Rednecks and Innovators

See a pattern?

I’ve been hearing about these types of inventions now for years. With the introduction of Web 2.0 applications such as You Tube and Wikipedia came an influx of new community supported technology projects that are truly astounding. I picked through a few videos that I thought were interesting, but this is only the beginning. People like these have developed computer operating systems, robots, airplanes and computers on there own, with technology accessible to most Americans. Keep in mind, these developments are not the products of well funded companies; these are individuals driven with a passion for technology, and access to likeminded folks through the internet and local interest groups.

At first, I was going to make this a commentary on the spirit of American entreprenuereship. But on review of the videos, I realized that this is more than America; this is a sharing of ideas and innovation on a global scale, and a picture of the future to come. Do you want to see some real pulse jets? Look at New Zealand. Robotics? Germany. It’s all there on the internet, instant access to global corroboration for technology and innovation that would have been impossible 10 years ago. This kind of open information jumpstarts creativity and innovation, and will lead the development of technology in the future.

O.k, maybe you aren’t impressed when some redneck straps a pulsejet to a shopping cart. But what if 4 rednecks do it? What if 500? What if one of those self balancing robots finds it’s way into an experiment to help people with motor skill disabilities? What if a home made 3D printer prints the next arterial stent?

There is something about technology and the people that use it, that make the world an interesting place. None of these videos were made by professionals. These are just people that decided that they wanted to do something, and went about doing it. They were kind enough to share what they learned in the videos they produced, and they publish there findings in websites, blogs, newsgroups, and open source computer code.

I believe this type of access to information is ushuring in a new age in technology, which may fundamentally change the way we act as a society. Maybe that is a stretch, but there is something profound when the greatest innovation and technology comes from individuals rather than business entities. There is something new and exciting when people are engaging in technology for the shear joy of it, and not the profit. This is the world to come, and it makes me hopeful for the future.

Daniel Ferguson