NPR's science reporter, Robert Krulwich, has made a bet with WIRED Magazine's founding editor, Kevin Kelly. Their wager is about whether there are any inventions in human history that aren't still produced today. Robert believes that this must of course be true, and he said that he would easily be able to find a tool or invention that is no longer being made. Kelly says no. He hasn't been able to find any technology that is not currently produced by someone in the world.
So far, Robert hasn't been able to find anything ranging from paleolithic hammers to agricultural tools from the 1895 Montgomery Ward catalogue that isn't still made today. (Modern hobbyists interested in making stone arrowheads are the market for brand-new paleolithic hammers). Robert is calling on all of us for help in finding some tool that has become extinct.
If you can help, post your ideas here, and Robert will post the most promising candidates in his blog.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
We Need to Out-Innovate
President Obama's State of the Union address on Wednesday laid out a strategy for moving our country forward: "We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our time. We need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world."
In fact, he mentioned some derivative of the word "innovation" 11 times in his speech. In my opinion, this paragraph sums up the heritage we need to capitalize upon:
The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation. None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn't know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do — what America does better than anyone else — is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. We're the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn't just change our lives. It is how we make our living.
In fact, he mentioned some derivative of the word "innovation" 11 times in his speech. In my opinion, this paragraph sums up the heritage we need to capitalize upon:
The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation. None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn't know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do — what America does better than anyone else — is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. We're the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn't just change our lives. It is how we make our living.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
What's To Lose? Recent College Graduates Try Starting Their Own Companies
Given the job market these days, it seems that more young people trying to start their own business. This New York Times article shares the story of several young entrepreneurs. The key to success is finding the idea that makes your business meaningfully unique and that has enough potential customers to be profitable. The primary subject of this story, a filmmaker, tried one business idea before identifying a niche that was profitable. He has since founded the Young Entrepreneur Council “to create a shift from a résumé-driven society to one where people create their own jobs." I love this concept. When only a quarter of students this past year had a job upon graduation, entrepreneurship suddenly becomes a more attractive option!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Accidental Inventions
I enjoyed this article on accidental inventions, most of which I had heard of, but not all. A few comments...
1) The #1 accidental invention, the microwave, was invented by a fellow native Mainer, Percy Spencer.
2) I wouldn't really call velcro an accidental invention. George de Mestral got the idea from walking his dog, but had to do a lot more work and experimentation to actually "invent" velcro.
3) I'm very surprised that Post-It Sticky Notes didn't make the list. In my opinion, it is probably the most well known story of accidental invention. The inventors were actually trying to make a strong adhesive when they instead created a reusable, pressure-sensitive adhesive. They found when applied to paper, it could be used to stick the paper to surfaces multiple times. I've heard that the yellow color was just a coincidence as well - a lab next door had a bunch of scrap yellow paper lying around.
The good news of all these stories is that stimulus for new ideas surrounds us every day. Seek out new information, but also observe the everyday opportunities and challenges around you. Who knows what you will discover!
1) The #1 accidental invention, the microwave, was invented by a fellow native Mainer, Percy Spencer.
2) I wouldn't really call velcro an accidental invention. George de Mestral got the idea from walking his dog, but had to do a lot more work and experimentation to actually "invent" velcro.
3) I'm very surprised that Post-It Sticky Notes didn't make the list. In my opinion, it is probably the most well known story of accidental invention. The inventors were actually trying to make a strong adhesive when they instead created a reusable, pressure-sensitive adhesive. They found when applied to paper, it could be used to stick the paper to surfaces multiple times. I've heard that the yellow color was just a coincidence as well - a lab next door had a bunch of scrap yellow paper lying around.
The good news of all these stories is that stimulus for new ideas surrounds us every day. Seek out new information, but also observe the everyday opportunities and challenges around you. Who knows what you will discover!
Friday, June 4, 2010
New Television Series
We've gotten word that a new show about inventors is looking for people to showcase for a new television show for the Discovery Channel. This could be a great opportunity to get your invention in front of a national audience.
Sean McKnight of Half Yard Productions is looking for inventors, innovators, and idea men and women for a new primetime television series which will feature YOU, YOUR GREAT IDEA, and their hosts, EXPERT(S) FROM THE INVENTION COMMUNITY WHO WILL ASSESS YOUR WORK AND ENSURE YOU’RE ON THE RIGHT COURSE FOR SUCCESS!
Interested people please forward the following to inventorshow@gmail.com:
- your contact information (email and phone)
- your location
- a recent photo and/or a link to recent video
- short bio in one or two paragraphs (Who are you?, why are you passionate about your invention/inventing as a whole?, How would you describe your personality, how did you began inventing?),
- a description of your invention or idea (What’s great about it, are there problems with it that you can’t seem to figure out?).
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Frisbee Inventor Walter Frederick Morrison (1920-2010)
Last week, the inventor of the Frisbee, Walter "Fred" Morrison passed away at the age of 90. Fred came up with the idea for the Frisbee shortly after World War II. He realized that flinging cake pans through the air was a lot of fun, but a more aerodynamic "pan" would work a lot better. In fact, a lot of people and groups lay claim to "inventing" the Frisbee concept since tossing pie and cake pans was apparently a pretty popular activity on college campuses and beaches for many years. But, it was Fred Morrison, with the help of his wife and some colleagues, who developed a better flying disc made out of plastic.
He originally named the disc the "Pluto Platter" to cash in on the flying saucer craze of the 1950s. He sold the invention to the Wham-O toy company, which eventually changed the name to Frisbee because that's what college students in New England were calling it since they associated the toy with the tossed pies of the Frisbie Pie Company.
This innovation has created hours of enjoyment for people everywhere and for many happy dogs. Thanks, Fred, for all the fun!
He originally named the disc the "Pluto Platter" to cash in on the flying saucer craze of the 1950s. He sold the invention to the Wham-O toy company, which eventually changed the name to Frisbee because that's what college students in New England were calling it since they associated the toy with the tossed pies of the Frisbie Pie Company.
This innovation has created hours of enjoyment for people everywhere and for many happy dogs. Thanks, Fred, for all the fun!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Pepsi is Looking for Your Ideas
You have probably seen the commercials, but just in case you haven't, I want to let you know that Pepsi is looking for your big ideas to improve health, arts & culture, neighborhoods, education, food & shelter, and the planet. The contest is called the "Pepsi Refresh Project."
Once ideas are submitted, people may vote for up to 10 ideas each day. Each month, Pepsi will provide up to 10 grants at the $5K, $25K, $50K levels and up to two $250K grants to the winning ideas.
I love the idea of Pepsi getting their customers to participate in selecting their corporate philanthropy projects. I'll be thinking of the ideas we have to submit!
For more information and to submit ideas, click here.
Once ideas are submitted, people may vote for up to 10 ideas each day. Each month, Pepsi will provide up to 10 grants at the $5K, $25K, $50K levels and up to two $250K grants to the winning ideas.
I love the idea of Pepsi getting their customers to participate in selecting their corporate philanthropy projects. I'll be thinking of the ideas we have to submit!
For more information and to submit ideas, click here.
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