Invention

Invention or invention (from Latin invenire, "to find" -see also inventio-) is an object, technique or process that has novel and transformative characteristics. However, some inventions also represent an innovative creation with no precedent in science or technology that pushes the boundaries of human knowledge.

Thomas Edison's first electric bulb

Sometimes legal protection can be obtained by filing a patent, as long as the invention is truly novel and not obvious. The registration represents a temporary concession by the State for the exploitation of the patent, forming in practice a monopoly that limits competition. However, said registration is not necessarily indicative of authorship of the invention.

Early inventions

The first inventions date back to prehistory and were rough and rustic elements made of stone, which evolved over time. In the opinion of many authors, the greatest, before historical documentation, is the system of signs to communicate: language. In the opinion of others, language is not an invention, but a form of natural expression, understanding expression as the use of an innate capacity. Dogs communicate with each other, dolphins and insects... our inability to understand these languages is not a reason to disqualify them as such, since it is self-demonstrative that they communicate using their own language, if language is considered an invention, then Many authors consider that all species of animals that have language, be it more or less crude or limited, should also be considered inventors.

What everyone seems to agree on is that the first inventions were utensils for food processing, hunting, health, and medicine. The clothes and of course the wheel that is possibly the most substantial invention in prehistory from the point of view of technology.

Ideas as a starting point

While an innovative and useful object or method may be developed to serve a specific purpose, the original idea may never be realized as a working invention, perhaps because the concept is somewhat unrealistic or impractical. Like "castles in the air" It can refer to a creative idea that falls short of its goal due to practical considerations. The history of invention is full of such cases, since inventions do not necessarily arise in the order that is most useful. For example, the design of the parachute was worked out long before the invention of autonomous flight. Other inventions simply solve problems for which there is no financial incentive to provide a solution.

On the other hand, any barriers to implementation can simply be ascribed to engineering or technological limitations that could eventually be overcome through scientific advances. History is also replete with examples of ideas that have taken some time to become a physical reality, as demonstrated by the various ideas originally attributed to Leonardo da Vinci and now seeing their daily application in practical form.