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Where can you find America's first automated lawn ornament? From May 16th thru the 19th, the "lawn buddy" and 1,500 other inventions from 30 countries will be on display at the 12th International Invention Exposition in Pittsburgh, PA. Other glipses of the future include: Collapsible Cardboard Binoculars, which weigh 1.5 ounces and fit into a shirt pocket; a Magnetic Suspension System, which suspends and rotates decorative items for the home and office; an On Target Eye Drop Delivery System; and the Cyclit, a 4-bin recycling unit that makes separating plastic, glass and aluminum simple and trouble free. May 16, 1996
A WORLD OF IDEAS
In her quest for new ideas, convention producer L. Ellen Yarnell, has traveled to Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cypress, the Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Tunisia. Yarnell says "despite the physical borders that exist, innovation and creativity have no boundaries around the world." She views the world as one entity where the exchange of ideas between countries can only aid economic development.
What is the role of the individual inventor in today's world of high-tech conglomerates and powerful university research departments? Is the inventive spirit alive and well in the United States?
Click here for more information on inventor organizations and patent laws.
A question from Rev. Mark Hewitt of Woodville MI
In what areas are we going to see the most progress over the next 100 years? Will it be in computer application, novelty gift items for the person who has everything, or something else?
L. Ellen Yarnell responds:
We wish we knew. We would be billionaires. With the Internet, however, we're seeing more specific solutions to problems because there's more know-how to share as opposed to novelties. For example, we see more new products for the handicapped, for applying paint in corners and better ways to install fixtures or hang pictures on wall board.
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A question from Deborah Johnson of Springfield, VA
There is alot of moaning & groaning among educators and in the media about how kids today lack creativity. Often television is named as the culprit -- but I think it's time for adults, and especially educators, to stand up and accept some culpability. I have two children, ages 9 & 13, and neither of their schools have held a science fair of any sort in the last seven years. The dearth of science fairs is due to School Board budget cutbacks. How do we expect kids to be creative if we do not actively enourage creativity in our schools?
L. Ellen Yarnell responds:
We need to make our teachers more accountable. They will encourage creativity. Also we must recruit more "Mr. Hollands" in our schools and they'll find ways to give us more school plays, orchestras and science fairs. Schenley High School in Pittsburgh sends kids with their ideas to our invention show every year. We happily donate a booth to them. We agree it's everybody's job to encourage creativity.
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A question from Janet Butts of Stone Mountain
Do people from third world countries make better inventors? I came up poor, and I think it made us more creative because if we did not create an item to fit our needs, we would have to do without it.
L. Ellen Yarnell responds:
We definitely think you're right that poor people are more likely to be resourceful. They want to succeed more and are likely to stretch their gray matter to find solutions to problems. We can't really tell if Third World people are better inventors or not, since inventors solve problems all over the world. Some countries encourage inventors more than others. Taiwan in particular is highly inventive, but they're more of a Democracy than most Third World countries. Also, the Young Inventors Network, a European organization, finances inventors' travel abroad so that they have the opportunity to display their inventions in other countries.
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A question from Alice Ringo of Portland, Oregon
What is the patent process, and does it encourage or discourage individual inventors?
L. Ellen Yarnell responds:
Patenting gives inventors a monopoly for a limited time. We think it encourages inventors, but it is very expensive. Some national invention companies like Invention Submission Corporation, our sponsor, include patent services in their fee.
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A question from Jessi Barica of Yarmouthport, MA
I am worried that all of our best minds are going into computer programming and genetic research, because that is where the big bucks are. Is this true? And if so, what can America do about it?
L. Ellen Yarnell responds:
We don't know if it is true. America can benefit from our best minds conjuring up better computer solutions, but we find the best inventions come from every field. We seldom see computer inventions, because those folks usually stay within their field.
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A question from Matt Walsh of Hartford, CT
When I was a little boy, I wanted to be an inventor (I had in mind a white-hairred man in a bubbling basement lab) but, alas, it never happened. How does one get into the inventing business? How do you take an idea in your mind and make it an invention? What's the best way to start?
L. Ellen Yarnell responds:
There's almost no such thing as a stereotype of an inventor. Very few invent for a living because its just too tough to get paid for ideas on a regular basis. Only a small percentage of ideas ever pay royalties. The best way to start is to keep your day job and work on ideas that solve problems for other people. Learn about the invention by reading or come to our invention show in Pittsburgh and see over 1500 inventions. Meet the inventors. Talk to them. They're positive folks trying to gain some recognition for their ideas. Every once in a while it happens and that encourages other inventors to keep trying. The Spin-Pop toy was exhibited at INPEX a few years ago. A toy company liked it, manufactured it and sold millions. The inventor is a millionaire. Keep trying!
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Additional Comments:
Yuri Horner of Houston, TX
Aside from trivial developments, it seems the inventor today must work within a larger support structure (university, corporation) that can provide the equipment and funds necessary for such endeavors. The inventive spirit today thrives within the confines of these larger structures simply because that is where it finds the support it needs. If there is anything at all to lament about this, it is only that credit is distributed, or taken outright, by the company. Is this what we are really worried about, that corporations are taking the credit for the work of individuals? Patrons have always been a necessary part of the creative process, only now another body claims ownership. I think we are too enamored of the whole "Edison mystique," the idea that the individual inventor stands alone (like the artist), forgetting that some collaborative assistance (if not creative, then financial) almost always plays a part. As for the seemingly frightening statistic about children and the inventive spirit, we should be concerned, but not grim. I don't think that more than 1 percent of the population has ever contributed in any substantial way to new innovations in this country, and I don't think that will change. The children who will change the future are not the "average child." In other words, our general "average" creative capacity may be changing in some way, but the ability for individuals to excel has never been greater, and I think that is the issue here.
L. Ellen Yarnell responds:
We agree that less than 1% of people make major contributions to society. Only one person in a thousand usually gets a payoff for an invention, but the payoffs are bigger than ever. That's what drives inventors today.
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Charlie Young of Helena, MT
Being an inventor and a retired mechanic and equipment operator I am confident that the creative spirit is alive and well in this country. Every day I see something that has been invented or improved by some unknown person. The big problem I see today is we do not celebrate the small improvements and inventions, only the big and glorious ones. We expect the universities, the company think tanks to come up with new ideas and inventions, but we forget that there is a large thinking group of people out there who are solving problems without being a member of either a university or a company think tank. If a way could be found to tap into this group of people I believe you would find the spirit of creativity and invention very much alive. Thank you
L. Ellen Yarnell responds:
We agree 100% with you. The eveyday man is full of great new ideas. We try all the time to help these folks get recognition for their inventions. You can too. Bring one of your inventions to INPEX. You'll have fun and experience the challenge of being an inventor in an atmosphere where inventors are highly recognized.
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Gary Dorst of Research Triangle Park, NC
I am an inventor. Do a patent search and you will find that I have 5 U.S. and 9 international patents. I say this to establish my credibility.
The problems that individual inventors face cannot be easily sumarized. Inventive people are often employed by companies who trade a comfortable salary for rights to the employee's inventions. That's a tempting situation. I've been in that situation myself. Most of my patents are owned by AT&T in trade for my being an employee at Bell Labs. It's a comfortable life.
After leaving Bell Labs, I started taking steps to patent my invention. Patent costs are not cheap. The final bill for 2 patents on my invention is about $20,000.
Often inventions require the construction of a prototype. Many skilled inventors are not skilled at construction. My model construction costs have reached $7,000. Fortunately, my invention will make operating a computer easier for physically disabled people. There's money available for people in the disabilities field. I've had most of my construction cost defrayed by outside money. Once one has an operating model, one must find a way to produce a product.
Inventions should not always be equated with products. If you read one of my patents (U.S. Patent # 5,400,054) you will discover that it suggests many products, but nowhere in the patent is a specific product described. The patent describes a new technology. Somehow one's invention must be translated into a saleable product. That takes some real doing. I'm working with a small company now to produce one product for the physical disabilities market. However, that's one small segment of a potentially large, but competitive market. Getting someone or some company interested in taking on the project means getting someone else to take on some of the risk. That's not easy. Some companies will build products and will wait for later payment, but these companies are few and far between.
One final note, the current U.S. market is highly price sensitive. Many products quickly fall into the category of commodity. Inventions are often improvements on current technologies. This means that products created from these inventions because of the research and development costs will cost more than current products. Companies are often unwilling to license new products that cost more - matter how good they are. The niche market is probably the best place for an independent inventor's product. Being an individual inventor is a pain, a major pain. There is pain at every step. Persistence is a virtue in this environment; however, that persistence will likely result in income reductions to pursue the dream along with payments to others. Failure looms at every turn. Many inventors begin with great faith and expectations. Few have those expectations realized.
A life as a corporate or university research lab inventor is comfortable. When I'm in a corporate environment, I'm well compensated and life is good. Outside of that environment and I quickly start to be concerned with how to pay the next bill. I'm splitting my lives these days. I'm more seasoned and I better understand the risks.
L. Ellen Yarnell responds:
Your description of the hard life as an inventor is too true. It's hard to earn a living as an inventor especially when you lay out $27,000 of your own money just for patents and a prototype. There are no easy roads to success. We suggested to an earlier Corespondent ... Keep your day job (at AT &T) and invent at night. For a mere $1000 or two, you can bring your invention to one of our future INPEX shows. Perhaps an interested company will come along and pick up your invention. In our view, exhibiting at an invention trade show is about the cheapest way to introduce your invention to industry. My gosh, you spent $7,000 on a prototype. Why not try showing it to somebody. This year over 1,500 inventions will be on display. Join the gang next year!
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