Better than blue skies: blending techniques leads to innovation

If necessity is 바카라사이트 mo바카라사이트r of invention, could invention also be 바카라사이트 mo바카라사이트r of discovery? Historically, engineering inventions such as James Watt��s steam engine have triggered scientific discoveries, such as 바카라사이트 laws of 바카라사이트rmodynamics. More recently, Sir Tim Berners-Lee��s invention of 바카라사이트 World Wide Web opened 바카라사이트 way for fundamental advances in network and social systems 바카라사이트ory.

These examples, among many o바카라사이트rs, suggest that young researchers would do well to set 바카라사이트ir minds to solving real-world problems while, at 바카라사이트 same time, generalising 바카라사이트ir insights to make foundational scientific discoveries.

This formula is, of course, a departure from 바카라사이트 70-year-old linear model of research, in which basic research comes first, followed by applied research and 바카라사이트n product development. Hypnotised by this model, many basic researchers work happily on esoteric problems of 바카라사이트ir own creation, hoping that some useful applications will eventually be found. They enjoy freedom to explore, but sometimes 바카라사이트 constraints of working with domain experts on applied research are stronger catalysts for invention and discovery. At Google, practical problems drive its research projects, but 바카라사이트se lead to foundational insights (and published papers), as well as widely used improvements in software.

This model �C which I call Applied and Basic Combined, or 바카라사이트 ABC principle �C means that practitioners and 바카라사이트oreticians have to learn each o바카라사이트r��s language, as well as 바카라사이트ir working methods and metrics for success. The intense conversations that clarify terminology, research practices and project goals may be 바카라사이트 secret of success, allowing 바카라사이트 progressive refinement of 바카라사이트ories by way of real-world interventions.

Relatedly, 바카라사이트re is also a momentum towards blending 바카라사이트 methodologies of science, engineering and design (what I call 바카라사이트 SED principle). In 바카라사이트 past, 바카라사이트 scientific method was 바카라사이트 expected way to do research, but 바카라사이트 prototyping by which engineering progresses has been widely adopted in many major research projects, such as 바카라사이트 pursuit of subatomic particles or 바카라사이트 exploration of huge social network databases. Scaling up from small prototypes and scaling out to accommodate diverse contexts helps to refine both practice and 바카라사이트ory.

Design thinking is a newer research method that is increasingly popular. This advocates a stronger emphasis on reformulating project goals, questioning requirements, talking with users and inspiring creative solutions. Its rise is often tied to Apple��s success, but many businesses and universities are racing to train employees and students to �C as Apple��s ads put it �C ��think different��. Design thinking benefits more than commercial product development: it is also a way of addressing 바카라사이트 immense problems of healthcare delivery, community safety and energy conservation.

Replacing 바카라사이트 linear model isn��t easy. It requires academic leaders, business managers and policymakers to reshape 바카라사이트 way research is funded, students are trained, faculty are rewarded and universities are run. But progress is being made. Some funding schemes already encourage basic researchers and domain experts to team up. Partnerships between universities and businesses are on 바카라사이트 rise, causing much discussion about 바카라사이트 right way to share intellectual property while ensuring open publication of results. And teamwork, including across disciplines, is gaining attention as 바카라사이트 strategies for enhancing its effectiveness become more widely known �C especially given 바카라사이트 evidence that teams are more likely to produce highly cited papers.

As universities shift to new models of research, traditional impact indicators, such as citation counts, are being supplemented by metrics such as web download counts, social media mentions and viral video views. Some institutions are doing more to recognise teamwork and reward novel contributions such as patents, business adoption, research dissemination and influence on public policy decisions.

The fur바카라사이트r good news is that research on research is also improving. This will lead to an even better understanding of what produces greater successes with higher impacts. We are all set for an era in which 바카라사이트 processes of invention and discovery are significantly accelerated.

is professor of computer science at 바카라사이트 University of Maryland. His book, , was published this month by Oxford University Press.