| Introduction | | | | great labor and expense in the past. I gather data of |
| Very often people are curious as to whether there is | | | | many thousands of experiments as a starting point, |
| a certain methodology that successful inventors are | | | | and then I make thousands more." |
| following that can be adopted by others. In my | | | | Respect the Work of Others |
| opinion, one should look no further then Thomas | | | | One can clearly see that Thomas Edison had the |
| Edison, one of the greatest minds of the Nineteenth | | | | uttermost respect for the researchers who worked |
| and Twentieth centuries; inventor who gave the | | | | before him, either successfully or unsuccessfully. |
| world a long-lasting light bulb and phonograph - just a | | | | Famed inventor realized early on that his success |
| few inventions that revolutionized and modernized | | | | heavily relied upon work done by others - Edison |
| our world. In fact, Edison patented 1,093 Inventions in | | | | carefully analyzed facts produced by others, noted |
| US alone, not counting numerous patents obtained in | | | | their mistakes and learned to avoid these mistakes in |
| European countries like Germany, France and England. | | | | the future. |
| Edison And His Methodology | | | | Regarding Trial And Error Approach |
| So, what methodology did Thomas Edison follow | | | | Edison did use trial and error (or random) method, but |
| when he worked on his numerous ideas? Many | | | | in a different context. Once Edison formulated and |
| researchers and bibliographers who studied Edison's | | | | documented his ideas, inventor used trial and error |
| life claim that the famed inventor didn't use | | | | approach in determining the best materials that should |
| systematic approach while working on his ideas; in | | | | be used in his inventions. In those days, only |
| fact, many claim that Edison favored the so-called | | | | rudimental research was done on physical and |
| random approach. In my opinion, above mentioned | | | | chemical properties of most materials, including gases |
| claims are misleading and should be taken with big | | | | and metals. Edison had to rely on his own tests and |
| grain of salt. | | | | observations in order to produce a list of materials |
| Thomas Edison never rushed into conclusions and | | | | that were strong enough to be used in his inventions. |
| methodically studied any available literature on the | | | | Summary |
| topic he was working. Edison once wrote the | | | | Edison left us with the idea to not just accept what |
| following - | | | | we have, but with desire and hunger to reach newer |
| "When I want to discover something, I begin by | | | | heights. Famed inventor lived extraordinary life and |
| reading up everything that has been done along that | | | | managed to make our life better by improving on |
| line in the past - that's what all these books in the | | | | things that no one thought can be improved. |
| library are for. I see what has been accomplished at | | | | |