Invention Terms

invention

a new and unique product created by an inventor

leisure invention

an invention created for the pleasure of inventing. This type of invention is often very creative and patented

social invention

an invention created to help the inventor or other people. These inventions make our lives better and easier and impact society

challenge

an obstacle or goal needing to be met

problem

anything that can be made better through change or improvement

financial invention

inventions created to make money. These inventions often make things quicker or easier to do

spin-off

inventions that have been adapted to solve other problems

discovery

the act of first noticing something that occurs naturally

scientific discovery

the act of first noticing something that occurs naturally, usually by a scientist or researcher

creative thinking

the human ability to think in creative ways

innovation

the process of altering an existing product or system to improve it

problem solving

the process of beginning with a problem and ending with a solution. Once the cause of the problem has been recognized, the next step is to fix it and check if the solution works

Industrial Revolution

the time period from 1750 to 1850. During this time, many machines and devices were invented, including the steam engine and telegraph

invention process

the use of imagination and knowledge to turn ideas into devices, products, and systems

adaptation

when inventions are used for something other than the purposes for which they were intended