From modern conveniences to medical breakthroughs to high-tech gadgets, British Columbians have long been contributors to the modern age
British Columbia enjoys a rich history of innovation. From modern conveniences to medical breakthroughs to high-tech gadgets, British Columbians have long been contributors to the modern age. Mobile phones and mobile devices can trace their history to the pioneering work of Donald Hings, a Burnaby resident who developed the first walkie-talkie system in the 1940s. Breakthrough discoveries in medicine have been the result of the tireless efforts of researchers like Dr. Michael Smith, who created one of the foundational tools for diagnostics and treatment of genetic diseases, and Dr. Julio Montaner, who developed the protocol for the treatment of HIV-AIDS.
But what constitutes innovation? After all, the very definition of “innovation” is fraught with challenges. A simple query on Google reveals over 575 million search results. As author Scott Berkun writes, “innovation is often used as a shorthand to mean a new idea, where thinking that results in something better.” For companies, innovation takes on a broader meaning, driven by methods, strategies and results that change the trajectory of the organization.
Innovation and invention are not the same things. Invention often refers to a specific creation. Innovation, on the other hand, refers to the effect that the creation has on an industry, society or culture.