Final answer:
Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits the ability to use objects in ways other than their intended use, restricting creative problem-solving. It differs from confirmation bias and availability heuristic as it specifically relates to the perceived function of objects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The obstacle to successful problem-solving where people are often unable to see the unconventional use of an everyday object is known as functional fixedness. This cognitive bias limits a person's ability to use old tools in new ways. It is a type of mental set that hinders creative problem-solving by making it difficult to use familiar objects in unfamiliar situations. For example, during the Apollo 13 mission, NASA engineers had to overcome functional fixedness to invent a solution with available materials to save the astronauts. Unlike confirmation bias, which focuses on information that affirms one's existing beliefs, or the availability heuristic, which depends on easily recalled information, functional fixedness is about a rigid view of an object's use.