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It's The Dawn of The Age of The Inventor

Monday, March 15, 2010 8:56 am

It is often quoted that in 1899 Patent Commissioner Charles Duell proclaimed: “Everything that can be invented has been invented.”

Sorry, but apparently “urban myths” existed in 1899. This quote has been accepted as absolute truth over the years. I have even repeated it. The problem is that I couldn’t find any evidence of Commissioner Duell ever saying or writing anything even close to the quote. In reality, Duell was a staunch proponent of the Patent Office’s part in fostering technological advancements as the basis for America’s economic growth. History shows that the years immediately following 1899 had an explosion of great inventions that only science fiction writers could have predicted.


Now we’re faced with the latest invention “urban myth”: The economy is so bad that it’s stifling creativity.

Balderdash. There can be no doubt – 2010 is the Dawn of The Age of the Inventor. Every indicator points to the start of a golden age for inventors. Businesses are looking for the next big idea to pull them out of the slump. Everybody is actively searching for the next Snuggie, the next iPod, the next green machine, or the next whatever that will bring customers in the door and dollars into the company coffers.

Look around, all of the signs are plainly there to see. The financial system has withstood the storm and is making money again. That’s a good thing because money will be available for new products. The stock market is up. Companies are out of the hunkering down mode and ready to go, go, go. Businesses have shrunk their work force, including their R&D staff. The new product pipeline is in disarray. How could there possibly be a better time to be an inventor?

Fulfilling the many business needs can’t be just any invention. The new inventive products must have “the it factor.” Every product line needs the new “it.” Every company wants “it.” Every consumer can’t wait to buy “it.” But what is “it”? We’ll know when we see “it.” In fact, when we look back on 2010 and the years thereafter, we’re going to be astonished at the wondrous new products that were invented and have enriched our lives.

This is definitely the Dawn of The Age of the Inventor. Inventors are destined to be the new rock stars.

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