Harry T. Roman's Blog, page 20

Thomas Edison on Inventing

Do you know what makes you feel inventive-the kinds of settings, types of relevant problems to solve, and creative people you love to work with? Can you remain tenacious toward solving a problem, not resting until a solution or new prototype is developed and tested? If so, you are in league with the Edison philosophy.

To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.

Thomas Edison had four giant inventions-recorded sound, motion pictures, the light bulb and the electric utility system … and commercial R&D labs … or the invention factory as he called it (which probably was his most significant of all). The invention factory codified the process of invention-R&D at a commercial scale. Before Edison died in 1931, most great companies at that time developed their own R&D labs to mimic his success.

My desire is to do everything within my power to free people from drudgery and create the largest measure of happiness and prosperity.

The invention factory concept ushered in several important things: Making project management a powerful new business ethic-Edison typically managed and led 30-40 new product development teams at a time. It fused economic progress with technological innovation-what we refer to today as “progress”. And, it extended indefinitely, the industrial revolution of the late 1880s. Experts came from all over the world to study Edison’s process of invention.

Anything that won’t sell, I don’t want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success.

Edison inspired all who worked for him to create a minor invention every ten days and major one every six months. At his legendary West Orange labs, his project teams enjoyed work space, the company of fellow inventors, ample supplies and equipment to work with, talented machinists, and plenty of consultation with the “old man himself”. He even provided flexible work hours-as long as the work got done. Today, it is fashionable to talk about “makerspaces”, places where inventors can gather to rapidly prototype new things. Well, guess what? That is nothing more than a modern twist on the old invention factory-perhaps housed in a bright shiny new lab or portable work space. Amazing how the Edison invention process endures!

Thomas Edison said, “I find out what the world needs. Then I go ahead and try to invent it.”

Time® is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

Intel partners with Thomas Edison

Intel® Edison compute module shown expanded and positioned on a mother board

Hey … all you struggling entrepreneurs, inventors and developers out there!

Intel has a new developer compute module, named the “Intel® Edison”, to help you create products for the Internet of Things (“IOT”), cheaply and efficiently. This module contains a processor, memory, storage, WiFi and bluetooth communications in a tiny package. Integrating all of these elements together is what inventor-developers of all ages and maturity find very useful? The new Intel® Edison can shorten the new product development cycle by 6 – 9 months; and save a bundle of development expense.

Intel® Edison compute module – not much bigger than a postage stamp

The Intel® Edison is named in honor of the world’s greatest inventor Thomas Edison; a man who for decades revolutionized our world through continuous experimentation and rapid prototyping by finding out quickly what the market was interested in and at what price. Edison pioneered the invention factory concept, managing 30-40 new product development teams at a time. Edison did not just invent things, he created whole new industries.

The module was designed to help small companies and developer teams accomplish the same goals as Edison. Intel’s goal was to make it super easy for these entrepreneurs / developers to try out their ideas. Some of their products may fuel the next industrial revolution.

Multi-application service robot

Today, there are a little over 14 billion connected devices. Many serve a broad market such as smartphones, computers and servers. They are created by big companies with large development budgets. In the future, the connected devices ( 50 billion-Est.) will become more personalized (infant onesies, animal trackers and robots- see photo below). This is where the Intel® Edison will shine, in the hands of nimble, entrepreneurial, inventive companies and individual developers.

There is a recent example of a 12 year old who was frustrated because a braille copier for the blind cost $2,000. Using the Intel® Edison module, he reduced the number of parts and the price to $200. Intel is now funding the commercialization of his product. USAToday carried a detailed story on this project.

Edison would be proud to have his name on these new modules and in the hands of those who live by the Edison inventive spirit. Are you ready to break some paradigms! What will you make?

Check it out:

www.maker.intel.com
www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/01/20/braille-lego-printer/22055135/
www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/building-literacy-among-blind-teen-inventors-low-cost-lego-printer/
www.thomasedison.org

“To have a great idea, have a lot of them.”

Time ® is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

Thomas Edison on Failure

So how do you take failure? Do you simply move onto something else, or do you double-down and take another cut at the challenge that just floored you? Do you have a rep at work or with friends that characterizes you as someone who never gives up?

Thomas Edison was fond of saying … “I can never find the things that work best until I know the things that don’t work.”

That “Edisonian” style of stubborn perseverance is often the hallmark of successful inventors and entrepreneurs … people who change the world. When searching for the right, long-life filament for his nascent electric light bulb technology, legend has it the great inventor tried several thousand different materials, before he found the right one.

“Results! Why man, I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that won’t work.”

Remember this important fact. During Edison’s career, he filled 4,000 laboratory notebooks-about 3200 of them were the large ledger type volumes and 800 were small notebooks. This is the kind of man who carefully documented and constantly re-visited his notes to look for places for improvement- always learning from failure.

While perfecting his famous nickel-iron storage batteries, he is said to have quipped to a reporter’s admonishment on his lack of success …

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Undaunted, Thomas Edison went on to develop a legendary battery that was used in many applications the world over; in fact, it was probably his most profitable product.

At the Edison Foundations we find great guidance in Edison’s work ethic and never give-up attitude. This valuable advice came early in life from his mother, Nancy Elliot Edison, who home-schooled the young boy.

We have coined our own version of Mr. Edison’s spirit, “Fail your way to success!”

Thomas Edison said ……“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Time ® is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

Giving Tuesday: December 2, 2014

PLEASE HELP SUPPORT OUR CAUSE ON GIVING TUESDAY

Please consider making a contribution on Giving Tuesday to the efforts of the Edison Foundation to run the competition, give awards to the winners and stipends to their teachers.  There are no donation minimums but anyone donating before December 31, 2014 will receive one (1)  free music album download (up to $15.00) on Apple I-tunes for each $100.00 contribution.

Edison Innovation Foundation is a non-profit based in Newark, New Jersey that supports science and technology education and the Edison Legacy.

Our Website:  ThomasEdison.org

Our Blog: EdisonMuckers.org

Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/ThomasEdison

ALSO JOIN OUR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY COMPETITION

On October 2014, we announced our 5th Annual Edison Invention Challenge for grades 6 to 12. Students and others are encouraged to create a new invention using alternative technology (wind, solar or fuel cell technology).

In the spring of 2015, the winners and their school and teachers will be announced at an awards event. If you are in grades 6 to 12, you can join the invention challenge. December 8, 2014 is final entry date.

Learn more details by logging onto:EdisonInventionChallenge.org

Thomas Edison – as Seen by an International Venture Capitalist … in his own words

I recently visited the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, NJ as a guest advisor to the Edison Innovation Foundation. I learned many things that I wish to share with you here.

He invented a power generation system, the light bulb, the phonograph, and even motion pictures. I knew Edison was an inventor who had filed more than 1,000 patent applications during his lifetime, but was amazed to learn he had commercialized his inventions, developed production processes, employed people, and carried out marketing and other activities. In other words, he was an entrepreneur who established a technology startup based on his R&D (= invention) and commercialized his invented technologies.

The Thomas Edison invention factory at West Orange, NJ where he proved to the world that invention and entrepreneurship is a powerful force for progress, economic growth and social good.

People often don’t realize that Edison was actually a great entrepreneur as well as a great inventor, who created not just inventions but also many industries and employment. The scale of his achievements is simply breathtaking.

Yoshito Hori enjoys some reflection as he sits at the desk of the world’s greatest inventor and fellow entrepreneur, Thomas Edison

I run a venture capital fund (GLOBIS CAPITAL PARTNERS) so I know that even just R&D alone is difficult. But it is even more difficult to commercialize technologies, create production processes from scratch, mass-produce high-quality products, gain new customers, generate sales, and build a system to keep making profits continuously. To do all this, the company needs to hire many good people, and then manage and train them.

Invention and commercialization drive the evolution of society. “I believe that for every problem God has given us, He has a solution,” said Edison. He was right; the role of entrepreneurs is to solve social problems.

Edison also said, “I never did a day’s work in my life. It was all fun.” I completely agree. For me, too, work is fun rather than a hardship. I have decided to lead a fun-filled life as entrepreneur Yoshito Hori, like entrepreneur Edison.

—

Yoshito Hori, GLOBIS Chairman and CEO 

[Yoshito (Yoshi) runs the GLOBIS Graduate School of Management and venture capital business, a representative director of the G1 Summit Institute and the KIBOW Foundation, chair of a committee of Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives), co-chair of the WEF’s Global Growth Companies, and a member of a Japanese Government committee.]

—

Thomas Edison said … “If we all did the things we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves …”

Time ® is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

Winners in the Predict the Future Contest

Last month we launched an open contest for folks to give us their ideas for what they saw coming in the next 50 years. We received some very interesting thoughts from a wide variety of participants, members of the public, students, teachers … etc. Here now are the winners:

1st Prize – $50

Cassidy Stoneback, Lawrence Middle School

Cassidy envisions a post antibiotic world where bacteria are stopped by manipulating their DNA-basically shutting them on and off.
2nd Prize – $25

Moises Jimenez, Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy

Moises sees computer chips implanted in our heads that allow us to directly watch videos, listen to music, and learn new things.
3rd Prize – $10

Monica Mobley, L&N STEM Academy

Like Moises Jimenez, Monica envisions computer chips in our heads, but she sees us downloading our images to 3-D programming from which we can make models.

Edison would smile over such futuristic thoughts. He was always “pushing the envelope” in all his work. Nice job to everyone who sent us an entry! Stay tuned to our website as more interesting things for you to participate in will be coming. Pass our websites address EdisonMuckers.org and Facebook.com/ThomasEdison along to others so they can participate in future activities-and feel free to send us questions and recommend things you would like to see us address.

Make our website your first stop for all things Thomas Edison. Teachers and educators … check out our websites articles when creating STEM/STEAM lesson plans and Facebook.com/ThomasEdison. More such resources are coming.

Thomas Edison said … “To have a great idea, have a lot of them.”

Time ® is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

Thomas Edison Quotes on Hard Work

So, you are working hard, spending lots of time at work or a special project … maybe 50-60 hours a week? Thomas Edison would admire your work ethic. He would have said something like:

“Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits”

Old Tom was a devotee of hard work, often logging over 90 hours a week in his office and labs, punching the time clock just like everyone else-also catching a quick nap when he could to refresh himself.

Here is a quote that characterizes how Tom thought about work:

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

He was all about what you could do with what you had learned … not how smart folks thought you were. For Edison:

“Genius is hard work, stick-to-itiveness, and common sense.”

The world of Mr. Edison was all about practicality in action.

He did not care for quitters either:

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Think about this. He was purported to have conducted over 3,000 experiments to perfect his light bulb filament; and over 15,000 experiments to get his nickel-iron storage batteries right. How many people do you know who have this kind of work discipline? Do you?

Thomas Edison said … “There is a way to do it better. Find it.”

Time ® is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

Edison and Einstein – Take a “Selfie” Photo

Somewhere in the cloud, two great men sit in a small sailboat, having a mythical discussion, catching rays and lounging their hands in the cool, green water. Rumpled, comfortable Fedora hats on their heads …

Thomas Alva Edison (TAE):

Albert, thanks for the ride on your sailboat. It reminds me of my winter home in Fort Myers. I really miss that.

Albert Einstein (AE):

My pleasure Tom. Sailing always relaxed me when I had some deep thinking to do.

TAE:

Speaking of deep thinking, I must tell you Al, I never could understand your theory of light thing, with the speed of light as a cosmic speed limit; and time being variable. Wow, that really bent my brain!

AE:

It’s just the way the math worked out-no big thing. You know … we both had our fling with light-my theory and your light bulb experiments. What patience you had with all the filament experiments performed.

TAE:

Well I was much younger then and eager to make a mark for myself. You were no slouch yourself with those four incredible scientific papers you published in 1905. Al, you changed the world of physics. Let me see if I remember what those papers had to do with … your special theory of relativity, the photoelectric effect, that famous equation of yours [E = mc2] and something called Brownian motion. Those papers are all brain-busters my friend!

AE:

Let me compliment you as well Tom….with your inventions of recorded sound, motion pictures, the electric light and the electric utility system; and you taught the commercial world about the steps for creating new products without limit—the invention factory concept … which led to R&D labs in every major company today. That is real, economic growth.

TAE:

I must comment here Al. All your theoretical work laid the foundation for solid state physics—leading to transistors and integrated circuits. Some folks call you the father of solid state physics, what drives our Internet, telecommunications, and smart phones today. And this also is big-time economic growth.

AE:

We both had some great fun didn’t we? I wish we could do it all over today.

TAE:

You know Al, we should open a little shop up here in the cloud-do some tinkering and inventing; maybe come up with some new theories. You had some inventions of your own as I recall. We could team up with the theory and practicality-making folks stand-up and notice we old dogs on the block.

AE:

Sounds like fun, but there must be time to sail.

TAE:

Absolutely, and time to read and research.

AE:

What will we call this little shop?

TAE:

Wait for it Al … ”Inventions at the Speed of Light”.

AE:

You always did have a way with words!

TAE:

How about we do a nice webpage, featuring a monster “selfie” photo of us, just like the modern celebrities do?

AE:

I can picture that….but first I have a question. You were always good at anticipating the future, where technology would go. You nailed that electric vehicle application, anticipating it over 100 years ago. What do you see in the next 50 years?

TAE:

Al … I need to think that over for a couple of days. I can tell you this … it is going to be very interesting!

[Readers: What technological innovations do you see in the next 50 years? Let us know. Drop us your thoughts at info@thomasedison.org. The top 3 submissions will receive Amazon gift cards: first place-$50; second place-$25; and third place-$10. We do reserve the right to cancel this offer if only a few folks respond.]

AE:

One last thing Tom, maybe we should try and contact that Robert Faraday fellow we both admired. Get him to join us. Robert was a fine experimentalist.

TAE:

I agree. His electric motor invention rocked my world I can tell you that. He had a big influence on my thinking…my kind of guy!

Al, let’s do our “selfie” photo now so it’s ready for the new webpage.

Thomas Edison said: “My desire is to do everything within my power to free people from drudgery and create the largest measure of happiness and prosperity.”

Time ® is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

 

 

 

FANS OF THOMAS EDISON:
Predict the future now

Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein both had great vision which enabled them to see and predict future developments in Technology and Mathematics.

NOW ITS YOUR TURN:

E-mail a few sentences (or more) on what you see as potential major developments in Technology and/or Math OVER THE NEXT 50 YEARS

You need to follow the lead of Edison and Einstein and really “let it rip”. They may even send you a “congrats” email from the cloud, if they really like your stuff. Back on earth you can win the following prizes (under 18 card goes to your parent);

1st prize: $50 Amazon (or Alibaba) gift card

2nd prize: $25 Amazon (or Alibaba) gift card

3rd prize: $10 Amazon (or Alibaba) gift card

Teachers get double credit cards if they use their Amazon purchases for the class room. Contest is open to all readers and visitors to our web and social media sites, i.e. www.ThomasEdison.org, www.EdisonMuckers.org, www.Pinterest.com/thomasaedison and www.Facebook.com/officialthomasedison.

Send your predictions to Edison Innovation Foundation at info@thomasedison.org, before Oct 31, 2014. Winners will be notified directly and their names posted on our blog.

Edison’s Hero: Michael Faraday

Michael Faraday [1791 – 1867] was a self-taught physicist and chemist, and a hero to both Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein. Faraday is best known for his discoveries of the laws of electrolysis, his giant invention of the electric motor, and electromagnetic induction [the production of a voltage across a conductor when it is exposed to a varying magnetic field-the very foundation for how motors and transformers work.]

Faraday was born on the outskirts of London, in a family of modest means. He received little formal education and was largely self-taught. His first job was an apprenticed bookbinder where he had opportunity to read many books; becoming enamored with chemistry- an interest he would share with Edison. At age twenty, he became an assistant to and secretary to the British scientist Sir Humphrey Davey, a giant in science and chemistry. Later, after a somewhat stormy relationship with Davey, he would become his own force in the field of science. Faraday ultimately became the first and foremost Fullerian Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, a lifetime position.

Like Edison, Faraday was a brilliant experimentalist; and also like Edison, was limited in his application of higher math knowledge. Both men probably had no more than limited algebra and some trigonometry skills picked up along the years. When Edison was a budding telegrapher in his teens, he is said to have read Faraday’s major work, “Experimental Researches in Electricity”, which many later scientists used to extend his fundamental work.

Faraday gave memorable public lectures demonstrating his discoveries and popularizing his electrical technology. He is enshrined in the pantheon of electric engineering with the unit of capacitance…the “Farad”, named in his honor.

Learn more about Faraday:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Faraday
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/faraday_michael.shtml
http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/112273.Michael_Faraday

Thomas Edison said … “The man who doesn’t make up his mind to cultivate the habit of thinking misses the greatest pleasure in life.

Time ® is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

Ford Goes Off the Grid

Why can’t your car do double duty? Most of the time, 94% in fact, your car just sits there parked. What if you could make it do something useful during that time … say, like charge an electric vehicle’s batteries?

Ford has come out with a solar roof for cars for just that purpose – to re-charge batteries. Ford calls this vehicle the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept. This hybrid vehicle has 300 watts to 350 watts of SunPower Corp. solar cells on the roof, but with a special and really cool twist.

The concept includes a low cost canopy-like parking structure that uses cheap, acrylic, Fresnel lenses to focus sunlight on the car’s solar panels, greatly improving (concentrating) ambient sunlight and hence boosting the collection efficiency of the solar cells-by as much as 50%! This concentrating feature was developed with the Georgia Institute of Technology; and actually shifts the car’s position relative to the sun throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky, thus maximizing solar collection all day long.

The concept allows the car to re-charge during the day-independent of the conventional grid, making it standalone. Ford says using this vehicle would reduce annual gas emission by four metric tons per owner each year.

Can you see these concentrating canopies being added to existing car garages? Maybe special parking lots that feature this? Maybe municipal and company car fleets would have these canopies installed to reduce fleet vehicle fuel costs?

Has anyone told Tesla about this?

Editor’s Deep Dive

http://cleantechnica.com/2014/01/02/ford-c-max-solar-energi-concept-car-coming-ces-2014/
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2014/01/12/Ford-goes-off-grid-Toyotas-fuel-cell-car-makes-splash/UPI-80821389522600/
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/ford-c-max-solar-energi-concept-photos-and-info-auto-shows

Thomas Edison said, “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”

Time ® is a registered trademark of Time Inc.