Throughout time, the world has continually changed. Not only have humans adapted to the changing environment, they have altered the environment for their benefit. These alterations took place due to human's ability to innovate. According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary of the English Language the definition of innovate is: "To change or alter by introducing something new". The 1828 dictionary may be outdated, but I believe it provides the most useful definition in the context of this article.
Due to innovation, humans have been able to create an environment suited to their wants and needs. A wonderful example of innovation is the wheel and axle used for transportation. The oldest known wheel has been dated back to about 3500 B.C. and is believed to be a potter's wheel. Creating a wheel to form pottery was an innovation in and of itself. Another person then had an idea to use a wheel and axle for transportation; this idea was acted upon and eventually produced a world changing innovation. Click here to learn more about world changing innovations. With carts containing wheels and axles, people were able to transport goods and information across land faster than ever before. The wheel and axle were further innovated to eventually produce horse drawn carriages and gasoline powered cars. Imagine how different the world would be without the innovative minds that created and altered the wheel and axle.
Without innovation, civilization would stagnate and every one would be stuck in an endless state of sameness. Innovation is what drives improvement in civilizations. Without innovation, there would be no government, there would be no written or verbal language, there would be no permanent settlements. Innovations is what changes the world and provides us with many of the comforts we enjoy.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of innovation is that each of us can play a part in it. Each of us has our own innovative ideas. Not all ideas will produce huge changes in the world around us, but each little change gradually adds up to large shifts in the human landscape and lifestyle. That is why it is important for each and everyone of us to share and spread our innovative ideas for the purpose of improving the world around us.
