Out of Thin Air  - Part 1
                                      --- how and why new tools get invented.

                                                Byron J. Woodruff, 
President/Paint Trix Inc.

"There is nothing new under the sun."  --- author unknown

It's an old saying that is essentially true. There are basically two types of 
"inventions," evolutionary and revolutionary. Virtually every "new tool" we 
see, is the result of a long line of evolutionary improvements on existing 
tools. On very rare occasions, someone will see a way to adapt technology 
from one field to another where there was no previous connection.  This type 
of development is usually considered revolutionary.

Well...OK
To begin with, most "Inventors" are somewhat nervous about being labeled as 
such, because the term is most often associated with some form of "brilliant 
insight" which has led to a completely new creation. In reality, the 
"Inventor" virtually always knows about, and has researched, previous work on 
the same problem.  It's sort of like being praised for getting an "A" on a 
really tough exam when you had half the answers to the test scribbled on the 
palm of your hand. Since "Inventor" is the easiest way to describe a person 
who has developed, designed, improved, or otherwise worked through a problem 
to arrive at a workable solution (tool) we will use that label here - after 
all, Patent Offices all over the world do.

Man - The tool making animal
It has been said that what really separates man from the rest of the animal 
kingdom is his ability to make and use tools. Sure, there are some examples 
of chimps using sticks to entice termites out of a hole, and some birds use 
rocks to break the shells on other (larger) birds eggs.  But, it is man - and 
man alone - who went the next step and learned how to sharpen the end on that 
stick, and later to sharpen a stone and tie it to the end of the stick for 
much greater advantage.  The seeds for a bewildering array of tools had been 
sowed.  So...who keeps this evolutionary development of tools going?

"What's the motivation?"
My experience is that Inventors are by nature very critical people.  They 
delight in finding flaws in things. It also goes without saying, they have 
technical minds and love to take (pick) things apart.  I have no reason to 
believe that the people or the process of invention has fundamentally changed 
since the first "sharpened stick" was "invented." My own experience (and from 
reading about other inventors) is that they are more "thing" oriented than 
"people" oriented.  Perhaps they find the "flaws" in people too overwhelming 
a subject to tackle.  In any event, they are (in general) less social. 
Perhaps this general uncaring attitude toward human conventions and norms, 
allows them to think more freely - without constraints.  Eccentric behavior 
comes to mind - the stereotypical inventor - a bit odd.  The biggest 
advantage however, is that this lack of a social life, leaves one with a heck 
of a lot of free time to "tinker" with what he loves most - "things."

"Where did he go anyway?"
The guys who gave us the flint knife, the stone ax, or the personal computer 
(for that matter) were all guys who occupied the dimmest parts of the 
prehistory cave - away from the warmth and socializing around the fire. They 
weren't conversing over mastodon steak - no, they grabbed a bite and receded 
to a dimmer (and quieter) part of the cave where they could think.  No doubt 
consumed trying to figure out a better way to attach an even bigger stone to 
a stick so that tomorrow night they could dine on an even bigger mastodon!  
In a sense, you could say Inventors are more "problem" oriented than "goal" 
oriented.  In their minds, they are never satisfied with the product.  They 
are tinkerers.  You will never hear an Inventor say, "That's it!  It's 
perfect! No changes!

"Where do they come up with this stuff?"
Not hard really.  Have you ever used a tool that broke or wouldn't work the 
way you thought it was supposed too?  There's your inspiration.  The 
difference, of course, is that rather than cuss the tool and throw it - or 
keep trying to use it while cussing - and later forget about it, the Inventor 
stops and studies it.  Why is it not working? How could I make it work? 
And..."Is there a different way to do the same thing this tool is supposed to 
do that would work even better?"  Suddenly, he is caught up in  consuming, 
obsessive thought. It is a "thing" with a "problem" that needs a solution.  
Time to start tinkering.

"Where do the new designs come from?"
Well...as mentioned, first there is the "consuming" aspect. The problem 
becomes a priority.  It displaces all other free thought (again, this is much 
easier to accomplish without social distractions).  You can sit in a "trance 
like state" for hours on end thinking about it.  It should be mentioned here 
that, Inventors have a real ability to see finished 3-D designs in their 
minds.  They can lay it out and make revisions.  They can test these 
revisions under different working conditions.  I'm talking detailed images 
here. It's not unlike a gifted sculptor looking at a piece of marble and 
already seeing the finished piece of art.  It has been said that all a good 
sculptor really does is "remove the excess material."  Same mental image an 
Inventor has.

Obsession (not the perfume)
Once the Inventor's mind is in the obsessed (focused) mode, it is amazing how 
often seemingly unrelated experiences throughout the day come into play to 
help with the problem. The mind is subconsciously "geared" to receive any and 
all information that might be useful to the design problem.  And yes, these 
insights can (and often do) give the Inventor "chills."  It is a great 
feeling when it happens.  You can be thumbing through an engineering magazine 
("Machine Design" - required reading for engineers) or mindlessly flipping 
pages in a manufacturing supply catalog ("McMaster-Carr" - the bible for 
materials, fasteners, and sub assemblies) and suddenly..."WHOA!...I could use 
that idea to make the..." Just as suddenly, another 3-D image springs up 
inside your head.

Time to "cut metal"
It is often assumed that things are thoroughly engineered and precision 
blueprints rendered of the design before construction of the tool begins.  I 
can tell you this is most often not the case, either in large companies, or 
in somebody's garage.  The very "sketchiest" of sketches is often all there 
is - that, and what is in the Inventor's mind. You have (no doubt) heard 
about designs being drawn out on restaurant napkins - it really does happen 
at this stage in the game.  Even large companies have ways to create 
prototypes in a hurry - they are called "Model Shops." These are manned by 
seasoned machinists who can work from minimal drawings - and make worthwhile 
suggestions.  Of course, the tinkerer Inventor (if lucky) can go straight to 
the shop and start the work themselves.  The key here is to maintain the 
enthusiasm and eliminate the hassle.  There is a creative mind at work (on 
overdrive) and it just wants to see his vision turned into reality.

As mentioned, at this stage of the game the Inventor is like a sculptor 
visualizing the finished work.  Around him lays cold, lifeless, stacks of 
metal rods, bars of aluminum and steel.  No matter, he can see the finished 
product in his mind.  You begin work from your pencil drawings.  Grab a piece 
of metal and cut it to length. Face the ends.  Drill a hole or two.  Deburr 
it.  All of a sudden, he is not looking at a 3-D image in his head, but an 
actual component part come to life in his hand.  It's kind of amazing really 
- to go from a vision to a finished part.

It can be difficult to maintain high-quality machining standards at this 
point.  Extraordinary demands on patience are required because of the 
increasing level of excitement.  Bit-by-bit one component is completed after 
another.  Revisions are made "on the fly."  As the component parts start to 
come together you see your "baby" begin to fully develop.  When the last part 
fits into place I can best describe the feeling from the movie Frankenstein, 
"IT'S ALIVE!...IT''S ALIVE!...MY GOD...IT'S ALIVE!"  It truly is one of the 
most satisfying moments in life.  It's a feeling that even if you were to 
have a heart attack, or get hit by a meteorite - right then and there -  your 
"baby" has been born into the world.  And that folks - that moment - is what 
makes life truly special for an inventor.

Part 2: "Proof of Concept and Selling Your Baby"

Comments about this article can be sent to Byron here Pntrix@aol.com

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