Larry,
Here are some extemporaneous thoughts on the Internet and research for your book
Best,
Joe
Research, Invention, and Innovation in the age of the Internet
By Dr. Joe Stetter
There was a time when I spent time each month in the reading room in the chemistry library browsing my favorite journals. There was a time when I visited the library on the spur of the moment whenever I had an idea to elaborate, or a problem to solve, or any issue for which I needed added information. There was a time when I took and later taught courses in the organization and searching of the literature of science and engineering.
In brief, invention is “building a better mousetrap” and innovation is “doing something different with the invention for social impact.” Of course my career modus operandi in science and engineering would have evolved in any case and in many areas of the scientific endeavor since progress in scientific instrumentation as well as knowledge has evolved rapidly and significantly.
But, in the aspect of scientific invention and innovation, no greater impact has been observed than that of the internet and allied technology [search engines, content providers, etc…]. No longer do I need to go to the library to find information And while this sounds simple, it is an immense transformation.
A good research group or research university was judged in part by how good the library was. Now stature in research capability is judged by how good your search engine might be. I still love libraries but it is a nostalgic love and not a love from need. I love the atmosphere of a library and the feel of a book. However, I now have at my fingertips, still for a subscription fee of course, multiple libraries that grow in quantity of information with unbelievable rapidity.
My challenge now is to understand the search engines, so I am not mislead to what the provider wants me to see and to the best information to understand my issue. Operationally, I now first go to my computer when I need information rather than the library. The course I last taught in chemistry literature was not so much an emphasis on library literature and libraries but about distinguishing the quality of information from anecdotal web page postings to the highest quality refereed journal articles and the ongoing scientific discussion that improves our theories and knowledge base.
Finally, I absolutely enjoy having information from technical to social immediately available to solve a problem and find it enabling of invention and innovation on many fronts. The ideas that I have come to me at odd times, and often can only gel if they can be incubated quickly. This is now realized and I look forward to the day when every piece of literature in every language is available immediately to every person on earth on their cell phone! What a transformation of thought, operating style, and creative stimulus we have seen in less than a single lifetime."
(c) 2009 Lawrence B. Kilham