2 Game-Changing Innovations

Innovation by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images

Introduction

An accidental discovery is a discovery or invention that was not planned or intended but instead happened by chance. These discoveries often occur when researchers or inventors pursue a different goal but stumble upon something unexpected or unforeseen. Accidental discoveries can lead to breakthroughs in science, medicine, technology, and other fields and can profoundly impact the world. Some examples of famous accidental discoveries include penicillin, X-rays, and the microwave oven, all of which have had a significant impact on the world and have led to new areas of research and development. Accidental discoveries demonstrate the importance of serendipity in scientific and technological advancements and keeping an open mind to unexpected and sometimes surprising results.

These accidental discoveries have changed the world in countless ways, demonstrating the power of serendipity and the importance of keeping an open mind to new ideas and possibilities. Accidental discoveries have often profoundly impacted the world and led to significant technological advancements.

Two significant innovations in developing the Internet of Things (IoT) were the inkjet printer and smoke detectors. Although numerous world-changing discoveries were made by accident, I will concentrate on these two innovations for this assignment.

Inkjet printers and smoke detectors are two excellent examples of accidental discoveries that have significantly developed the Internet of Things (IoT).

1. Inkjet Printers 

 Inkjet printers were developed initially in the 1970s as a way to place tiny droplets of ink onto paper in a precise manner. However, researchers soon realized this technology could be applied to other fields, such as printing circuit boards and other electronics. This paved the way for the development of the Internet of Things, allowing the creation of cheap, small, and efficient sensors embedded in a wide range of devices and systems.

An inkjet printer, as many would know, is a device that prints by spraying ink onto paper. Inkjet printers can produce a copy with a resolution ranging from 300 to about 720 dots per inch (DPI.) These printers use one of three technologies: thermal drop on demand, piezoelectric and continuous. 

In August 1957, Ichiro Endo, an engineer at Canon, happened to set down a hot soldering iron next to his pen. The pen instantly spurted out some of its ink after a while. Thus, the underlying principle of the inkjet printer was discovered (Braganza, 2016). 

What began as an accidental innovation has now led to a world-changing trend in the field of printing. From an era where printed papers were considered a part of luxury, the transformation of print access to every human being attributed to the evaluation of cost-effective inkjet printers.

A report published by Grand View Research in 2023 mentions that the global inkjet printers market size was valued at USD 34.24 billion in 2019 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% from 2020 to 2027. These numbers are enormous, and that alone provides the infiltration inkjet printer has made into the lives of every ordinary family. Many forces can be called out in connection with the accidental innovation of inkjet printers. Below listed are a few that had the great impact that helped accelerate the innovation.

Inkjet printers were made possible by the convergence of several technological advancements and forces, which include:

1. Computer technology: The development of computers and their increasing power and miniaturization were crucial in developing inkjet printers. Computers provided the platform for digitally processing images and texts that inkjet printers could print. In the initial days, inkjet printers were very much tied to computers, and without access to computers, there was no meaning in owning a printer as the technology in those days was not very advanced to enable printing using a printer without a computer connected. Hence, printers and computers have benefited from each other as technology evolved. The printers became more powerful and compact in size with multiple features added to it. Similarly, computers have also evolved and continue to evolve as time progresses. 

2. Microelectronics: The development of microelectronics allowed for the fabrication of small, precise components, which was essential for creating the inkjet printhead. The printhead is the critical component of an inkjet printer, and it determines the quality and speed of the printer.

Microelectronics enabled the creation of printheads with multiple nozzles, which could produce high-quality images by depositing droplets of ink precisely onto the printing surface. The miniaturization of components also allowed for smaller, more compact printers that could be easily integrated into personal computers and other devices. Size and mobility are critical for the success of any product. The risk factors that lead to the failure of any products are currently associated with old-school technology and bulkiness associated with day-to-day products. 

Moreover, microelectronics facilitated the integration of digital control and processing into the inkjet printer. This allowed for real-time adjustments to the printhead and the ink flow, leading to better quality and more consistent results.            

Along with the above two mentioned forces Printing Technology, Material Science Market Demands, etc acted as crucial forces in the innovation and wide acceptance of inkjet printers. These forces combined to create the right environment for developing inkjet printers and their widespread adoption.

2. Smoke detectors 

Smoke detectors were invented in the 1960s to detect fires in homes and buildings. However, the technology behind smoke detectors has since been adapted and miniaturized, leading to the development of many other types of sensors, such as carbon monoxide detectors, motion detectors, and temperature sensors. These sensors form the backbone of the Internet of Things, as they allow for creation of smart homes, connected vehicles, and other IoT systems that can be controlled and monitored remotely. Smoke detectors have quite exciting history, as the very first working smoke detector was invented due to an accident. In the late 1930s, the Swiss physicist Walter Jaeger was working on the invention of a sensor for poison gas. He hoped the detector would detect the poison gas traces and sound an alarm, but his experiment failed. It was because the small concentrations of poison gas were not enough to alter the conductivity of the detector circuit (Mukherjee et al., 2019).

While several forces can be attributed to Smoke detectors' innovation and widespread acceptance, the two major forces that played a crucial role were not associated with technological advancements. Undoubtedly, technology did act as a force for the large production of cost-adequate smoke detectors. Given below is a detailed analysis of the same.

1. Collaboration between industry, academia, and government: The collaboration between industry, academia, and government in research and development efforts also played a crucial role in the innovation of smoke detectors. The inventor of the smoke detector was working on developing a device to detect poisonous gas. This industry-funded project encouraged inventors to innovate products to make lives easy. The smoke detector was an accidental byproduct of these journeys. Hence the force of collaboration between multiple departments only leads to the generation of innovative products.

2. Government regulations: Introducing fire safety codes and regulations, such as the requirement for smoke detectors in residential buildings, providing a strong incentive for companies to develop and improve smoke detectors. Any innovation gets fueled when supported by government regulations. The best example would be the smoke detectors identifying the importance of detecting a fire early on, saving lives and valuables. 

Conclusion

Both inkjet printers and smoke detectors demonstrate the power of accidental discoveries and the importance of keeping an open mind to the possibilities of new technologies. The innovations that arose from these inventions have paved the way for the Internet of Things and profoundly impacted our daily lives.

References 

Braganza, M. (2016, Nov 18). Accidental discovery. DNA : Daily News & Analysis https://coloradotech.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/accidental-discovery/docview/1840873222/se-2

Grand View Research, Inc. (2023). Inkjet printers market size, share & trends report, 2020-2027. Market Research Reports & Consulting. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/emerging-inkjet-printing-market

Mukherjee, A., Nag, A., Sadhukhan, P., Ghosh, R. K., Mandal, S., Satyarth, S., & Mukherjee, A. (2019). Development of a Smoke Detector. Int. J. Emerging Technol. Adv. Eng, 9(6), 140-144.