Flash Forward: The Risky Business of Innovation (The Takeaway)

Over the past few weeks, The Takeaway has been talking about innovation — what it is, and how we can spark more of it. We've talked about medicine, communication, education, and technology, among other topics. And we've talked with some of the biggest names and inventors out there. We wrap up our series with one of the most famous modern innovators in the world: James Dyson. Dyson is the legendary inventor most famous for his bagless vacuum cleaner and super-fast hand dryer. He recently made headlines with his assertion that the U.S. could remedy its trade deficit with some good old-fashioned innovation.

As part of The Takeaway's innovation discussion the program looks at how new cell phone technology is having some big implications for the developing world. It’s a powerful tool because of its prevalence — cell phone use in the developing world has surged in recent years, meaning it could be the gateway to solving long standing challenges. Dr. Ashifi Gogo is CEO of Sproxil, a multi-national company that uses cell phones to help consumers spot counterfeit drugs in the developing world. Ramesh Raskar is an associate professor at MIT Media Lab.

All month we’ve been talking about innovation — speaking to innovative people and discussing innovative ideas. Now we hear from  a woman who has designed a product for diabetics that not only solves a problem but is changing attitudes too. Jessica Floeh is the creator of Hanky Pancreas, a line of insulin pump accessories — scarves, neck pieces and other decorative items — that make the functional medical device fashionable.

How people move on planet Earth affects everything about the quality of their lives. Humans have always thought of motion collective or otherwise as extensions of their individual physical bodies. Transportation involves people and machines interacting intimately. Think of it as putting on and taking off a "car suit" to drive, or a much larger "airplane suit" to fly. Thinking of transportation in this sense, how humans conduct their day-to-day lives seems much less efficient. Natalie Jeremijenko is an environmental designer and a professor at New York University. She’s concerned about how the environment affects health and her transportation initiatives seek to address these problems. An exhibition including some of her environmental designs, Civic Action: A Vision for Long Island City, is currently on view at the Noguchi Museum in Queens, New York. More about her xAirport project can be learned here.

After Steve Jobs died on Wednesday, many reflected on his innovations, and how they changed what the world has come to expect from technology. His intuitive understanding of design and human psychology helped him to create a user-friendly approach to high-tech computing which, in turn, made Apple one of the most popular brands in the world. Steven Johnson, the author of "Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation" and "The Innovator's Cookbook," and advertising consultant Cindy Gallop talk about what it takes to nurture innovation, and the essential role of branding in innovation — two things Jobs understood well.

For decades, Microsoft Research's Bill Buxton has been tracking innovation through history — online, Buxton maintains an archive of interactive devices, tracking how technology evolves. He's a firm believer that the seeds of our most innovative ideas and products have been around for years, just waiting for the perfect storm of conditions that can turn a good idea into something more potent.