Innovation

Of all of life’s creations on earth, it is clear that the human race reigns supreme. But herein lies a strange conundrum. Survival of the fittest reigns everywhere else, save for humankind. Why? Why isn’t the tiger, or the lion, the bear, ruler of the planet? In my eyes, there is only one thing that sets us apart from the animals we keep as pets: Innovation.

One of the earliest examples of innovation was the agricultural revolution, which enabled humans to settle in one place and grow crops instead of relying on hunting and gathering. For the first time in the history of the planet, a species was able to focus on something other than surviving to the next day. This massive innovation led to the development of civilization and allowed humans to establish cities, trade, and cultural exchange.

Another significant innovation was the invention of the wheel, which transformed transportation and allowed people to move goods and materials more efficiently. The wheel was also instrumental in the development of other inventions, such as the water wheel, which led to the growth of industry and manufacturing. Unfortunately, nothing is without fault, not even innovation. Humans created guns and gunpowder, bombs, and found methods of inflicting death whenever they wished.

During the Renaissance, there was a surge in innovation, driven by a renewed interest in art, science, and culture. Innovations during this period included the printing press, which allowed books to be mass-produced and disseminated widely, leading to an increase in literacy and education. War became more common, with humans using weapons on each other with frightening abundance. Other innovations included new navigation tools, such as the astrolabe and the compass, which enabled explorers to travel further and more accurately, leading to the discovery of new lands and cultures.

At the time of the Industrial Revolution, innovation accelerated dramatically, driven by the development of new technologies such as the steam engine, which revolutionized transportation and manufacturing. Weapons of war were being developed which could end many lives in the blink of an eye. The spirit of war was waking, and its vengeance would be terrible. However, there was still quite a bit of innovation in this era, including the telegraph, which transformed communication and enabled people to communicate quickly and efficiently over long distances.

During the 20th century, innovation continued to accelerate, particularly in the areas of electronics and computing. The human desire for war had been loosed upon the world, and with two world wars in this century, the human population was scarred forever. A Cold War led to us, as a species, leaving our planet in search of new worlds. Oh, but what was the motivation for that? To explore? To enhance our knowledge? No. The motivation was simply a massive, planet-wide feud.

The innovations during this period included the invention of the transistor, which led to the development of modern computers, and the internet, which, while having transformed communication and enabled people to connect and share information, was originally developed for military communication. And of course, possibly the most famous innovation ever, the atomic bomb. Humanity now, thanks to innovation, had tools to wipe itself off the face of the planet many times over.

But even while this had been happening, something strange was happening. The greatest innovations the world had ever seen were taking place in the time period of our greatest strife. Why? Why must humanity, to advance, fight amongst ourselves? Well, the simple answer is that the question itself is wrong. Simply, no. Humanity does not need to struggle amongst itself to advance. We do not need to skirmish with our own kind to develop ourselves. During wars, we need to use every last instinct that we have to survive, to win. We simply do not need to use that in our everyday lives.

Really, any one of us can be the next Einstein, the next Newton, or the next Tesla. All in all, innovation has led us through the darkest moments in history, and today, innovation continues to play a critical role in shaping the world we live in. Innovations in fields such as medicine, energy, and transportation are transforming our lives and enabling us to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. Innovation is not a concept. Innovation is a tool. And like any tool, it matters only how you use it.