On Innovation

The core of radical innovation is mental association. An innovation is either purpose-driven or phenomenon-driven. Purpose and phenomenon are the two ends of the technology-forming chain. No matter which end the process start from, innovation then goes to problem-solving section. 

Thank of how people solve problems. When a problem turns up, they firstly evaluate whether it can be resolved straightway and entirely, or should be decomposed into sub-problems. Then they use existing resources to which they can access to solve the problem or sub-problems in a certain sequence. This may create new problems and need other resources to solve them. Finally all hurdles are overcome by using accessible resources.

Mental association is essential in the process. To solve a problem is to associate it with the stored functionalities (in the form of various resources) and imagine what will happen when certain association is made. This occurs when people solve the sub-problems and problems generated, and determine the way in which to decomposed the original problem. If all problems can be associated with existing functionalities successfully, the original problem is solved.

 

Therefore innovation is not creating anything that is never existed. It is essentially re-combining or re-organizing existing technologies.