innovation — as defined by the Collins English dictionary
(ɪnəveɪʃən)

1. countable noun
An innovation is a new thing or a new method of doing something.

Mankind's history is peppered with innovations — like using fire to cook food (which made meat easier and safer to eat), the development of agriculture (which allowed societies to settle down, rather than live a nomadic lifestyle), and the development of the wheel (which basically allowed people to move things with less effort).

With each innovation, things change(d). But at the heart of it all, things ultimately remain the same. The thing that remains the same is what we will call the “NEED or WANT”.

Below we will talk about four NEEDS / WANTS, and give an example of a radical and gamechanging innovation for each. Each need / want below is a common or everyday need — something that we will usually have to address on a regular basis. We then compare one “(more traditional) form or way” to address the need to another (more radical) approach, noting the differences between the two.

The gamechanging factors of each innovation are highlighted in beige below, under the MAIN PROS for the radical innovation.

Radical Innovations are truly radical. They address needs and wants in a way that is totally different from the previous method or approach. Each radical innovation, however, needs at least one or more enablers in order to happen (i.e. in order to innovate). Some of these enablers are mentioned below.

Example No. 1: REFRESHMENTS — Coffee

Example No. 2: CLOTHING

Example No. 3: IMAGE CAPTURE — Photographs

And finally, let's talk about a more recent innovation — one that is still in the evolution and adoption process.

Example No. 4: PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION — Cars

It is notable that for each example above, each of the two options still have their proponents and customers. For example, although the market for READY-TO-WEAR clothes is large (with some estimates pegging the global market for 2020 ranged from USD659 Billion to USD1.5 Trillion), the tailored (bespoke) apparel market still has its fans.

Each product above — traditional or innovative — serves a different market. However, much of today's clients value convenience above all else. For example, in the case of CLOTHES and COFFEE, the appeal of convenience greatly exceeds that of customizability.

So how did these Radical Innovations come about?

Through the help of various enablers — enabling inventions (e.g. the incandescent lightbulb), innovations (like new technology or methods, such as modern logistics) and / or circumstances (e.g. government regulations, environmental or economic conditions, and significant shifts in customer preferences).

In the case of READY-TO-WEAR clothing, this type of clothing would not have been possible without mass production + modern logistics + physical / online stores. These enablers are what made the rise of the READY-TO-WEAR industry possible.

At various points in recent history, conflicts such as World War I and World War II brought about circumstances that triggered the introduction of various inventions and innovations. The development and use of Telephones, Radar, Airplanes, Metal Ships, the Field of Logistics and Metallurgy could either be directly or indirectly attributed to needs arising from conflict.

Governments, through regulations and / or incentives, also have an outsized ability to drive innovation. The availability of Federal Tax Credits for New All-Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles in the United States is just one example of how government regulations can directly drive innovation. California's Zero Emission Vehicle mandate will definitely drive the adoption of zero emission vehicles in California in the years to come.

Of course, we also must keep in mind the motivating forces of higher income, greater fame and greater satisfaction of being able to help people in need as some of the more compelling drivers of Radical Innovation.

Economic, sociological, psychological and environmental conditions have also driven innovation over human history. The boom in INTERNET usage (cheap internet fees), the drastic shift to online purchasing and explosive adoption of videoconferencing via ZOOM, and other platforms, during 2020 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic); and even something as mundane as indoor plumbing (health concerns) were all driven by various conditions.

In the case of Electric Vehicle innovations, we are still at the point wherein we do not know the ramifications of the widespread use of electric vehicles. Some points to ponder:

• Will the local power grids be able to meet the increase in demand in electrical power? If so, won't this result in an increase in prices?
• What about fossil fuels? With a drop in demand, we can expect a drop in fuel prices. Will this result in a resurgence of fossil fueled vehicles again?
• What about the environmental impact of an explosive increase in mining rare earth elements for batteries? What about used battery disposal?

With new innovations, we can expect a new raft of concerns and issues that will have to be addressed. Innovations may solve some problems, but they may introduce new problems as well.

Conclusion

Food, Shelter, Safety, Companionship, Friendship, Recreation, Entertainment and Knowledge — these all have been human needs and wants since the dawn of humanity, and thus, people have been always struggled and endeavored to find ways to meet these needs.

You will see from the examples above that most (if not all) radical innovations do not arise from a vaccum, nor are they spontaneously created. Radical innovations come about once a certain number of the required enablers exist, and are magically brought together and combined by a genius — to form something that addresses our needs in a better fashion.

Try to think of Radical Innovations like delicious recipes — the required ingredients are first gathered, prepared and then assembled and cooked in a way to create a tasty dish. While ingredients are the basic and necessary building blocks for a recipe, the true magic really happens when they are properly prepared, combined, and then cooked and served. The same can be said about Radical Innovations.

Radical innovations really come about by paying attention to what is around us (in this case, keeping an eye out for the “enablers”), seeing what their potentials are, and coming up with ingenious ways to combine them — thereby creating something new and useful for ourselves and society.

Related links on INNOVATION

Can industry leaders truly innovate? — Innovations have the potential to disrupt markets, and provide opportunities to leapfrog competitors. We look at how market leaders push (or don't push) innovations in order to stay on top.
The Apple M1 chip breakthrough — Apple's latest desktop / laptop CPU chip represents a breakthrough in processor chip technology. Here are some reasons why.