The Six Degrees World of Inventors

Sara Grant, HBS Working Knowledge, writes about her research : "'Our work and more recent work on knowledge diffusion demonstrates that knowledge flows along these collaborative relationships, even years after they were formed,' says Fleming. At the same time, the world of inventors 'is getting smaller,' he says, 'inventors are more connected to their colleagues in outside firms, and that knowledge is diffusing in both directions.'"

People. and men in particular, often touch base around work, what is going on now, how things were in the past and so on. It provides a common link or a fabric into which conversation can evolve. Technology, the internet, PC's etc are also part of the fabric, they provide another common touch point. The opportunity for cross pollination are immense, as each new industry sector gets to grasp with technology, new boundaries are explored and common ground uncovered. The "world of inventors" may be getting smaller but the scope of invention is broadening. I think the personal fabrication model has applicability for industry as sectors fabricate solutions for them selves in ways that were before unheard of.

Innovation will be about seeing what should be out of what can be and making it happen with what is. This will be a role not for a smaller group but for the community at large as the language of pervasive technology becomes more understood.

IS/IT practitioners are struggling with the concept of a common language but progress is being made. With consumer electronics we are a lot closer, plugging and playing, sharing and manipulating, downloading and feeding. The current or next generation of children that take things like this for granted (without need ing to know how it works :-)) will have a freedom to explore and innovate like never before.