Innovation plays a key role in the progression of society. Without innovation, it would be impossible to adapt and survive in our ever changing world.
Innovation is the act of creating or improvising a product, method or idea in order to solve a problem that people may face during day to day activities. Innovation is everywhere in the world, whether it be the newest gadgets on an iPhone, nuclear energy or a life saving vaccine. Innovation makes the world a better place and solves problems in order to make life easier.
But as a society, people tend to overhype minute innovations. We gawk at the new bells and whistles and, often, overlook the practicality of the new product. At the root, innovations come from companies or businesses that are looking to make a profit. “Competition drives innovation, and with our current global environment, innovation is a must for companies to survive,” commented PV Business teacher Rita Brown.
Innovation, whether it be meaningful or not, interests the public. There is an incentive to put out the newest and best product on the market. “I was intrigued with Tesla because of Elon Musk and I see potential in electric vehicles,” said PVHS senior Oscar Olsen. “I personally don’t like EVs but I think they are new and cool and possibly the way of the future.”
Olsen, a Tesla stock owner, is interested in the innovation and the future of electric vehicles. He invested in Tesla thinking there is a large group of people who think electric cars will solve the problem of global warming and buy Tesla cars. Even though he doesn’t fall into the large group who believes it is a viable solution to global warming, he recognizes that the innovation will make money because it is new and unique.
One way companies are able to innovate and create solutions to problems is by “creating” a problem so they can make a product to solve the made up problem. For example, Shift Robotics is currently working on a product they call moonwalkers that attach to your feet and make you walk faster. The website asks for a donation to “support the mission to bring everything within walking distance.”
Shift Robotics demonstrates how a company will create a problem and solve it with their new innovation. “I have to be honest, I am not a fan of marketing because it’s becoming increasingly deceptive instead of informative,” says Brown. Marketing can be used to magnify the problem and show why their product will work and be perfect.
Marketing glorifies innovation when it could possibly be yet another case of excessive innovation hidden behind fake problems and fancy new technology.
