Democratizing Innovation

The speaker begins the lecture talking about the book Democratizing Innovation and how it turns much of how we think about innovation economics on its head. Rather than manufactures working in reliance on patents, many of the most useful innovations come from lead users, who innovate because they need, can and love to, and then share their inventions freely with others. The professor talks about how users in most cases not the manufactures were responsible for creating the major innovations and responsible for the first device used in field developed and built. A quote from the lecture ““Traditionally, innovation is thought of as something manufacturers do....I found out that innovation didn’t come from manufacturers at all. Our research discovered that users develop many major new products. It turns the economics on its head. ”.

The speaker talks about innovation often comes from users toying around with products to fit their needs. For example he showed a car that was modified after mount ST. Helens erupted. Also talked about irrigation systems and how farmers would create tools from what they had around them. But Manufactures often take the credit for these innovations or a variation of the innovation because they often have the patents for these products.

He also talks about lead users and that only lead users innovations form the basis for the new products and services of value to manufactures. Lead users innovate at the leading edge of markets. He talks about many users innovate not just the lead users. For an example he says that in his very class there were students that modified their back packs. Also talks about personal hydration system developed by a surgeon. They had a skill the equipment and the need for the product so there was innovation. 

The speech is basically saying that manufactures are usually behind the need for consumers and this leads to users modifying product designs to improve the product which would fill a need that the manufactures were not aware of. also that users innovating is good thing as increases social welfare and free commons.

Innovation through design thinking

This speech deals with Tim Brown talking about design thinking and how it leads to innovation. He goes on to say that design thinking is supported by a rich set of tools, processes, roles and environment. He then talks about inspiration and that the more insights you have the inspiration that you have and the easier it is for you to be innovative. And this starts with empathy. You have to go out into the world and learn to see it through their perspective and seeing things from their viewpoint. For example he goes into a hospital and looks at the perspective of a patient in an emergency room. It is important to learn and understand people on multiple levels. 

The speaker also went to a Nascar pit crew and compared it to the hospital in the way that it was very time based and that they also encountered many emergencies through their work. You can draw inspiration not just from what you are trying to solve put any thing similar in the world. One quote form the speech was “Insights are about getting out into the world, connecting with new things. Designers see the world as a source of innovation, not just validation. ”

Also an idea might go through literally hundreds if iterations of prototypes.  Also saying prototypes do not have to be physical things it can just be the idea of the product of the improving of a service or a product. The speaker shows a video of a prototype in the making where a woman explains a service. He then talks about different types of prototypes such as prototypes that validate your product or service.

He uses story telling to develop and express ideas. This is important to get your ideas out into the world. This helps to sell your idea. Also use the story to provide the framework for creating ideas. Ad Often design is  for multiple stake holders and the store helps to simplify the idea itself. The story can also be experimental.

He finishes off by talking about culture. its about being inspired and inspiring people by what's going  on in the world.