Wednesday, April 25, 2012

What is Innovation?

Began to discuss just what innovation is, and compare notes about the two main warm up TED Talks - Aimee Mullins and Dean Kamen.  As we were filling out the first part of form 1 (what do you know about innovation) I had a student ask (before I could) "Is Aimee Mullins really an innovator since she didn't actually create her legs?".
Excellent question - and it was nice to have a student ask it before I could.
Even better to have another student answer "Yes - she created the idea of interchangeable legs and prosthesis that weren't just a replacement but an augmentation."
Clearly, based on Dean Kamen's definition of Innovation (and I love the way he separates innovation from invention) they got the idea!
Its a reaffirmation of one of my favorite quotes...
"New technology is common, new thinking is rare." ~Sir Peter Blake

No comments:

Post a Comment