Comments on: Steam engine time http://binaryplex.com/2007/08/05/steam-engine-time/ The often random thoughts of an Eclectic Architect, Enterprise Technologist, Coffee Addict & Social Media Junkie Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:56:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: binaryplex.com » Blog Archive » Is the time of the intelligent RSS reader here? http://binaryplex.com/2007/08/05/steam-engine-time/#comment-246 binaryplex.com » Blog Archive » Is the time of the intelligent RSS reader here? Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:55:14 +0000 http://binaryplex.com/2007/08/05/steam-engine-time/#comment-246 [...] posted about the concept of a Steam Engine Time, so is it time for an intelligent RSS reader.  A friend pointed me in the direction of Illumio, [...] [...] posted about the concept of a Steam Engine Time, so is it time for an intelligent RSS reader.  A friend pointed me in the direction of Illumio, [...]

]]> By: You need to be persistently adaptable at Liako.Biz http://binaryplex.com/2007/08/05/steam-engine-time/#comment-206 You need to be persistently adaptable at Liako.Biz Sat, 11 Aug 2007 10:29:55 +0000 http://binaryplex.com/2007/08/05/steam-engine-time/#comment-206 [...] an interesting discussion point on when is the right time to innovate. In a post titled “Steam engine time“, he asks: If innovation is a process of the right idea, in the right place and at the right [...] [...] an interesting discussion point on when is the right time to innovate. In a post titled “Steam engine time“, he asks: If innovation is a process of the right idea, in the right place and at the right [...]

]]> By: Tim http://binaryplex.com/2007/08/05/steam-engine-time/#comment-201 Tim Thu, 09 Aug 2007 09:55:59 +0000 http://binaryplex.com/2007/08/05/steam-engine-time/#comment-201 Totally agree. I don't want to trivialise the insights these people had at all - I seriously doubt the various contributions to human progress were accidental. There is no doubt in my mind that innovation is hard work http://binaryplex.com/2007/04/21/the-battle-to-innovate/ What I'm interested in is how do you know which insights are occuring at the right time for them to strike fertile ground and succeed? And is this even possible? Perhaps only hind-sight can tell. Totally agree.

I don’t want to trivialise the insights these people had at all - I seriously doubt the various contributions to human progress were accidental. There is no doubt in my mind that innovation is hard work http://binaryplex.com/2007/04/21/the-battle-to-innovate/

What I’m interested in is how do you know which insights are occuring at the right time for them to strike fertile ground and succeed? And is this even possible? Perhaps only hind-sight can tell.

]]> By: Elias http://binaryplex.com/2007/08/05/steam-engine-time/#comment-196 Elias Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:30:58 +0000 http://binaryplex.com/2007/08/05/steam-engine-time/#comment-196 Interesting question, which I have come across in my thoughts a few times. I think everything is inevitable, but we shouldn't underestimate the individuals above. I've been doing a lot of reading on the origins of hypertext, and Berners-Lee's creation of the web is a perfect example of what you are referring to. The guy that invented hypertext - 40 years on - is still trying to build it (Ted Nelson and the infamous Project Xanadu). There were also several hypertext systems floating around - but the brilliance of TBL's hypertext system was that he kept it simple. So yes, a hypertext system would have been created eventually - and there were several in use academically and commercially (like apples hypermedia system), but not necessarily the world wide web. If two people are looking at the exact same thing, and then one of them comes up with something that the other didn't realise, we say that person is creative or intelligent. Knowledge and innovation to me - and arguably intelligence - is all about connecting the dots. TBL is said to have tried to mimic the human brain when he created the web with links. We can often dismiss smart ideas or people because what they came up with is so simple and obvious - but it takes a unique mind to connect the dots. Another perspective - plenty of people probably did have the idea. But ideas need more than just thoughts to happen. And often, it's the execution that is the hard thing and unrecognised with all great innovations. Interesting question, which I have come across in my thoughts a few times.

I think everything is inevitable, but we shouldn’t underestimate the individuals above. I’ve been doing a lot of reading on the origins of hypertext, and Berners-Lee’s creation of the web is a perfect example of what you are referring to. The guy that invented hypertext - 40 years on - is still trying to build it (Ted Nelson and the infamous Project Xanadu). There were also several hypertext systems floating around - but the brilliance of TBL’s hypertext system was that he kept it simple. So yes, a hypertext system would have been created eventually - and there were several in use academically and commercially (like apples hypermedia system), but not necessarily the world wide web.

If two people are looking at the exact same thing, and then one of them comes up with something that the other didn’t realise, we say that person is creative or intelligent. Knowledge and innovation to me - and arguably intelligence - is all about connecting the dots. TBL is said to have tried to mimic the human brain when he created the web with links. We can often dismiss smart ideas or people because what they came up with is so simple and obvious - but it takes a unique mind to connect the dots.

Another perspective - plenty of people probably did have the idea. But ideas need more than just thoughts to happen. And often, it’s the execution that is the hard thing and unrecognised with all great innovations.

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