1. This article essentially argues that the idea of a lone inventor is an imaginary concept. The most efficient way to invent something is, without a doubt, in a state-of-the-art laboratory with a team of experts working together. The article gives examples of several people hailed to be "lone inventors," such as Thomas Edison, William Hewlett, and David Packard, and explains that they all had lots of professional help in developing their ideas. Despite the Americanized dream of a solitary man or woman in a basement forging a world-changing innovation, the only valid approach to invention is with a team and exterior resources. Even Iron Man, the article says, works in a team.
2. According to the article, research laboratories are inevitably the only effective way to successfully develop new technologies. A lone inventor doesn't have the resources to perform all the necessary work alone. The power of collaboration and resources among many professionals combined with state-of-the-art equipment is invaluable to achievements in innovation.
3. The problem with America's misconception of the lone inventor is that it inhibits inventors from going about their work in the most efficient way possible. The romanticized idea of successfully inventing something all by one's self seems heroic and powerfully ties in to the "American dream." This leads many modern inventors to refuse to seek help, remaining lonesome under the belief that they'll be more successful if other people don't become involved. The reality is that involving other people is exponentially more efficient, and the desire to work alone chasing an unrealistic dream of a lone inventor only blocks progress in innovation.
4. Iron Man movies seem to champion the concept of the heroic lone inventor. Tony Stark, a genius, appears to work all by himself, is one of the richest men in the world, has amazing childhood-fantasy-like flying weaponized robot suits that he built himself, and is a superhero. Everyone would absolutely love to be in his shoes. The fictional Iron Man movies, however, are just that: fictional. The propagate an unrealistic expectation that people can achieve massive success and heroism with no help. Even in the movie, however, Tony Stark is merely the heir of his father's company, inheriting all of his father's money and technology, and abusing it to create weapons. He couldn't possibly have achieved all he has with no help. There's a reason that nobody like Tony Stark exists in the real world, and it's because that concept doesn't exist. It's a fictional concept only, and is by no means an accurate way to approach invention.
2. According to the article, research laboratories are inevitably the only effective way to successfully develop new technologies. A lone inventor doesn't have the resources to perform all the necessary work alone. The power of collaboration and resources among many professionals combined with state-of-the-art equipment is invaluable to achievements in innovation.
3. The problem with America's misconception of the lone inventor is that it inhibits inventors from going about their work in the most efficient way possible. The romanticized idea of successfully inventing something all by one's self seems heroic and powerfully ties in to the "American dream." This leads many modern inventors to refuse to seek help, remaining lonesome under the belief that they'll be more successful if other people don't become involved. The reality is that involving other people is exponentially more efficient, and the desire to work alone chasing an unrealistic dream of a lone inventor only blocks progress in innovation.
4. Iron Man movies seem to champion the concept of the heroic lone inventor. Tony Stark, a genius, appears to work all by himself, is one of the richest men in the world, has amazing childhood-fantasy-like flying weaponized robot suits that he built himself, and is a superhero. Everyone would absolutely love to be in his shoes. The fictional Iron Man movies, however, are just that: fictional. The propagate an unrealistic expectation that people can achieve massive success and heroism with no help. Even in the movie, however, Tony Stark is merely the heir of his father's company, inheriting all of his father's money and technology, and abusing it to create weapons. He couldn't possibly have achieved all he has with no help. There's a reason that nobody like Tony Stark exists in the real world, and it's because that concept doesn't exist. It's a fictional concept only, and is by no means an accurate way to approach invention.