PUTTING IDEAS ON PAPER
Writing something on paper is a very good way to remember it. There are many existing problems around that simple solutions can be used to solve. An inspiring inventor should get into the habit of carrying a small notebook and pen to make a record of anything that comes to mind, because ideas come to us during the course of the day. Ideas also come to us in our sleep, so one should get into the habit of writing these as soon as he is awake. It is said that Thomas Edison got most of his ideas when he took his daily afternoon naps. Nikola Tesla got many of his great ideas when he was in deep thought. Albert Einstein also used to think deeply and he came up with brilliant theories. Michael Jackson used to wake up in the middle of the night with great ideas for the next album and stage settings. It is said that the average person does not think; he just goes through the motions in life. One must develop the habit of thinking and gradually develop this skill. One can also make short notes of these ideas in the messages or memo areas in his cellular phone or if he has a laptop computer at the time, he can make the notes there. Ideas can come to an individual anywhere and at anytime, so he has to be ready to quickly make a note of these. As soon as one spots a problem, or sees the need for a new product or improved product this can be recorded. A simple sketch with labels and explanations will also be sufficient to identify a problem and its solution. The audio book ‘the power of your subconscious mind’ clearly explains how ideas come to us. You can listen to this audio book on YouTube and put some of the advice into practice.
Many existing inventions and products around us today have been gradual improvements of existing inventions and products from decades or even hundreds of years ago. For example, people initially rode horses or mules to get from one place to another. Then a carriage or buggy was invented and attached to a horse or mule to carry people and goods from one place to another. The steam engine and train were developed to take people and cargo from one place to another. Then the diesel and electric trains were developed to transport people and cargo. Today there is the bullet train in Japan and China. While people were using the horse and buggy, the steam car was developed to take one or two passengers from one place to another. With the invention of the combustion engine, inventors realised that this engine can be mounted on an iron carriage. As a result, the car was developed. Since the car was developed more than one hundred years ago, every year there has been incremental improvements to it. Some car manufacturers even make revolutionary changes to their automobiles. Today we are seeing and hearing a lot about the electric cars and autonomous cars, which are other dramatic improvements. Two other products that were changed gradually since they were invented are the electric light bulb and the can opener.
An incremental solution to any problem is vital. This simple change to an existing invention can generate millions and even billions of dollars for a manufacturer and an inventor depending on the product and the need for that product. One should get into the habit of making notes and sketches of simple problems and incremental solutions, and then one can gradually make notes and sketches of complex problems and solutions, since a complex problem is essentially made up of smaller parts.
Once these ideas and sketches are on paper, the individual can begin to develop the concept or theory behind it. The concept is basically the idea for a solution. With the rough sketches and explanations, the individual can rewrite his ideas and make new sketches. This process is called refinement of the idea. Refinement of an idea should be an ongoing process until the concept is fully developed on paper. If it is an improvement to an existing product, the individual needs to explain what the problem is. He needs to explain the solution to this problem and the benefits of his solution. Simple and clear language should be used, so that anyone who reads it will be able to understand the message.
Finally, one must maintain an inventor's logbook. This is a detailed diary that documents all the steps you took in developing your idea or invention. You should include the date with each entry you make. According to Stephen Paul Gnass, writing for the National Congress of Inventor Organizations, a logbook helps show that you developed the idea yourself. Therefore, if someone else files a patent for the same idea, you can show that you were the first person that invented the product. If you look at the movie, ‘The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939)’, you will see that a company filed a patent for some of his inventions, started to use the product, turned around and took Alexander Graham Bell to court saying that he was using their ideas and products. He won the case by presenting his logbooks and log papers that were precisely dated which determined that he had the concepts on paper before it was patented. He won the case against the company, the company apologized to him and when the company investigated, it realized that one of its engineers had stolen the concept from Alexander Graham Bell, and misled the company.
Your idea can be a concept, a product or a process. A concept is the detailed drawings and explanations of something that an individual cannot make by himself at home. For example, a particle beam weapon, the design for a jet fighter or the design for a new space shuttle are all examples of concepts because an individual cannot build these at home or even in his garage. These concepts can be built by a government or defense and aerospace contractors. A product is something that can be easily built or made by an individual. For example, a new food created in the kitchen is a product. When subway or KFC create a new type of food, these are products. A product can also be a prototype of an idea that was easily built at home or in the garage. For example, the paperclip was easily built by someone with a piece of wire. A process is the way of doing something, for example, the creation of the assembly line at factories many decades ago is an example of a process that was created to get the job done faster. The manufacture of ammonia, methanol and cement are all examples of processes. Even the way of cooking a new type of potato chips or fried chicken is examples of a process. If your idea is a concept, a product or a process, you will need to make clear notes, explanations and draw diagrams on your notebook.
You can get many businesses and invention ideas from the following places on YouTube:
From the billionaires documentaries you will get many ideas for products that this niche market will use and you can devise or invent new products that they will buy and consume. Or you can supply them with existing products that you know they consume. After looking at millionaires from China, India or Africa documentaries, you will see how these people made millions from simple everyday activities that we overlook, because we are focusing on complex ideas. There are people in Africa who made millions in agriculture and you will come across them on the YouTube videos. This is an important lesson because it shows that one does not have to invent new software or build a new rocket to make millions. Young millionaires’ documentaries also offer us with a list of simple activities that` made them rich. In the Science and Technology Documentaries you will get many ideas for inventions and products that can be used in these fields. The documentaries about the lives of the people on the list above will show the circumstances in their lives inspired or even caused them to think, explore ideas in their minds, surround themselves with the right people, implement these ideas and get results. Take a note of how Aristitle Onasis, Bill Gates, Mark ZuckerBerg and Sylvester Stallone got their ideas and you will be amazed. While you are looking at the videos of these people, more videos about the lives of other people will pop up. You can add these to your list and look at their videos. You will get many ideas from these videos. You just need to have the right frame of mind to see them as opportunities.
There is always the need for new and different weapons by the military around the world. If you study International Relations, Politics or even History, you will see that thousands of wars have been conducted on this earth, even during Biblical days. You can do an internet search to find out about the different kinds of wars and the types of weapons used. I will not get into the reasons for wars or the morality or immorality of wars. That is another discussion by itself. As a result of all these wars in the past, there is always the need for a country’s military to constantly be upgrading its capabilities. By looking at Military Documentaries you can get many ideas for new and innovative products. You will get ideas on how to improve existing military products, which you can put on paper and submit directly to a government official, for example a Minister, Congressman or Senator who is in charge of that particular Department of a country. You can do so with or without a patent, because the average government will not steal your submission.
Space exploration is a complex field by itself, so if you have an interest in Science and Technology, you can look at Space Exploration Documentaries to get ideas on how to make improvements for space exploration products, which you can submit directly to N.A.S.A. which has an open innovation policy.
Therefore it is vital that you keep detailed records, logbooks, drawings and explanations for your concepts, inventions and processes. If the concept is on paper you need to guard this paper. If you have the invention as a tool, device or prototype, you also need to guard this. If you do extensive research, you will see how many ideas were stolen and the individuals, who did this, developed the idea into products and even into multi million dollar businesses. Once you get into the habit of taking notes and making sketches, you will develop this skill quickly and will be able to fully develop your concept on paper with adequate drawings, explanations and benefits.