ISSN:
1467-9310
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Economics
Notes:
The author outlines a novel computer-based technique to generate ideas for new products. Essentially the technique uses the so-called Dialog databank, claimed to have access to 152 million units of information, to search for all publications in the database which combine a root concept and words such as idea, innovation, novelty, and so on. The computer can then be instructed to print out the titles of a restricted number defined by the searcher from each database accessed. The searcher can then study the contents of each publication at leisure. In principle other similar databanks can be used.The technique is illustrated by two hypothetical cases: new uses for water and new uses for metal-powder technology.The author claims that the technique will generate a large number of ideas in a short time at low-cost, can be used selectively (eg to search within a stated time-period), will link otherwise unrelated disciplines, and is well suited to brainstorming. The main drawbacks are that much of the information may be irrelevant, it cannot provide entirely new ideas though it can link existing concepts in a new way, and it cannot print out the total text from an identified source.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9310.1989.tb00617.x
