Four Hot Inventing Trends

Like any activity, the process of inventing and launching products is subject to changes and trends. In this column, I'll talk about the latest trends in the inventing world, and in addition to my own perspective, I've got information to share with you from two other highly successful inventors whose opinions I respect.

Peter Russo is the founder and CEO of New Approach Development LLC and has hundreds of inventions to his credit. Stephen Key is one of the first people whose advice I sought when I started my company four years ago. He's the founder of both Stephen Key Designs and inventRight, affiliated with Inventors Alliance, and has seen hundreds of millions of units of his inventions sold.

Based on our discussions, here are the most current trends affecting the marketplace:

1. Inventors are becoming more diverse. For many, the word "inventor" conjures the image of an eccentric guy tinkering in his garage workshop or a lab-coated scientist working on his top-secret formula. If these images were originally based in reality, that reality has changed. Developing a good idea presents an equal opportunity playing field, and those who were formerly underrepresented are exploring those opportunities. ...