Best innovations of the past 30 years

Dave Travis sent me a link to Don Dodge’s blog (http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2009/02/30-most-important-innovations-from-last-30-years.html) this morning regarding innovation. PBS’s program “Nightly Business Report,” partnered with Wharton School of Business to ask people for submissions on what they felt were the best innovations of the past 30 years. Submissions ended in September and since that time a panel, made up of Wharton faculty, has been evaluating the innovations, not based on cleverness but on the following criteria.

1.  Did it have a direct and/or material effect on quality of life?

2.  Did it address a compelling need?  Did it solve a compelling problem?

3.  Was it a fresh, new breakthrough?   Was there a “WOW” factor?

4.  Did it change the way business is conducted?

5.  Did it increase the efficiency of how resources are used?

6.  Did it spark an ongoing stream of new innovations on top of the original innovation?

7.  Did it lead to the creation of a vast, new industry?

Here are the top 30 innovations (with #1 being deemed most innovative)

1. Internet (www. / broadband / HTML) 
2. PC/Laptop computers
3. Mobile phones
4. Email
5. DNA testing and sequencing/Human genome mapping
6. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 
7. Microprocessors
8. Fiber optics
9. Office software (Spreadsheets, word processors)  
10. Non-invasive laser/robotic surgery (laparoscopy)
11. Open source software and services (e.g., Linux, Wikipedia)
12. Light emitting diodes (first real devices in 1960s; in products in mid-70s) 
13. Liquid Crystal Displays
14. GPS Systems
15. Online shopping/ecommerce/auctions (e.g., eBay)
16. Media file compression (e.g., jpeg, mpeg, mp3) 
17. Microfinance 
18. Photovoltaic Solar Energy
19. Large scale wind turbines
20. Social networking via internet
21. Graphic user interface (GUI)
22. Digital photography/videography
23. RFID and applications (e.g. EZpass)
24. Genetically modified plants
25. Bio fuels
26. Bar codes and scanners
27. ATMs
28. Stents
29. SRAM flash memory
30. Anti retroviral treatment for AIDS

How innovative are we as the church? Is there room for innovation in a 2000 year-old institution? Do we foster an environment of innovation? Could we name 30 innovations in the church in the past 30 years that meet the dynamic equivilent of the 7 criteria (moving from overhead projectors to LCD projectors don’t count)? Could we name ten innovations? On July 20-22 Leadership Network will be hosting its first “Ideas Fest” to find out how innovative the church can be. Led by Dave Travis, Chris Willard and me, we are inviting you to bring your innovation ideas to Dallas for these ideas to incubate into action. John Handy (former senior VP with Mattel Toys) will be facilitating this time. Go to www.leadnet.org for more details.