Key Innovators

Introduction

What qualifies an individual to be considered a key contributor in the fields of engineering and technology? Can a great innovation be defined by the efforts of one individual? Certainly that genius has been shown in many cases. However, it is also true that significant innovations in engineering and technology are often achieved through teams of talented, driven individuals each with unique responsibilities to achieve a common goal. It is through considerable knowledge, technical abilities, brilliance, passion, and clear strong vision that an individual with effective leadership skills can drive a team to accomplish great things.

Thomas Edison is such an example. Truthfully, Edison was a key innovator and genius inventor in his own right. His innovations started as a young lad. But Edison also had the unique vision and abilities to also establish a newfound organization, a business, for technological research and product development that produced a wide variety of technological solutions. Edison learned that successful technological innovation requires considerable resources of not just genius, but more individual brains to be successful in the competitive rush for solutions and the valued patent.

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Challenge

Take Away

This lesson has reviewed key innovators in engineering and technology throughout the years from Ancient Greece to the beginning of the Information Age. You probably have noted the listing of key innovators in this lesson ended with Grace Murray Hopper’s accomplishments in Computer Science. Why did it stop there?

Answer

Development in Information Systems over the last 50+ years have expanded into software and networking applications. Also, considerable growth has occurred in other industries such as bioengineering, automation, robotics, and materials. There are many key individuals who have created staggering innovations in product or processes, but their individual contributions are often masked by the larger organization. Innovations of products and solutions are driven now more by the vision and needs of corporations or government. However, each industry has leaders who are recognized for their unique contributions.

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