Technology convergence = innovation | Kobi Richter | TEDxRuppin

Summary

This talk explores two types of innovation: conceptual, as seen in groundbreaking thinkers like Einstein, and contextual, where solutions from one field are adapted to another. The speaker shares personal experiences from the fields of medical technology and aerodynamics to highlight how cross-disciplinary thinking can lead to powerful innovations. He stresses the importance of a multi-disciplinary education, emphasizing reading as a key skill for fostering creativity and problem-solving. The talk concludes with an anecdote about improving flute design through aerodynamics, illustrating how even art can benefit from innovative approaches borrowed from science.

Takeaways

• 😀 Conceptual innovation is about groundbreaking ideas like those of Einstein or Newton, while contextual innovation focuses on adapting existing solutions to new fields.
• 😀 Contextual innovation is a key driver of progress, as it allows for the transfer of technologies across disciplines, leading to more efficient and cost-effective solutions.
• 😀 The example of stents shows how microelectronics principles can be applied to medical devices, significantly improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing costs.
• 😀 In the case of micro-sensors, applying aerospace technology to create small, passive sensors allows for monitoring in places where traditional sensors can't reach, like the brain or eye.
• 😀 Innovation often comes from fields outside the direct area of expertise, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary knowledge and thinking.
• 😀 The process of reading is a form of cognitive convergence, where we automatically translate symbols (like letters and words) into stories and images, strengthening the brain's ability to innovate.
• 😀 Convergence can also be an unconscious process that occurs when we read or dream, as the brain continuously transforms words into visual and conceptual representations.
• 😀 Without a strong reading culture and interdisciplinary education, students risk losing the ability to innovate and think creatively across fields.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of a **multi-disciplinary education**, integrating technical subjects with literature, history, and the arts to foster well-rounded innovators.
• 😀 Convergence is not always about solving serious problems—sometimes it's about having fun and applying knowledge in unexpected ways, like the speaker's anecdote about improving a flute's sound using aerodynamics.

Q & A

What are the two types of innovation discussed in the talk?

The two types of innovation discussed are 'conceptual innovation' and 'contextual innovation.' Conceptual innovation refers to the creation of entirely new ideas or concepts, like the discoveries of Einstein or Newton, while contextual innovation involves adapting existing knowledge or technologies from one field and applying them in a new context or area.

What is the main difference between conceptual and contextual innovation?

Conceptual innovation involves creating new concepts or theories that are groundbreaking, such as Einstein’s theory of relativity. In contrast, contextual innovation involves taking existing ideas or technologies and adapting them for use in a new context, often by applying solutions from one field to another to solve real-world problems.

How did the speaker approach innovation in the medical field differently from his competitors?

The speaker applied his background in microelectronics to innovate in the medical field by using a panel-based approach for stent manufacturing, rather than creating individual stents one by one. This adaptation of microelectronics technology made the process much more efficient and cost-effective, setting him apart from competitors who relied on traditional methods.

What is the significance of the example involving stent manufacturing?

The stent manufacturing example demonstrates how contextual innovation can improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness. By using microelectronics principles, the speaker was able to manufacture stents in bulk on a single panel, significantly reducing production time and costs compared to the traditional method of making each stent individually.

How does the speaker describe the process of converging images into stories?

The speaker explains that humans naturally and unconsciously converge images into stories. For instance, when presented with an image of a character, the brain fills in the details to form a story around that image, making sense of it. This process is automatic and essential for how we interpret visual information.

What role does reading play in the process of convergence, according to the speaker?

Reading plays a crucial role in training the mind to engage in convergence. When reading, people don't just interpret individual words but instead see a sentence as a whole and create a mental story. This cognitive process is important for strengthening the brain's ability to convert visual input into meaningful stories and ideas.

What does the speaker believe is at risk if children only consume passive media?

The speaker believes that if children rely solely on passive media, such as TV or videos, they will miss out on the cognitive benefits of active reading. This could hinder their ability to develop skills like converging images into stories and processing complex ideas, ultimately affecting their ability to innovate and think critically.

What is the significance of the speaker's work on micro-sensors in the medical field?

The speaker’s work on micro-sensors is significant because it shows how small, passive sensors can be used to monitor physiological parameters in the body. These sensors are crucial for medical devices that monitor drug effectiveness or physiological changes and are small enough to be implanted in areas that larger sensors cannot reach, such as the brain or eye.

How did the speaker use principles from the aerospace industry to innovate in the medical field?

The speaker applied principles from the aerospace industry, specifically from radar technology, to design smaller, passive sensors for medical use. By using the concept of corner-cube reflectors, which reflect energy back in the same direction, he was able to create small, efficient sensors that could be implanted in delicate spaces like the brain or eye.

What is the main message the speaker conveys about the role of education in fostering innovation?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of multi-disciplinary education for fostering innovation. He argues that education should not focus solely on one area like engineering or mathematics but should encourage students to learn across different fields. This broad base of knowledge enables individuals to apply ideas and solutions from one discipline to another, leading to creative breakthroughs.