EDITOR’S
NOTE: At a workshop organized in London,
England, United Kingdom in November 2003, co-sponsored by the
Lemelson-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Programme and LEAD
International, one of the key speakers, Merton Flemings, director of the
Lemelson-MIT Programme at the time opined in a presentation, “Invention
stimulates entrepreneurship and overall economic activity. Invention is defined as a
focused application of the human mind to the world that yields an original
creation with practical use. Inventions are typically patentable, but patents
aren’t necessary to make it an invention. Innovation is defined here as the
practice of bringing inventions into widespread usage, through creative
thinking, investment, and marketing. That’s why basic invention is typically
needed to spur innovative activity. Invention is that spark where it all
begins.”
NAIJAGRAPHITTI BLOG now brings
you posts which would guide you into all about inventions!
Chris Woodford is a British science writer and the author of many popular science books for adults and children, including Atoms Under the Floorboards: The Surprising Science Hidden in Your Home.
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| Image source - inventivekids |
By Chris
Woordford
Have you ever dreamed of becoming a great
inventor—of having a fantastically clever idea that changes society for the
better and makes you rich in the process? The history of technology is, in many
ways, a story of great inventors and their brilliant inventions. Think of
Thomas Edison and the light
bulb,
Henry Ford and the mass-produced car, or, more recently, Tim Berners-Lee and
the World Wide Web. Inventing isn't just about coming up with a great idea;
that's the easy part! There's also the matter of turning an idea into a product
that sells enough to recoup the cost of putting it on the market. And there's
the ever-present problem of stopping other people from copying and profiting
from your ideas. Inventing is a difficult and often exhausting life; many
inventors have died penniless and disappointed after struggling for decades
with ideas they couldn't make work. Today, many lone inventors find they can no
longer compete and most inventions are now developed by giant, powerful
corporations. So, are inventors in danger of going extinct? Or will society
always have a place for brave new ideas and stunning new inventions? Let's take
a closer look and find out!
Photo: The wheel is probably the greatest invention of all time, used in everything from cars and planes to wind turbines and computer hard drives. Even so, no-one knows who invented it or when.
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