TruTricks Notes By Brian Swichkow: There are countless examples in history where the “experts” have been proven wrong. It has happened in multiple industries and in many different ways, but it’s pretty obvious that even the experts can’t be right 100% of the time. Whether you’re starting a business or prototyping a product, go with your gut because sometime when the world tells you to stop you should just keep going.
Source: “9 Life-Changing Inventions the Experts Said Would Never Work”
The lightbulb. The telephone. Email. If you’re a specialist in your field, there are two ways to become a household name: create something new, or claim it can never be done. If you want to be remembered on the Internet, choose the second one. Here are 9 examples of breakthroughs, inventions and innovations the experts were completely wrong about.
1. The Electric Lightbulb
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“… good enough for our transatlantic friends … but unworthy of the attention of practical or scientific men.” British Parliamentary Committee, referring to Edison’s light bulb, 1878.
“Everyone acquainted with the subject will recognize it as a conspicuous failure.” Henry Morton, president of the Stevens Institute of Technology, on Edison’s light bulb, 1880.
The Brits get sniffy about American innovation (not for the first time) – and miss the invention of the century. Now our light bulbs comes in all shapes and sizes, and we’re eco-innovating faster than ever. Not too shabby for a conspicuous failure.
2. The A/C
“Fooling around with alternating current is just a waste of time. Nobody will use it, ever.” Thomas Edison, 1889.
Oh Tom, you were doing so well. Edison enjoyed sniping at the efforts of his rival George Westinghouse (who bought the patent for a/c transmission from Nikola Tesla), and look where it got him. Fact is, it’s easier and far more efficient to distribute power with a/c than with Edison’s darling direct current. Oops.
3. The Personal Computer
We have reached the limits of what is possible with computers. John Von Neumann, 1949
Somewhat wide of the mark. Along came the integrated circuit (better known as the microchip), and things went crazy. Computers have allowed our species to really connect. We can even study and regulate our own planet – and there’s still no computing limits in sight.
4. The Microchip
“But what… is it good for?” An engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, commenting on the microchip in 1968.
Hardly anything – well, apart from virtually every piece of electronic equipment in gadgets, vehicles, computer networks, power stations, homes, offices and every other conceivable part of everyday life for this century and probably the next. But otherwise, yes – useless.
View the full article on EcoSalon
“9 Life-Changing Inventions the Experts Said Would Never Work”
Tags: History, Inventions
