute by bike. As I ride from Borne to Enschede and
er. They are in a rush and want the water to heat up as soon as
back, I enjoy listening to some classical music – mostly piano
possible, so they turn the hot water tap fully open. The water