Why are inventions so interesting? Simply put, inventions solve problems — and often in surprising ways. Because they have transformed the world on so many levels, inventions inspire hope that our problems of today will be solved, just as the wheel, light bulb, and anesthetics and surgery addressed major issues in the past.
But there's more: Inventions are tangible embodiments of creativity and the human desire to improve the world. Inventions almost always inspire curiosity since they – by their nature – have never existed before. How do they work? Why are they unique? How does that uniqueness better solve a problem? The answers to these questions foster a sense of wonder – a "wow” factor for us all.
Every invention has a story, intertwined with the lives of its inventor. From the first clock to the internet, the relation of inventions to their creators exemplifies the intricate process of inventing – an interplay of necessity, creativity, and the transformative power of the human imagination.
“Inventions,” the first session in the three-part series “Inventions, Inventors & Inventing,” finds Dr. Richard Cahoon in conversation with science journalists Kathryn Hulick and Jay Bennett; Dr. Jan Björn Potthast, a patent historian who writes for the German Patent Office; and Rebekah Oakes, the historian of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Each has researched and written extensively on impactful inventions and patents.
An inventor and patent holder himself, Dr. Cahoon has worked with hundreds of inventors and managed their inventions over several decades of professional work; he'll share his own stories and perspectives during the discussion. This session will offer a glimpse into the world of inventions – of interest to those with extensive invention and patent experience as well as those unfamiliar with this fascinating world.
