The Gap between innovators and academia is a large chasm that must be crossed in order for innovation teams to move forward and create break-thru technologies. To better understand this divide the Online Think Tank asked one of its innovators to explain why he had an issue with academia and so he stated;

“I just do not understand these academics, well that is not true, I understand them, I just want to blind fold them, spin them around and wake them up and say SEE! Drag them outside the cave of the flickering flame is all. Some of them just need to get out of the way, others are fine once you get to know them, other than that, well; I just patronize them, they are always right no matter what, and deny reality at every turn.”

One often common critique of academia is that they are always right and have proof based on a book, research report or someone documentation, yet to the innovator that means little and often they believe a lot of the research is so obvious that it is unnecessary. Indeed there is a big difference between flying by the seat of your pants and research. Our entrepreneurial innovator goes on to state;

“Yes, I know they are smart, but so are entrepreneurs who build, bring and design everything you see, everywhere you go, you know what I mean? We need the academics too, as they are part of the game training for the next generation, but just think how fast people could learn if VR was used for everything?”

Indeed this is a heavy statement. On one hand the entrepreneurial innovator admits the need for academia and professors and then on the other hand wants to replace them with Virtual Reality or VR educational training tools and avatars? Hello! Some might see this as a hypocritical statement and yet it is how the mind of an innovator works. Sees a problem, rationalizes it, then considers it and provides an instantaneous potential solution, without hardly any thought. Just blurts it out.

Hardly analytical, yet this gentleman is a true innovator; perhaps part of his pragmatic philosophy and method; hard to say; but his mind works different than those in academia and he knows it and it works for him, undeniable. The academics can critique his methods, but the record shows it works and thus the dilemma of the gap between innovators and academia will not be settled today.

I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Share This

Related Posts

• No related posts