The Ethos, Part 2: Think Function

This is part 2 of a 5-part series on the fundamentals of being a household hacker.

So you've decided to make your household your own. When it comes to hacking one's household, the key word is “function,” in all of its, well, functions.

Do things function? It would seem readily apparent that, if you are looking to hack part of your household, it is not working as well as it could. This leads us to the next question of function:

What would it take for things to function better? Sometimes, it takes digging to get to what the actual problem is, and it may or may not be the obvious one. Our house came complete with two double-hung windows whose upper pane would not stay up on its own. Complicating matters, these are a type of double-hung window that does not have sash cords, the usual cause of that problem. At first inspection, it would seem that the problem was that a small metal piece had broken, and that piece is not easily replaced short of replacing the entire window. However, a look at it from a functional perspective yielded the insight that the actual problem was that the only thing supporting the upper pane was the latch to the lower pane, and when that was undone, the whole thing fell. The solution, then, was to find a means of supporting the upper sash, in this case a pair of 3 1/2 inch screws, fitted in at an angle so they went through the wooden sash and into the window frame.

How do things function? A basic grasp of the principles by which a household, including the component parts of the structure and systems, functions is absolutely essential. This is one of the reasons why I like to watch the repair guys work. It gives me a chance to pick their brains, and I've found that most are quite open to the idea of explaining the system basics, if for no other reason than it helps you, the householder, better maintain the system in their absence. This goes not just for the structural elements and internal workings of the dwelling, but also for the human components. People are a vital part of the household system, and understanding how they function in relation to the household will allow you to hack it for optimal human convenience.

What is the function? When actually developing a hack—and I have no delusions that anyone will adopt any of the hacks presented on this page without tweaking them at least a little—function trumps billing. Rather than looking at what things are, look at what they do. Wen we decided to ditch the coffee table (which was taking up too much room and just attracting junk deposits anyway), we still needed somewhere to set a cup of coffee while we sat on the couch. The obvious solution was an end table, but we couldn't find one that suited our tastes, needs, and budget simultaneously. Salvation finally came in the form of a piece of furniture sold as a TV stand that was exactly what we were looking for in an end table. The unbent paperclip to reset electronics is another prime example of looking at function. On the occasions when I have found myself with a frozen gadget and no paperclip, I have used a toothpick and even an earring in place of a paperclip, as both have the same small diameter and rigidity properties that make the unbent paperclip useful in that application. Baking soda has some amazing properties as a mild abrasive and alkali, not to mention a few interesting chemical properties. If we only looked at it for what it is called, the world would have been overrun by banana bread years ago.