- Act of Insight (Velcro)
- A "eureka! moment" where an idea suddenly comes to mind
- Velcro https://www.velcro.com
- The inventor of velcro noticed that burrs got stuck to his dogs coat, and realized that he could use the same hook and loop solution to create the equivalent of a temporary adhesive
- Adaption (keyless vehicle)
- When technology from one field is used to solve a problem in another
- Renault https://www.renault.co.uk/
- Renault used credit card wireless technology as a security feature in a keyless car
- Technology Transfer (CDs)
- When technology is transferred to another field to serve as a source for innovation
- Sony https://www.sony.com/
- Sony used laser technology, an idea with no obvious uses, to burn information into compact discs, allowing metal circles to store countless amounts of information
- Analogy (solar panels)
- When a product is built with inspiration from a real world item
- Bell Labs https://www.bell-labs.com
- Solar panels were built with inspiration from plants. They take light from the sun and turn it into a usable form of energy
- Chance (chocolate chip cookies)
- Similar to act of insight, innovation by chance occurs, well, by chance. But whereas AOI is an unexpected thought or solution, chance is an unexpected discovery.
- Nestle https://www.nestle.com/
- Chocolate chip cookies were invented when a tollhouse attempted to make marble cookies. When the chips didn’t melt, but rather stayed on the surface, she had a new invention.
- Technology Push (laptop)
- When an invention or idea gets turned into a product and manufactured by its inventor or inventors
- Adam Osborne, Osborne Computer Corporation
- The laptop was the first truly portable computer. Osborne invented the portable computer, marketed it, manufactured it, and sold it.
- Market Pull (SteriPEN)
- When a product is invented to fill an unfulfilled consumer need
- KATADYN https://www.katadyn.com/us/us/products/steripen#/1
- For a long time, people had been looking for a safe, portable water filter. Individuals going to aid poorer countries found it difficult to constantly lug water with them. The steriPEN created a solution that helped volunteers to always have access to clean water.
