We're Looking for a Few Good Ideas · 10 January 08 by Jonathan Kuniholm
Lead users are consumers (individuals or companies) who spur innovation in an industry by contributing innovations often of a greater value and at a faster pace than the companies that produce the products they use. Their innovations are often freely shared and eventually incorporated into products. Far from being an idealist fantasy, lead user innovations can be incorporated into the R&D strategy of a nimble company, enabling quick identification and anticipation of consumer needs. What we’re trying to accomplish through the Open Prosthetics community is to facilitate this phenomenon, well-described in MIT Professor Eric Von Hippel’s book, “Democratizing Innovation” (downloadable free from his website or ours).
Innovations by amputee-users are very important in the history of prosthetics, notably by folks like D.W. Dorrance, designer of the early split hook, versions of which remain the most popular arm terminal device today; Bob Radocy, whose innovative grip and sports devices are sold at TRS ; and Dr. Hugh Herr, developing powered ankles in his lab at MIT. Perhaps less well-known but equally important are the prosthetists and technicians who have innovated for their patients over the years, contributing products and custom modifications for their patients, some of which have entered common use, and others which have not.
Join us at The Open Prosthetics Project, in assembling the core group of active innovators that the project needs to help us reach the next level in innovation. We have established a social net to allow direct connections, and a wiki including descriptions of active projects that can be freely edited. Contribute to an existing project, or start your own. Please download our flier, asking for help finding lead users, and post it where you see fit.
