the
innovative LEDGER
An e-Newsletter from The Innovative Edge™ Inc.
Vol.
7, No. 12 - December 2007
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Suspension of Belief
By Jeff Govendo
A
recent article in the Boston Globe featured a story about Amar Bose,
the 78 year old founder of Bose Corporation, the Framingham, MA maker
of high quality speakers. It seems Mr. Bose has been holding the patent
to an innovative "new" technology for some time.
But
it is not related to audio equipment.
It's
an automobile suspension system. A system so smooth the body of
the test car it's been installed in barely moves, even while its wheels
are bouncing madly over treacherous bumps on a test track. At the
same time, the car remains so stable it barely leans in hard turns
or dips during an emergency stop.
Mr.
Bose began working on this in secret 27 years ago, in the garage of
one of his vice presidents near company headquarters. At that time,
he recognized that there are similarities between the physics of suspension
and sound reproduction, both having to do with waves and energy. He
strongly believed this could be applied to his other passion in life
(besides sound reproduction): cars. His system works with electromagnetic
motors instantaneously responding in opposition to the shocks produced
by bumps or potholes, so as to counteract them. Not simply shock
absorbers, they are shock negators – they literally cancel out
the jolts.
This,
by the way, reminds me of a flight I was on about 10 years ago, in
which I was seated next to a man who wore a strange-looking headset.
He explained it was a prototype for a new invention his company was
working on: noise canceling earphones (fairly common now, but not
then). Instead of simply muffling or masking ambient noise, they
counteracted it, much like Mr. Bose's suspension system. He let
me try on the device, and I immediately realized this was no ordinary
pair of earphones! They really worked!
Oh,
by the way, my seatmate turned out to be the then-president of...
Bose Corporation.
But
back to Mr. Bose. His application of a known set of principles
to a very different technology is the basis of many ground-breaking
innovations throughout history. Previously in this newsletter,
I have cited examples of products whose inventors have drawn upon
the natural world for inspiration: architects studying animal habitats,
engineers borrowing ideas from the plant world, manufacturers observing
the compatibility of liquids to produce better building materials.
The list goes on.
The
point is that great innovators often don’t limit their inspiration
solely to the body of knowledge in which they are most involved, nor
confine the successful application of a principle to their own field
of study. They make new connections, and doing so is the essence
of creative thinking.
What
does this suggest for the average company or non-profit dealing with
tough challenges or exciting opportunities in which new thinking is
required? Bring in diverse thinkers. People with new perspectives,
varying backgrounds, differing world views. Utilize more of the
talent you've got in your organization to get a broader range of ideas.
Bring in outsiders if possible. Mix it up. It can’t hurt,
and might result in some unexpected insights.
Try
it, or you may end up just spinning your wheels.
