Believe It’s Possible: How “Not Knowing” Fuels Innovation

Sometimes, simply being unaware that something is “impossible” is what makes it achievable. In the accompanying video, Gary Shuster shares a personal story about discovering his own tone deafness—only after he’d already learned guitar and joined a band. Below, we explore how this experience reflects a broader principle: if you don’t know you can’t do something, you just might be able to do it.


1. Discovering Tone Deafness—Too Late to Quit

  • High-School Aspiration
    In high school, I was determined to play guitar and perform with a band. I didn’t realize that tone deafness might hold me back — I didn’t even realize I had it — so I dove right in.
  • Opening for Mid-Level Acts
    Despite my quite limited ability to match pitch (or even tune my guitar without a tuner device), I found enough confidence and skill to open for recognized (though mid-range) bands, proving that enthusiasm combined with a refusal to recognize technical limitations can be a formula for success.

2. The Power of Ignorance in Innovation

  • “I Didn’t Know I Couldn’t Do It”
    Often, the belief that something is impossible stops us before we start. When you don’t know the you can’t do it, you’re free to experiment and find your own way forward.
  • Overcoming Naysayers
    If others say “you can’t do this” and you believe them, you’ll never see what’s possible. Pioneers in any field usually have to tune out negativity to break new ground.

3. Learning by Numbers

  • Mechanical Approach
    I leaned on the mathematical side of music—focusing on chord shapes, theory, and fretboard patterns—to compensate for tone deafness. I kind of knew something was off, but I just ignored it.
  • Adapting to Limitations
    While I wasn’t able to deliver intricate solos by ear, I developed a style that allowed me to play passable music, showing that there are often multiple paths to success.

4. Everyone Can Create

  • Inclusive Innovation
    Whether you’re a budding inventor, artist, or musician, you don’t need to be the most naturally gifted person in the room. A willingness to learn, adapt, and keep pushing forward can compensate for many initial shortcomings.
  • Find Your Own Way
    Creativity thrives when you blend personal strengths and alternative methods. If conventional wisdom says it can’t be done, break the mold and try a different approach.

Want More Details?
Watch the accompanying Innovation Cafe video to hear Gary Shuster’s full story on discovering his tone deafness—and how not knowing what’s “impossible” can lead to surprising successes.

Avoiding Post-Patent Scams: Stay Alert After You Get That Patent

Securing a U.S. patent is a huge accomplishment—one that often involves significant time, money, and strategy (and of course innovation!). Once your patent is granted, though, you will find yourself buried under unsolicited offers (I think they gave up on me, I stopped getting them after around my 50th issued patent). While some might be legitimate business opportunities, many are scams or overpriced services. In the accompanying video, I provide a reality check for new patent holders and offers tips on spotting red flags.


1. Why New Patent Holders Are Targets

  • Public Information
    Once your patent is issued, details become publicly available. Scammers can easily find your contact information, patent number, and other data online.
  • Excitement & Relief
    After years of navigating the patent process, you’re thrilled to see that official certificate. That excitement makes it easier for fraudsters to slip in with tempting “opportunities.” As an aside, you can now download the “Ribbon Copy”. It used to be mailed and was really cool looking. You could always print it yourself on special paper or even send it out to be printed on metal.

2. Common Post-Patent Scams

A. “Pay Us to Present Your Invention”

  • Big-Box Retail “Connections”
    You might receive calls promising to get your product on the shelves of major stores—but only if you pay a hefty upfront fee.
  • Empty Guarantees
    Legitimate brokers or licensing agents typically work on commission or modest retainers, not large lumpsums with vague results. Note, though, that when you are dealing with an established patent broker with contacts at “big tech”, you may end up paying a significantly higher retainer. Basically, if it is a consumer product, you should be much more aware of overpriced up front fees. Patents that require a lot of work to sell can be different.

B. Overpriced Patent Plaques

  • $100 (or More) Plaques
    You’ll get offers to buy a fancy certificate or plaque for displaying your patent. While these aren’t necessarily scams, they’re often overpriced.
  • Alternative
    If you’d like a display item, consider reputable third parties (or do it yourself) at a more reasonable cost.

C. Fake “Official” Registries


3. How to Protect Yourself

  1. Verify the Source
    Check company names, website domains, and addresses. If they claim to be associated with a government agency, confirm through official channels.
  2. Question Upfront Fees
    If someone promises guaranteed results (like big retail contracts) but demands a large, non-refundable payment, it’s a red flag. Consider the relationship of the up-front fee to the work required. A reputable patent broker might legitimately spend large amounts preparing specialized marketing materials, such as claim charts and industry analysis, and might ask for those costs to be covered up front. However, simply calling up a friend at Home Depot and asking if they want to stock a product is an entirely different (and essentially free-to-the-broker) service.
  3. Consult Trusted Professionals
    If an offer sounds enticing, run it by a patent attorney or reputable business adviser before paying. You should also find a reputable inventor with a history of successful patent sales and ask them. In fact, ask me if you want. Just comment below. I can’t provide you with legal advice, but I can draw on my experience as the target of countless anti-inventor scams.
  4. Stay Alert
    After you’ve invested so much effort and money securing your patent, don’t let your guard down now.

4. Embrace Legitimate Opportunities

  • Networking & Licensing
    While scams abound, plenty of genuine paths exist for monetizing or licensing your patent. Research thoroughly and approach recognized industry contacts.
  • Marketing Smartly
    If you’re serious about commercializing, invest in market research, attend trade shows, and cultivate relationships with known manufacturing or retail partners.

Want More Details?
Watch the accompanying Innovation Cafe video where Gary Shuster shares his personal experience and offers practical tips for navigating post-patent opportunities without getting scammed.

Disinhibition and Innovation: Why Drugs Aren’t the Answer

Introduction

Disinhibition can be a powerful mental state for sparking creativity—freeing the mind from overthinking and self-imposed barriers. Gary Shuster highlights this concept in a recent discussion, emphasizing how truly freeing your thoughts can allow unique ideas to surface. However, he also explains why relying on drugs—whether legal or illegal—are not the best way to spur creativity.


The Concept of Disinhibition

Disinhibition refers to temporarily relaxing your usual internal filters, encouraging you to voice or explore ideas you might otherwise dismiss. In the context of invention and innovation, this can yield surprising insights:

  1. Lowering Creative Barriers
    • When you give yourself permission to think unconventionally, you may see opportunities or connections that were previously hidden.
  2. Stimulating Brainstorming
    • Disinhibited thinking often involves brainstorming sessions where concepts flow freely without judgment, leading to fresh perspectives.

However, without the clear-headed ability to organize and refine these ideas, disinhibition alone can be counterproductive.


Why Avoid Drug-Induced Disinhibition

  1. Temporary & Unreliable Ideas
    • Some substances may produce a false sense of “genius” that’s short-lived. In the moment, the ideas might seem brilliant but can be hazy or unworkable later. I’ve never tried micro dosing, so I have no personal experience as to whether that can help, but my gut says that learning how to become disinhibited naturally is the path to more sustainable, muscular creativity.
  2. Hurdles to Follow-Through
    • Inspiration alone isn’t enough; you need to refine and record concepts methodically. Drug-altered states may derail your ability to log details or evaluate ideas rationally.

Strategies for Unlocking Creativity

  1. Meditation and Mindfulness
    • Practice Simple Breathing Exercises: Spend a few minutes daily focusing on your breath. This can calm mental chatter and make room for new ideas to emerge.
    • Use Guided Meditations: Many resources are available to help beginners. Guided sessions focus the mind in a gentle, structured way.
  2. Digital & Environmental Breaks
    • Designate Screen-Free Time: Setting aside periods without technology removes common distractions, allowing your thoughts to wander fruitfully.
    • Get Outside: A change of scenery, especially in nature, can trigger spontaneous ideas.
  3. Structured Brainstorming
    • Journaling: Keep a small notebook or use an app to jot down any idea—whether you deem it “good” or “bad” at first glance.
    • Mind Mapping: Create visual diagrams connecting different concepts. This can reveal underlying patterns that might spark fresh inventions. I am a visual thinker, so these are particularly powerful for me — although my flat-out lack of drawing skills makes this less powerful than it could be.
  4. Regular Physical Exercise
    • Walks, Runs, or Yoga: Physical activity can boost mental clarity and mood, which both contribute to healthier, more productive creativity.
  5. Social Interaction & Feedback
    • Discussion Groups: Sharing ideas with friends or colleagues in a safe, supportive environment can offer constructive input and encouragement.
    • Innovation Partners: Team up with someone who can help you refine your concepts and keep projects on track.

Conclusion

Disinhibition can indeed drive groundbreaking innovations by unleashing new perspectives and connections. Drug-based methods of achieving this state present risks, but even ignoring those risks, taking a shortcut to disinhibition won’t help the way you want it to.

By contrast, cultivating techniques such as mindfulness, structured brainstorming, and healthy lifestyle habits provides a more reliable, sustainable path to creativity. These approaches not only keep you safe but also empower you to refine your newfound ideas, ensuring that the spark of inspiration can lead to truly meaningful and impactful results.

Note that I am not taking any position on the use of cannabis or hallucinogenic drugs in a general sense. I am pointing out that long term sustainable creativity should rely on changing how you approach inhibition rather than seeking a quick chemical shortcut to reach inhibition.

Confirmation Bias: Why Inventors Should Stay Skeptical

Inventors are naturally optimistic. When you create a new idea or product, you want it to succeed. But that same passion can lead to confirmation bias, a mental shortcut where you interpret data in a way that confirms what you already believe. Below, we explore why this matters for inventors and how to guard against it.


1. What Is Confirmation Bias?

  • Expectations Shape Interpretations
    When you “know” something should turn out a certain way—like a product that must work—it’s easy to favor evidence that supports your belief.
  • Filtering Out Contradictions
    You might ignore or downplay any data that contradicts your assumptions, leading to overly rosy conclusions.

2. Why It Matters for Inventors

  • Market Research
    When testing demand for a new product, confirmation bias can skew survey design, data analysis, and even how you interpret feedback.
  • Product Testing
    If you expect your prototype to be successful, you might overlook flaws or user complaints that don’t fit your narrative.

3. Counteracting Confirmation Bias

  1. Adopt a Skeptical Mindset
    Remind yourself: I want this to succeed, so I might overestimate its potential.
  2. Seek Opposing Opinions
    Encourage colleagues, potential customers, or advisers to challenge your assumptions. Invite negative feedback to balance your natural optimism.
  3. Use Blind Tests
    In product testing, remove yourself from direct interaction with test subjects. Have a third party administer tests, so participants don’t feel pressured to please you.
  4. Lean Toward “It Won’t Work”
    You already have a personal stake in success. Balance that with a deliberate attempt to disprove your hypothesis. If it still holds up under scrutiny, you can be more confident in your findings.

4. Embrace Continuous Learning

Staying alert to confirmation bias is an ongoing process. Even the most seasoned inventors can fall into the trap of seeing only what they want to see. Remain open to data, whether it supports or refutes your initial assumptions.


Want More Details?
Check out the accompanying Innovation Cafe video, where Gary Shuster illustrates how confirmation bias can impact your inventions—and how to keep it in check.



How Copyright Fears Changed a Young Innovator’s Path

In this story, Gary Shuster shares a pivotal moment from his teenage years—when he developed a series of improvements for the Apple IIe’s operating system but never showed them to Apple due to copyright concerns. Below, we look at how misunderstandings about copyright law can stop promising innovations in their tracks.

Attribution under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported:
Mystère Martin
. The share-alike provision states: “If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same or compatible license as the original.” This page is licensed under the same license as the original. Side note: Maybe we should change those licenses to allow us to just say “attribution” with a hyperlink to a page with attribution. That way we won’t have crazy long captions.

1. A Teenager’s Big Idea

  • Modifying the Apple IIe
    In eighth grade, I disassembled the Apple IIe’s OS and made sweeping changes in 6502 assembly language. I found ways to make the system more user-friendly—improvements I was proud of. Some were quite simple: Instead of typing “brun” to run a binary file or “run” to run a basic file, you could type “run” and the system would figure out what you meant. Others were more complex.
  • Why the Hesitation?
    Unsure whether reverse-engineering the OS violated copyright, I chose not to share my modifications with Apple. I worried about legal repercussions, despite having no plans to commercialize the altered software. Ironically, the DMCA anti-circumvention provisions make this kind of modification illegal or at least legally quite risky today — but this was decades before the DMCA.

2. Understanding “Derivative Works”

  • What Is a Derivative Work?
    Under U.S. copyright law, if you base a new work on someone else’s copyrighted material, that new work can be considered “derivative.” Typically, you need the original copyright holder’s permission to distribute or sell it.
  • My Dilemma
    I recognized his modifications were likely a derivative work, although I didn’t know that term of art back then. Although I wasn’t selling the software, I feared legal trouble even for having altered Apple’s code.

  • Pre-DMCA Era
    At the time, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) didn’t yet exist, and reverse-engineering for compatibility or innovation had much lower risk, and was generally not pursued as copyright infringement. This led to a golden age of learning, where people like teenage me were able to disassemble programs and learn how to program by doing that.
  • DMCA Anti-Circumvention Rules
    Today, the DMCA prohibits bypassing technological measures designed to protect software. While some exemptions exist (for research or interoperability), the legal environment has become complex.

4. Missed Opportunities

  • Never Sent to Apple
    Concerned about copyright violations, I never submitted his improvements to Apple—potentially missing out on early collaboration, recognition, or even a job offer at a growing tech giant.
  • A Lesson for Inventors
    Sometimes, fear or misunderstanding of IP laws can deter inventors from sharing their work. In many cases, a simple inquiry or consultation with an IP attorney could clarify rights and open new doors. Sites like this one seek to provide a baseline understanding of the law, enabling creators to operate within a framework they are aware of. While legal advice is still key, the lack of easy information about the law in “my day” combined with a lack of funds to hire a lawyer was a dream crusher.

5. Key Takeaways

  1. Knowledge Is Power
    Understanding copyright law—especially how it applies to software modifications—can help you decide when (and how) to share your innovations.
  2. Derivative Works Require Caution
    If your invention relies on someone else’s copyrighted material, consider seeking permission or legal advice to avoid infringement.
  3. Don’t Let Fear Stop You
    While legal uncertainties can be intimidating, missing a chance to collaborate or license your ideas can be just as costly.

Want More Details?
Check out the accompanying Innovation Cafe video to hear Gary Shuster’s firsthand account of how copyright concerns reshaped his journey—and why being overly cautious can sometimes mean losing big opportunities.

From Brainstorm to Reality: The Story of a “Smart” Glass Eye

Sometimes inventors come up with an idea so unusual, they’re convinced nobody else would follow through with it—only to later learn that somebody did. In this video, Gary Shuster recounts an idea he once had for a high-tech glass eye equipped with a camera, Bluetooth, and inductive charging. He chose not to patent it, assuming there was no real market. Yet another innovator later built and sold a version of this device. Below, we explore the story and why it’s okay to let some inventions go.


1. How the Idea Took Shape

  • Casual Brainstorming
    The concept arose during a hotel meeting in Los Angeles, of all places. A random discussion about glass eyes sparked the question: “What if a glass eye could do more than just look natural?”
  • High-Tech Spin
    I imagined a built-in camera that could stream or record video via a Bluetooth connection and recharge through inductive charging—no wires needed.

2. Why I Walked Away

  • Market Viability
    On the surface, this might seem like a fascinating gadget. But I doubted there’d be enough demand for a camera-equipped prosthetic eye.
  • Health Concerns
    Although it’s non-ionizing radiation, some people might be uncomfortable wearing an electronic device so close to their brain. The potential risks or fears could limit consumer appeal.

3. Someone Else Built It

  • Surprise Validation
    To me surprise, a similar device later emerged on the market. This underscores a key lesson: if you think it, someone else might too.
  • No Regrets
    Instead of lamenting a missed opportunity, view it as a testament to your creativity. Even if you walk away, someone else might see a path forward. It validates your creative instincts. Creativity and understanding whether there is market demand are very different things. While my creativity was spot-on, my evaluation of market demand was — well, I kind of still think it was accurate. After seeing the device for a while, it seems to have disappeared from the market.

4. Lessons for Inventors

  1. Not Every Idea Becomes a Patent: Practicality, market need, budget and personal priorities often guide which concepts go forward.
  2. Validation Can Come Unexpectedly: If someone else independently brings your idea to life, it reaffirms your inventive talent.
  3. Focus on What Matters: Invest your time and resources in projects that truly resonate with you, especially when costs of filing and maintaining patents can be high.

Want More Details?
Check out the accompanying Innovation Cafe video to hear my full account of this offbeat invention and why it’s okay to celebrate someone else executing a concept you once shelved.

How to Supercharge Your Innovation Sessions

Gathering a small group of creative minds can spark incredible ideas—sometimes for the exact invention you’re aiming for and sometimes for something completely unexpected. In the accompanying video, Gary Shuster draws on personal experience running invention sessions to explain why brainstorming with others is such a powerful way to generate patentable ideas. Below, we delve into tips, strategies, and cautionary tales for making your own invention sessions productive and fun.


1. Why Invention Sessions Work

  • Fresh Perspectives
    Sharing concepts with a group—ideally two to four people—helps unlock new angles you may never have considered. A single offhand remark can morph into a game-changing invention.
  • Instant Feedback
    Brainstorming in real time lets you know right away if an idea resonates or needs a pivot. This saves you from spending weeks or months pursuing a flawed concept.
  • Informal Brainstorming
    When you spend a day in an invention session, it usually involves going to lunch, taking breaks to walk to the coffee shop, and other information interactions. Inventors don’t stop being creative just because they’re on a break, and putting creative people together in a friendly setting can lead to unexpected synergies and inventions (often in art areas wholly unrelated to the topic for the invention session).

2. Setting Up Your Session

  1. Keep It Small
    More than four people can lead to chaos. Aim for a manageable team so everyone’s voice is heard.
  2. Record Everything
    You might rely on a dedicated note-taker or use audio/video recording (check legal considerations with your patent counsel first). Detailed records help you revisit overlooked gems later.
  3. Supply Food and Caffeine
    Creative people often forget to eat, and hunger is a distraction. A bit of caffeine can also help with focus, especially if some members have a touch of ADHD (common among inventors!).
  4. Establish “No Bad Ideas”
    Even the wildest suggestion can spark a subsequent improvement. Give all ideas a chance before discarding them.
Inventors Run on Caffeine — This is what Sora AI thinks it would look like. Taking it too literally I think.

3. Staying on Track… or Not

  • The Nuclear Physicists and the Ice Machine
    Sometimes your team veers off-topic—like the group tasked with revolutionizing nuclear fusion but instead ended up brainstorming an improved ice machine. It’s not always a bad thing if the conversation drifts, but if your sponsor (like a company) has specific goals, you’ll need to redirect the group at some point.
  • Facilitator Role
    A facilitator (who might also be a co-inventor) should keep the session aligned with the core objective. However, allowing occasional detours can nurture excitement and creativity that might circle back to the main invention. It is a hard balancing act that is made easier by not taking yourself too seriously. A relaxed environment is more conducive to innovation.

4. The NDA Factor

  • Confidentiality
    Many invention sessions, especially in commercial settings, are governed by Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). This often restricts you from sharing detailed stories publicly.
  • Practical Tip
    Always confirm which ideas and materials you’re allowed to discuss outside the session. Misunderstandings over confidentiality can cause legal headaches later. When in doubt, assume you should not share information you learned during the invention session. Even if you are legally entitled to do so, you risk getting a reputation as a dangerous person to confide in.

5. Prior Art Searches and Documentation

  • Before You File
    Doing a prior art search can quickly reveal whether your novel concept has already been tried. If you do one, document all relevant references—your patent examiner may want to see them.
  • Cut Your Losses
    If a search shows your invention is already covered by existing patents or public domain knowledge, it might be time to pivot or abandon the idea, saving you time and money.

6. Turning Brainstorms into Patents

  • Draft a Disclosure
    Once you settle on a promising concept, write a thorough disclosure detailing how it works. Include sketches, diagrams, and all the variations you discussed.
  • Have a Patent Lawyer Sit In
    Having a patent lawyer present during the session can make the transition from “cool invention” to issued patent more efficient. You may also consider creating video of the session. there are upsides (you can prove which inventor came up with which portion of the invention, and that can be important in naming inventors correctly) and downsides (you can expect every second of that video to be carefully scrutinized by opposing counsel in any later patent litigation). If you have a patent lawyer there, that lawyer may have suggestions as to how to keep the video as a privileged attorney client communication (rely on that lawyer, since this is not legal advice).
  • Legal Next Steps
    Consult a patent attorney (or do it yourself if you’re comfortable) to file a provisional application or utility application. Just ensure you name all co-inventors correctly—anyone who contributed a key idea that ends up in the claims.

7. Final Thoughts

Invention sessions can be some of the most energizing, creative experiences you’ll have as an innovator. By combining multiple viewpoints, capturing every idea, and knowing when to explore tangents or refocus on the goal, you stand a great chance of producing breakthroughs that might become future patents.


Want More Details?
Check out the accompanying Innovation Cafe video to hear Gary Shuster’s full account of running—and sometimes wrangling—dynamic invention sessions.

Naming Inventors: Why It Matters

In the United States, a patent application must include the names of everyone who contributed to the conception of the claimed invention (the “claimed” part is important — you must name all and only the inventors that contributed to the invention of the patent claims). Missing or omitting an inventor—whether unintentionally (bad) or on purpose (super bad)—can seriously jeopardize your patent rights. Below, we explore why accurate inventor listing is essential and what happens if you get it wrong.


1. The Importance of Accurate Inventorship

  • Legal Requirement
    U.S. law mandates that all true inventors be listed on a patent application. Failing to do so can render a patent invalid or unenforceable if challenged.
  • Shared Ownership
    Each named inventor typically owns an undivided interest in the patent. If you leave someone off, they may still claim rights—sometimes in ways detrimental to your business goals.

2. What If You Forget Someone?

  • Honest Mistakes
    If you accidentally omit an inventor, you can usually correct the error by filing the proper paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Hostile Co-Inventors
    Leaving out a disgruntled or “hostile” inventor can be problematic. Under U.S. law, any co-inventor can license the patent without permission from the others, which could undermine your exclusivity.

3. Attorneys Adding “Extra” Ideas

  • When the Lawyer Invents
    Sometimes patent attorneys suggest features or solutions that become part of the invention. If these ideas are genuinely inventive contributions that end up being claimed, the attorney must be named as a co-inventor. Because of the weird professional ethics situation this creates, many patent lawyers seem to ignore the problem. Ignoring it does not make it go away, however.
  • Potential Pitfalls
    Failing to list your attorney—or anyone else who contributed—could lead to disputes or even patent invalidation down the road.

4. Key Takeaways

  1. List All True Inventors: Make sure that each person who contributed to the conception of at least one claim is named.
  2. No “Courtesy” Inventors: Don’t add individuals who didn’t actually contribute to the issued claims. Incorrectly listing inventors can be just as problematic as leaving them out.
  3. Stay Vigilant: Keep track of contributions throughout the development and drafting process.
  4. Consult Professionals: If you’re unsure who qualifies as an inventor, talk to a knowledgeable patent attorney—just be mindful if they add new concepts themselves!

Want More Details?
Check out the accompanying Innovation Cafe video to hear Gary Shuster’s personal experience and learn more about why correct inventorship matters.

Why Inventors Are Often Photographers

It may seem unusual, but many inventors are also avid photographers—and vice versa. In the accompanying video, Gary Shuster shares his observation that innovators often gravitate to photography, while photographers can find themselves inventing. Below, we explore some reasons why these two creative pursuits go hand in hand.


1. Immediate vs. Long-Term Gratification

  • Photography
    • Offers instant results: You snap a picture and see it immediately.
    • Satisfies a desire for quick feedback, which can be refreshing for individuals immersed in lengthy invention processes. It can often be the difference between seconds and years.
  • Invention
    • Takes years: Moving from idea to patent to potential commercialization can be a marathon.
    • Requires sustained focus, patience, and resilience.

2. A Shared Creative Mindset

  • Observation Skills
    Both photographers and inventors must keenly observe their surroundings, whether it’s framing a shot or spotting a gap in existing technologies.
  • Problem-Solving Approach
    Innovators often experiment with different angles and perspectives—just like a photographer adjusts lighting or composition to get the perfect shot.

3. Balancing Creative Outlets

  • Rewarding Hobbies
    Many inventors pick up photography to balance the slow pace of inventing with a faster form of artistic expression.
  • Practical Synergy
    Photographers looking to expand their creative process might dabble in invention, applying their visual imagination to solve real-world problems. Photographers regularly have to solve problems in order to get the perfect shot, so they have the background they need to adopt an inventor’s mindset.

Want More Details?
Watch the accompanying Innovation Cafe video to hear Gary Shuster’s personal take on why so many people straddle both worlds

Noticing the Unexpected: How a Concert Sparked New Ideas

Attending live events can be more than just entertainment for inventors—it’s often a chance to observe phenomena that spark future innovations. In the accompanying video, Gary Shuster shares how a Seattle concert by the band In This Moment led to a surprising discovery about fog and sound waves. Also, to be fair, it was an amazing concert and a great experience to share with my wife (even if I was in the oldest 1% of attendees ☹️).

Creative Commons License 2.0 attribution: By rarvesen at https://flickr.com/photos/92973599@N04/29742984602

1. Inspiration at a Concert

  • The Observation
    When the lead singer pointed a handheld fog machine toward the speakers, the fog dissipated much faster near the sound waves.
  • Potential Insight
    This suggests sound waves may accelerate the dispersion of particles in the air, a concept that could inspire solutions to dust or smoke-related problems.

2. Filing Ideas Away

  • The Inventor’s Mindset
    Even without an immediate need, keen observation is crucial. Inventors often collect quirky or unexplained phenomena, storing them for future use.
  • Turning Observations into Solutions
    By noting anomalies and unexpected results, you build a mental library of ideas. When a related challenge arises, you’ll already have a starting point.

3. From Curiosity to Innovation

  • Next Steps
    Future research might involve exploring the acoustic properties affecting fog or particles. Understanding the “why” could lead to patentable applications in air-quality management or stage effects.
  • More importantly, store your insights away in the recesses of your subconscious. Trust your brain to dig them up when they form a piece of the puzzle solving a problem you are later tasked with working on.
  • Practical Application
    Whether it’s large-scale smoke control in public spaces or a new type of special-effect device, the potential for real-world impact is significant.

4. Keep Your Eyes (and Ears) Open

  • Everyday Inspiration
    You don’t need a specialized lab to make discoveries. Sometimes, a rock concert provides just the right spark!
  • Record Your Observations
    A simple notebook or smartphone app can capture these moments of insight for future exploration.

Want More Details?
Check out the accompanying Innovation Cafe video to hear Gary Shuster’s full story about how a fog machine, a concert, and a set of speakers turned into a learning moment for any inventor.