How to Outfox the Innovation Police
Warren Robinett, HP Labs
Aug. 17, 2011
Overview
• This talk is for people who have ideas they want to see get tried out.– If you just want to show up and get paid, it is
dangerous to even listen to me. You may end up getting fired.
• I’m going to share some strategies that I used (or should have used).– The strategies will be illustrated with video
clips and war stories from my career.
Strategy: Don’t Tell Them What You’re Doing
Clip: Atari 2600 video game Adventure
War Story: Easter Egg
Quit and Go Elsewhere
If you’re not willing walk away from a toxic situation, you will end up stuck in one.
You have to know when to hold ‘em, and when to fold ‘em.
Start a Company
Clip: Rocky’s Boots for the Apple II
War Story: The Learning Company
Convince Them
War Story: Sometimes you can. But there are a lot of immovable objects out there.
Find a Mentor
War Story: (TLC) I was smart enough to think of this, but not smart enough to do it.
Have Patience
War Story: TLC: Shouldn’t have quit.
Pay the Tax
Clip: Virtual Reality at NASA Ames
War Story: If the benefits of a large organization are worth it, pay the tax without whining.
Fund Yourself
Clip: Snap ‘N Click Math Game
War Story: Snap N Click: Never saw the light of day.
Find an Oasis
Clip: UNC VR Room
Clip: Nanomanipulator
Ignore the Naysayers
Clip: VR Molecules
Clip: VR Bird
Clip: VR Dog
War Story: Serious Graphics
Find a Patron
War Story: Where is Ted Williams’s soul?
Ride the Tiger
Clip: CBS News on VR
War Story: Media Feeding Frenzy
Satisfy a Need
Memristive Crossbar
(HP Labs)
War Story: Phil Didn’t Write
Summary: Strategies of Independence
Quit and Go Elsewhere
Don’t Tell Them What You’re Doing
Ignore the Naysayers
Fund Yourself
Ride the Tiger
Start a Company
Convince Them
Have Patience
Summary: Strategies of Cooperation
Find an Oasis
Pay the Tax
Satisfy a Need
Find a Mentor
Find a Patron
Summary: Strategies of Mutuality