What Will You Invent?
Through all of the activity and excitement of the holidays, did your brain wander around to a great idea for a new product or service? You could be a kid inventor!
Kid Inventors’ Day (KID) is on Jan. 17 — the birthday of Benjamin Franklin, a great inventor and statesman who was born 311 years ago. Among other things, Franklin invented the lightning rod and bifocal glasses.
This week, The Mini Page learns all about kid inventors.
Protecting an idea
Franklin never patented, or legally protected, his inventions. He thought people should freely share their ideas.
But most people apply for a patent when they invent something. A patent means that no one else may make or sell the same invention. With a patent, the inventor gets all the credit for his or her idea, and all the money from selling it. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued about 8 million patents since the first one in 1790!
Why be an inventor?
Experts say that thinking through the process of inventing something can help kids: be more creative learn problem-solving learn to take educated risks learn to communicate better learn to collaborate, or work with others learn about entrepreneurship, or running a business. Inventing is a way for kids to change and shape the way the world works for them personally, as well as globally.
Getting ideas
Children might wonder about how to get an idea for an invention. Experts say a good place to start is reading about what inspired other inventors. Then think about a challenge in your own life.
For example, imagine your shoelace has broken right before it’s time to leave for school, and you don’t have any extras at home. How would you solve this problem? (Write down your ideas and share them with classmates.)
Inspiration all around
Experts also suggest looking at nature for ideas to solve problems. For example, a research institute in Germany looked at sharkskin and the way tiny scale-like ridges reduce drag in the water as the shark swims. Researchers developed a paint that mimics, or copies, the ridges in sharkskin to increase energy efficiency for airplanes and ships. This way of looking at invention is called biomimicry (bye-oh-MIM-ick-ree).