I’m tired of seeing people putting the innovation label
everywhere. The latest ‘in thing’, the latest buzzword - O2O, mobile,
social, digital, smart devices, quantified self, *insert sexy term
coined by expert here… Yeah sure, going into these things will instantly
make you more ‘innovative.’
Bullshit.
Being new is not all it takes to be innovative. It’s not about shiny gadgets or bigger screens or higher megapixel cameras. Anyone can come up with something new. Not to discount the effort that went into developing them, but these are gimmicks, these are fads. These things actually run opposite to true innovation.
Innovation has to genuinely elevate people’s quality of life. Some are great and long-lasting: the wheel, the light bulb, the printing press, the automobile. Some are incremental: lighter tablets, higher-resolution displays. It’s things that make life that tiny bit easier and more empowering for its users.
What separates innovations from the wannabes is not how technically impressive the achievement is. It’s about answering this one fundamental question - why does it need to exist? If the answer is an improved way to amplify humanity, then yes. If it’s just to increase revenues or to innovate for ‘innovation's' sake *cough Samsung*, then no.
Bullshit.
Being new is not all it takes to be innovative. It’s not about shiny gadgets or bigger screens or higher megapixel cameras. Anyone can come up with something new. Not to discount the effort that went into developing them, but these are gimmicks, these are fads. These things actually run opposite to true innovation.
Innovation has to genuinely elevate people’s quality of life. Some are great and long-lasting: the wheel, the light bulb, the printing press, the automobile. Some are incremental: lighter tablets, higher-resolution displays. It’s things that make life that tiny bit easier and more empowering for its users.
What separates innovations from the wannabes is not how technically impressive the achievement is. It’s about answering this one fundamental question - why does it need to exist? If the answer is an improved way to amplify humanity, then yes. If it’s just to increase revenues or to innovate for ‘innovation's' sake *cough Samsung*, then no.
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