By Xue Yuan
EG 1471 E25
Monday, August 31, 2009
When dreaming or wandering our minds, random idea would come and that may lead to technology innovation someday. However, what we really want to know is that how can we develop innovations from dreams.
When dreaming, we can combine anything as a whole and thus form something that seems to be meaningless at first sight. To transform this seemingly useless idea into a useful practical, we should first think of what can we do using this idea.
When thinking, we can just let our mind wander without any borders. However, when we have made the decision on what the practical would be, we should be careful. As long as I am concerned, what Dr. Marcelo H Ang Jr said in his lecture is of great importance. On one hand, we should always ask questions related to this idea and never accept things too easy. On the other hand, we should be confident and energetic all the time.
By the above steps, we may make a good invention. However, it is not enough to make it an innovation. At this point, I agree with Dr. Marcelo H Ang Jr fully. “It makes a good invention if people like it; it makes an innovation if everyone likes it.” (Marcelo H Ang Jr, 2009) In order to make everyone likes our invention; we should focus on whether it is useable. That is to say, we should consider the cost to use this invention, the practicality, and the attractiveness. (Marcelo H Ang Jr, 2009)
On the way to create our technology innovation, there are surely some struggles. We may experience difficulties or even failures before we reach the finish line. However, I think that is worthy because when we try to fulfill our dreams, we should pay for it.
As for the presentation itself, I value it a lot that Dr. Marcelo H Ang Jr is very energetic and enthusiastic. Probably the only flaw is the suddenly shut-down of the computer.
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(comment from Liu Yangfan)
ReplyDeleteI cannot agree with you more at the point that in order to make a new product be a real innovation, not only the use of the product should be concerned, but also the cost, practicality and especially the attractiveness. As engineers, what we supposed to do is to invent new things to improve the quality of our life. Our ultimate target is to change people’s life rather than purely make new things. This requires the project newly invented must be useable and attractive enough to make people be willing to use it. Whether a new product is accepted by the mass is the standard to measure the success of an invention. Based on this, Apple Computer is a successful example as the first producer of personal computers while Xerox Corporation which actually invented the first personal computer but failed to develop it as an acceptable product is just on the contrary. If we want to make an innovation, to be creative is essential but not enough. At the same time, we should be practical. Besides, we should also study about the behavior of human beings in order to make products suitable to customer’s taste. Only by this can we really make a difference and not let the new inventions be uselessly lying in the lab like the first personal computer.
(comment from Alfred)
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I too agree with “It makes a good invention if people like it; it makes an innovation if everyone likes it.” (Marcelo H Ang Jr, 2009.
An invention can be very useful and solve the problem faced by Man but if the general public does not use it, it cannot be consider as an innovation.
Secondly, I agree that dream is the start if an innovation. When one is to create a now invention never seen before would need to think out of the box and dreamland is a perfect place for this. This is because when one is dreaming anything can happen and is possible. This will help in generating new ideas for a new invention. Take for example the invention of air plane, who would believe that Man can one day fly, it is the dream of two(the Wright's Brother) that made it possible.
However I do not agree that it is worth the trouble to create an innovation if it was to create other problem such as environment and social. Even if an invention is accepted by all, I do not mean that it is an good invention. There are far more serious implications that come with it than the good it can bring.