The Myth of the Lone Inventor

Codex The Sloth writes "Malcolm Gladwell (who amongst other things, wrote "The Tipping Point") has written an article for the New Yorker claiming that the role of the lone inventor is over. The example of Philo T. Fransworth (the "inventor" of Television) who failed because (amongst other reasons) he didn't have the big resources of a company to allow him to focus on his innovations. The thesis is that it is rare to have a single innovation that makes a product workable and that getting all of the inovations together requires a (large) corporation. No doubt others feel different."

Comments

But what about Dean Kamen?

[cliffy2000]

Ginger! Oh, tell me that the Segway isn't huge!
Come on, you KNOW it exceeded expectations!
DeKa enterprises is far from over, my friend. And Dean Kamen, the uber-inventor, will return. Oh, yes... Kamen -- the lone inventor -- will return.

Grow up, little snotnose

[Anonymous Coward]

You must be a teenager still living with mommy if you don't see the reason for marketing. Wait until you grow up and enter the real world.