Questions and Answers after Invention and Innovation Promotion
After the Hong Kong International Invention Expo2000 and the "Inventors' Millennium Vision" Phase II Competition on "The Most Wanted Inventions in the 21th Century" were introduced and displayed in several shopping arcades; many people and students showed their interest on the initiation of ideas about inventions and the way of thinking of inventors. Questions from Wendy, Simon, David, Daniel and Candy were sent to us through emails and were answered accordingly. Question and answers are quite interesting and are listed below:-.

Q. Firstly, I would like to know what type of people like to make inventions?
A. Those who usually feel not satisfying with general products available in the market and would like to improve the method, efficiency, performance or capability of it.

Q. Why we need improvement invention, please give some example?
A. Usually a newly created invention may not be perfect and will be improved according to the need of the users. For example "Movies" which initially, is black and white without sound, and without good film speed control. There were many improvements made with some Creative Inventions and many Improvement Inventions, gradually adding sound to movies, and with ongoing improvements introduced "Color Movies".

Q. At present talking about Creative Inventions and Improvement Inventions, which are the most in amount?
A. Now, Improvement Inventions are more than Creative Inventions.

Q. Would most inventors in Hong Kong be students, or people who are on full-time jobs?
A. As far as I know most of the inventors are adults but of course there are students, because just have the idea and not putting it into practical can never be successful and it needs financial support.

Q. I would also like to know how they think of these one- of- kind creations; from experience, or do ideas slowly develop through many stages of planning?
A. In many cases, ideas came out from bundles of needs raised around you then to solve them it is first referred to experience and traditional means but "creation bingo" to somebody is a gift because they don't have to pay much in thinking before the emerging of new concepts. Planning is important after the first applicable concept.

Q. Secondly, where do inventors obtain their materials to make their invention and where do they go to experiment it? Do they ask for opinions, such as in surveys, or do they keep the invention a secret until it is patented?
A. Inventors usually use their own money to gain the first step and perform the initial investment financially and time. To carry out patent and market research is the first step, then make the model for testing. In case you need to ask the factory to help or join venture with others for your design, it is better to sign "The contract of non exposure".

Q. I have also heard of a Japanese term called 'Chindogu', which is used to represent useless products. What do you think of these Chindogus?
A. These are their way of presentation and have their own rules governing. It is no harm to have some brain storming and it might lead you to the sense of invention and of course to express their way of thinking.

Q. Do you think they are meaningless, or imaginative? If they are really meaningless, why do you think people like to use their time to invent them?
A. If you refer to Chindogu's Ten Basic Rules they have strange requirements. You can visit this web page for reference (www.ohio.net/~pilgrim/tenets.html). Generally to most people Chindogu items are meaningless or solely imaginative but of course there must be a reason in creating them. Chindogu that being made are "Don't quite work out", cannot for real use and not for sale but must exist. Sometimes at this moment when we look at an idea or a product and do not really know the actual way to use them because there may not be sufficient promotion or we don't have the talent but if the inventor can introduce the proper way of use, then people might find it useful. May be years later when the technology achieved a certain level then some ideas could be practical. Initially all inventors must think their babies are the best and most successful but we have to wait for the users' acceptance.

Q. How does it feel to be someone who has created something original?
A. You will feel proud of it if people accept your ideas and products. It is the taste of success.

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