Developing Innovation
July 28th, 2010Back in 1880 Edison patented the light bulb. There were many patents that followed, and there are still patents coming out with respect to safety and conservation.
Which improvement had the most impact to the most people over time? How has the lamp on your desk changed in the past 100 years? Does it need to change? Do you want it to be brighter, lighter or made of sustainable materials? Do you want the bulb to last longer, or be safer if a child touches it when its hot or it breaks on impact? Or does it come down to universal knowledge of caring for it in a greater way so it will last another 100 years? The patina on most items and knowledge comes out appropriately when properly lit. If the photos are too bright or too dark, information is lost. This is why innovation must develop in the middle. A grounded and balanced light fixture is the one I want.
I purchased a large historic street lamp with aspirations of putting it back into use. Finding people with the appropriate educational backgrounds to conserve and repair what is known to work in a safe manner is the way to develop innovation.
