My external pondering of staying cutting edge (*credit Riley for being a sounding board for this thought):   

 

 

 

Last night I discovered perhaps one of the most innovative starting-points for future technology (see link below…you have to see it!). I say starting point because while the innovation that was created was unique in itself, it’s application will unlock some significant innovation in itself.

I digress…

To stay cutting edge (did you get the oxymoron)….I restate, to evolve the cutting edge (to be the leading edge) we must remove ourselves from the restrictive bounds that contain our risk aversion. Let me explain….

We often have these big blue sky ideas. Ideas that we are unsure are feasible or not. That is true innovation. However, success is measured only in our ability to make the innovation happen in real-life. Knowing this and working with our clients urgency to produce successful results, the ideas that seem less than feasible in the present are pushed aside for ideas that are feasible in a historical snap-shot. For example, last week we were at the planetarium learning that the light our sun emits is 8 minute old light. Much like that 8 minute old light, concepts that are green-lighted because of urgency for success (near term feasibility) are 8-minute old ideas; they are reacting to historical needs. Real innovation a consumer wouldn’t be able to tell you what he/she needs; directly at least. I’m not saying consumer research is obsolete because they can hint at trends or “like to haves.” I’m saying that we must deliver upon those “like to haves,” consider the what the next issue will be and START (not end) the innovation from there.

(from an old scribble on a journal) Coming back around to the youtube video I saw last night that uncovered what I believe to be one of the most innovative ideas is an example of boundless innovation. A guy by the name of Johnny Chung Lee who as a Carnegie Mellon student developed a phenomenal technology that is the leading edge for television and gaming as we know it. Johnny’s unstricted innovation happened by way of University work. The innovation process was not contingent upon urgent bottom line dollars, pay raises, or fear of termination, but motivation of being a change agent.

Industry is both a proponent of innovation and a limiter….kind of ironic isn’t it.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw (you have to see this if you haven’t already)