

Matt Ridley on How Innovation Works
5 snips Aug 31, 2020
Matt Ridley, author of "How Innovation Works," dives into the fascinating distinctions between invention and innovation. He argues that making groundbreaking inventions accessible is often tougher than creating them. Ridley emphasizes the collaborative nature of innovation, using figures like Edison and Jobs to illustrate teamwork's importance. He also highlights the transformative power of permissionless innovation and the way instinctual behaviors in birds and dogs can mirror human technological progress.
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Invention vs. Innovation
- Invention is creating something new, while innovation is making an invention available and affordable.
- Innovation is often harder than the initial invention.
The Beaver and the Dam
- Charles Towns, the laser's inventor, told a story about a beaver and rabbit.
- The beaver, looking at the Hoover Dam, quips: "I didn't build it, but it's based on an idea of mine."
Edison's Perspiration
- Thomas Edison, one of 21 light bulb inventors, focused on the hard work of innovation.
- He tested thousands of materials, highlighting that innovation is mostly perspiration, not inspiration.