Cell phones nowadays can do
pretty much anything besides microwave popcorn. Surely we are living in a time
where inventors are having more success than ever, right? Wrong. In this
article written by Adam Davidson, he sees both sides of the argument. He lets
the reader decide which side he or she wants to believe. The question he
presents is, “Do we live in a time where inventors have the most opportunity to
be successful?” On every second Monday of each month, inventors from far and
wide come to present their ideas and receive feedback at the Inventors
Association of Manhattan. The independent inventor has never had easier access
to gaining information and investigating market trends. With virtually
everything online, just a click away, we often take for granted how convenient this
is. However, one obstacle that prevents most innovators from making big money
is established corporations sweeping in and stealing their ideas. They cheat
the system and add slight adjustments to make it legal. Because they have
already made a name for themselves in the business world, they are more often
trusted. Their actions seem corrupt, but they have earned their high ranking in
the business community for a reason. They’re going to take what they want no
matter what the outcome is for the inventor. In my opinion, I don’t believe there
is or has been any golden age of
inventing.
Everything is situational. When
the caveman invented the wheel, this innovation was considered groundbreaking
and changed the way of life significantly. Fast forward hundreds of years to when
we invented the cell phone, this device has altered modern communication as we
know it. It all depends on the perspective of the public at the time. If
history tells us anything, it’s that we continue to progress with technology
and fifty years from now we’ll have new and improved material to further
advance our expectations. There can never be a defined golden age of inventing.
It is a field that at no time is stagnant. One new idea could set fire to a whole
new market we never knew existed. It is this exciting revelation that keeps the
field fresh and full of promise.
Another point that is worth
noting is the significance of the inventions. Independent inventors are
talented at thinking outside the box and displaying their creativity. However,
many of the products they create are not exactly life changing. Take the
Snuggie for example. I think our society would've gotten along just fine if
this sleeved blanket never came to existence. One could make the argument that
it’s the golden age of quirkiness but in terms of vital, life altering
inventions, those are a lot more difficult to find.
One thing that has always
remained true in inventors is their confident, undeterred spirit. The man who
patented the pet rock comes to mind. I’m sure he received laughs from family
and friends and criticism at how silly the idea was. He knew in his gut he had
a winner and he ended up making millions. This perseverance is undeniable among
inventors. And it’s not just today’s innovators who are like this. Thomas
Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo Da Vinci, all these famous inventors in
history shared this passion and willpower. It’s not relative to any specific “golden
age.” All inventors carry the same mind set no matter what period they live in.
Selling your product to a
retailer is the most difficult thing for an independent inventor. Walmart,
Kroger and Target control about a fifth of all United States in store sales
(newsweek.com). If you can’t get your product on one of these shelves or on
television, it is going to be a struggle making money. The entrepreneurial
landscape is not dominated by small inventors; it’s dominated by capitalistic
corporations. Patents are very expensive to get nowadays. Inventors are weary
about putting their idea out there because if it falls through, they could be
out quite a bit of money. The average cost for a patent is about $10,000 (www.richardspatentlaw.com).
The cost of patents is greater than the revenue they generate in most cases. “About
97 percent of patents generate less revenue than the patent costs" (Sacramento
Business Journal). This amount can be overwhelming for independent inventors
who are on the fence about their product.
People take for granted how
technology makes life so much easier. However, without the early innovation of
inventors before us, this progress wouldn't have been accomplished. I believe
the main principle of inventing is building off what we previously had. This
allows us to continually evolve and develop. This process never stops and is
the reason why we will never experience one particular golden age.
Searching for the Next Snuggie:
Is This Really the Golden Age for Inventors?
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