Definition of "Innovation"

Here's my definition (23 words):
Innovation - the end result (tangible or intangible) of an original idea or design that has either new or greater value (or impact) to society

 

I actually did add my definition to the survey just after posting here....thanks for the link Roxane

To address your questions, it is difficult for me to imagine any "innovation" that was met with universal praise and acceptance, without regard to its value or impact. When thinking about such innovations, I tend to notice that "value" is in the eyes of the beholder, and also that their viewpoints can change with the times and culture of that era. My memory recalls that when the first iPhone was released in 2007, most of the younger generation and tech-savvy population embraced the new technological advancement and welcomed it with open arms. On the flip-side of that coin, I can also remember that some of the older generation didn't initially see these smartphones as necessary, but more or less a luxury item....that or they were either afraid of or just flat out didn't respect the technology.

Fast forward to today, and I now observe that those same people are (now more than ever) in harmony with their smartphones and the benefits they provide. In that sense, I think a certain level of subjectivity is always going to be inherent. Plus there is an evolutionary factor in most innovations which affects people's decision-making processes over a lengthened period of time - again with the times and culture of that era.

Also, I prefer to view society as not only a broad, but rather all-inclusive, term that I would apply to all recipients of any innovation, including stakeholders. In an unlikely scenario today, say a person who never used a high-end smartphone inherited one somehow (let's also imagine that they had no prior opinions of this smartphone and did not pay $ for it, plus maybe they weren't even expecting one) and found the new technology to be a godsend. While that person may not qualify as your typical stakeholder, their first encounter with a new innovation could have ended up impacting them in greater ways than they ever could have predicted. That (to me) supports my definition of an innovation.

This does generate some thought-provoking questions, such as what if only one person (out of 7 billion) was impacted by something new that they valued in some way? Is that not considered an innovation? Or what about those who will never acknowledge an innovation, out of defiance or for their own personal reasons? Are they allowed to have any bearing on what society calls an innovation because of their subjective views, and if so, does a subjectivity threshold need to exist?

BTW this is a great discussion topic....I'm surprised there aren't more posters commenting on this yet.

 

I just pulled out this definition.
A new object or a new way of doing things that Users tend to adopt with spontaneity due to one or more of uniqueness that makes it much simpler, better, cheaper and faster in comparison.

 

Roxane, I think I understand where you're going with this. If you're asking where is the "singularity" that is the innovation?....Where does it really stem from?....I think that if the innovation lies within the culture, and the thought-process indeed acts as that "big bang", maybe then the definition of an innovation could be significantly whittled down to "a flash of genius".

That quote also refers to the movie of the same name about Robert Kearns (played by Greg Kinnear) and how he came up with the idea for the intermittent windshield wiper - he argued that the act of invention begins as an epiphany in the mind of the inventor, and in the movie he describes his own "flash of genius" as his inspiration to create a special wiper based on the human eye, which blinks intermittently as opposed to continuously. It was actually a decent movie if you like rooting for the underdog (plus I'm sure the Ford Motor Company legal department loved the way it negatively highlighted them regarding something that happened over 50 years ago).

"A flash of genius" is actually pretty eloquent in its brevity....I think I'll upload that one too. Too bad it's already patented, though....

 

Just wondering to myself do I get extra points for shortest survey submission so far?

 

I thought they could use some more help lol....well I just checked the survey webpage and now there are over 30 definitions submitted.

 

You may very well be over-romanticizing the "definition" part of it, but I believe as long as people continue to realize the value of their "creative freedom" there will always be the potential for beauty and excitement when it comes to any breakthrough.

And I sadly have to agree with you on most of the other survey submissions being too "bland" or "without flavor" - I thought it wouldn't take very long for someone to one-up my contributions and make me wonder why I didn't think of that one.
It's like going to a fancy restaurant and ordering something, then the person beside you orders something else and the next thing you know you are suddenly jealous of what they have and now you wished you ordered it for yourself. "Excuse me, waiter?!!...."

 

I like this discussion. My suggestion of a definition with 14 words would be:

Result of innovation is to improve useful effects while decreasing harmful effect and costs.

 

I think they should have asked "What does innovation mean to you?" Just the term 'definition' takes the enthusiasm out for me. In my mind at least, a definition can be right or wrong, to tight or too inclusive. My own impressions on the other hand, don't have those same restrictions.