_New Yorker_ Article Comparing Tech IP To Art IP

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Personality is crucial to electronic design. The difference between engineering and art is that engineering has to work, and is tested.

John

The role of personality may in fact be just as important in tech as the arts; it's just not nearly as obvious in tech. In tech the personality part is far enough removed or isolated from the final solution it's untraceable. Even most of those in the field don't really care or notice how it came about.

For example, the inventor of the Si nanowire battery was astounded that his breakthrough was such a seemingly straightforward solution to a decades old problem. To keep the Si from cracking as it swelled while charging, he merely made the Si thinner, the same tactic that has been used for centuries to make wire rope more supple. It's easy to believe his personality played no role whatsoever. But still, there was something about his personality that led him to that "obvious" solution.

After "Graceland" Paul Simon was attacked for doing something that "anyone could do." Rhymin' Simon answered, "but anyone didn't do it. _I_ did it."

That might be the real similarity between tech IP and art IP.

Bret Cahill

It is to the people who understand it, and do it. The details of electronic design just aren't as visible, or "accessible", to the public as a Batman movie.

Are you talking about art, or about fashion? When the artist becomes more important than the art, you're dealing with cult of personality, or perhaps investment opportunities. A greek statue, by an unknown artist, stands on its own, as does a superb frequency synthesizer. A Kincaid painting doesn't.

Where can I buy some of those batteries?

John

You think tech is art or fashion?

Anyway you dodged the issue:

After "Graceland" Paul Simon was attacked for doing something that "anyone could do." Rhymin' Simon answered, "but anyone didn't do it. _I_ did it."

That might be the real similarity between tech IP and art IP.

Bret Cahill