Innovation

How does innovation happen? Is there a basis for innovation? How does radically novel technology arise? What lies at the heart of invention? What is the nature of the key insight in the process of invention? Is invention in science and mathematics different than in other types of technology? How does innovation develop? What can we do as individuals and as a society to foster innovation?

These profound questions come from the theory of innovation proposed by W. Brian Arthur in his 2009 book The Nature of Technology: What it is and how it evolves.

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We previously discussed this book in the 8 July 2012 discussion on "The Nature of Technology" (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/43823422). This time we will focus on Arthur's theory of innovation which is covered in chapters 5-8 (material from chapters 1-4 will be used extensively as it provides the framework for Arthur's thinking).

This meetup is part of a series that I have organized in support of my exploration of design. Here are links to related discussions I have organized on the subject:

• Engineering Failures & Society (8 May 2011) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/17217567)

• The Nature of Technology (8 July 2012) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/43823422)

• The Essential Engineer (13 Jan 2013) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/90830862)

• Design Thinking (9 Mar 2013) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/98153372)

• Are Culture, Art and Design better ways to change society? (9 Jun 2013) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/116301992)

• Technology and Invention in Finance (16 Feb 2014) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/160217332)

• Design and the Sciences of the Artificial (13 April 2014) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/168945862/)

• Social Planning: Design Considerations for Changing Society (8 June 2014) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/182944952/)

• Social Planning: Design Considerations for Changing Society (Repeat) (14 June 2014) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/187597782/)