Situational Awareness

July 20, 2011 · 2 comments

Awareness is critical to the invention process, specifically to help you identify a need in the marketplace. I’ve always found driving time as great thinking time. A three hour trip is sure to generate a great idea or two I will want to pursue.

An invention I’m working on now has to do with vehicle safety. The need came to while I was driving. My awareness was involved in driving and a near accident pointed out that the marketplace needed something to help prevent the situation I encountered. I’ll keep you posted on this invention.

The situational awareness we’re experiencing at any given moment can generate an innovation.

So, the best opportunity for innovation is the place you have your greatest situational awareness. Your interests, your job. Look at the processes and the products and solutions in your area of expertise.

Pay attention to the elegantly designed things. Let them inspire your habit of innovation. But also be aware of poorly designed tools or products. How can you improve them? Practice this approach in all areas of your life and then with the greater situational awareness an innovation can emerge.

Photo credit: serilium

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  • Cheri Allbritton

    I appreciate this post. I spent seven hours driving to and back from Illinois after Tom passed away to spend a week with my Mom. There is something cathartic about driving a distance and observing your surroundings. It’s also a good time to talk to yourself without looking crazy to the masses (that you’d care not to look crazy to that is)…other cross country drivers don’t count!

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