History is filled with examples of inventions that people thought would be transformational, then turned out to be nothing but a fad. Take electrified water for example. It was thought to change the world forever, instead, it failed. Badly. That doesn’t mean we learn something from these failures. Each one shows us the importance of test, feedback, and the ability to adapt. This week, we will speak with two inventors, Dean Kamen and Kevin Cho, who have developed world-changing technology. We’ll talk about how test was crucial in their contribution to innovation, and how they overcame challenges within the invention and testing process. 

Learn More About: 

• History is filled with examples of inventions that turned out to be a fad. Each one shows us how hard it is for inventors to predict the needs of the public. 
• Focus groups are not always enough to get traction with the general public, so what type of testing needs to be involved to ensure a product is both safe and successful? 
• Dean Kamen has invented everything from an insulin pump to the Segway. From dabbling in his home basement to employing hundreds of engineers, how has the test played a role in Dean’s inventions? 
• Testing often takes more time and effort than we think. How can we design the best testing protocols that anticipate almost every system failure? 
• Dean explains why FIRST may be the invention he is most proud of, and why the best innovation is creating more innovators. 
• Kevin Cho explains how they are making diamonds out of methane at RFHIC, and why we need testing that doesn’t create even bigger problems. 
• Kevin’s work shows us that if you are trying to invent something new, you can’t always rely on past experiences. 

Resources Mentioned: 

NI

First 

Segway 

RFHIC