THE INVENTOR'S HANDBOOK

摘要

We are living in a golden age of invention. Makerspaces and online creator communities abound; information is abundant and free; equipment is affordable and available; and crowdsourcing platforms offer a great way to test interest and build excitement around a new idea-as well as to fund it. Because barriers to entry are practically nonexistent, these days anyone can be an inventor. As a result, the number of amateur creators is on the rise. Nearly half of American adults now refer to themselves as "makers." Most important, people of every age, gender, and background are involved in this movement. "You don't have to be an expert in a field in order to make an original contribution," says Steve Sasson, inventor of the digital camera and a 2011 National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee. "You can become an inventor simply by having an idea, working on it, and refining it."