We plan on introducing a number of educational resources and business tools in this section. Please check back often as this page will change frequently.
Generally speaking, the first solution or idea you come up with is not your best. Or, if you are having difficulties coming up with ideas in the first place, here are some creativity and critical thinking resources that may prove useful:
Books:
- And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared by Genrich Altshuller
- Cracking Creativity The Secrets of Creative Genius by Michael Michalko
- Innovator’s Toolkit by Daniel Silverstein et al.
- Jump Start Your Brain v2.0 by Doug Hall
- Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko
- Think Better by Tim Thurson
Creativity Tools:
- Creative Whack Pack by Roger von Oech
- IDEO Method Cards
- Innovation KnowBrainer Innovation Tools from SolutionPeople Gerald Haman
- Innovation Planner from Ideation International Inc (www.centerforadvantage.com)
- ThinkPak by Michael Michalko
Books on the Innnovation/Invention Process in General:
- From Patent to Profit Secrets & Strategies for the Sucessful Inventor by Bob DeMatteis
- Inventing on a Shoestring Budget by Barbara Russell Pitts and Mary Russell Sarao
- Stand Alone, Inventor! And Make Money With Your New Product Ideas! by Robert G. Merrick
- The Inventor’s Bible by Ron Docie, Sr.
- The Inventor’s Desktop Companion by Richard C. Levy
- The Million Dollar Idea in Everyone by Michael Collins
- Turn Your Idea or Invention Into Millions by Don Kracke
- Will It Sell? How to Determine if Your Invention is Profitably Marketable by James E. White
U.S. government websites where you can learn a lot about intellectual property:
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- U.S. Copyright Office
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (for enforcing IP at the border)
- U.S. International Trade Commission (for enforcing IP rights)
Foreign government websites wheren you can learn about IP:
- World Intellectual Property Organization (Series IP Panorama Videos on IP for Small Business)
- Office of Harmonization for the Internal Market (European Trademarks and Designs)
Small Business Assistance Sites:
- www.sba.gov (Small Business Administration)
- www.score.org (Society of Corporate Retired Executives)
Invention Evaluation Services:
- www.frompatenttoprofit.com (From Patent to Profit)
- http://wisc.uww.edu/ (Wisconsin Innovation Service Center)
- http://www.wini2.com/ (Innovation Institute)
- http://eurekaranch.com/ (Eureka Ranch)
- http://innovationcentre.ca/ (Canadian Innovation Centre)
- www.quirky.com (Quirky Social Entrepreneur Site)
Licensing Coaches and Licensing Programs:
- http://inventright.com/ (InventRight by Stephen Key)
- http://www.productcoach.com/ (The Product Coach by Matthew Yubas)
Conducting a product search (for checking if someone else already created your proposed product):
- http://www.google.com/prdhp (Google product search)
- eBay
- Bing Shopping
- CNET (electronic goods)
- X-treme Geek (electronic goods)
- Skymall (Skymall catalog online)
- Buy.com
- Nextag.com
Product search for Outdoor and Camping Goods:
- www.rei.com
- www.travelcountry.com
- http://gear.camping.com/default.aspx
- www.campmor.com
- http://www.summitcampinggear.com/
- http://www.camping-gear-outlet.com/
- www.coleman.com
- http://www.cabelas.com
- www.campman.com
- http://www.backpacker.com/marketplace
Prototyping Resources:
- http://www.shapelock.com/ (Shapelock)
- http://rapid-prototyping.harvest-tech.com/rapid_prototyping.htm (Rapid Prototyping)
- http://www.cc.utah.edu/~asn8200/rapid.html (General info about Rapid Prototyping)
- http://www.smooth-on.com/ (Smooth On site)
- http://www.msinconline.com/
- http://www.virtualpet.com/pe/papers/proto.pdf (Article on prototyping)