How to Outfox the Innovation Police

Warren Robinett, HP Labs

Aug. 17, 2011

Overview

• This talk is for people who have ideas they want to see get tried out.– If you just want to show up and get paid, it is

dangerous to even listen to me. You may end up getting fired.

• I’m going to share some strategies that I used (or should have used).– The strategies will be illustrated with video

clips and war stories from my career.

Strategy: Don’t Tell Them What You’re Doing

Clip: Atari 2600 video game Adventure

War Story: Easter Egg

Quit and Go Elsewhere

If you’re not willing walk away from a toxic situation, you will end up stuck in one.

You have to know when to hold ‘em, and when to fold ‘em.

Start a Company

Clip: Rocky’s Boots for the Apple II

War Story: The Learning Company

Convince Them

War Story: Sometimes you can. But there are a lot of immovable objects out there.

Find a Mentor

War Story: (TLC) I was smart enough to think of this, but not smart enough to do it.

Have Patience

War Story: TLC: Shouldn’t have quit.

Pay the Tax

Clip: Virtual Reality at NASA Ames

War Story: If the benefits of a large organization are worth it, pay the tax without whining.

Fund Yourself

Clip: Snap ‘N Click Math Game

War Story: Snap N Click: Never saw the light of day.

Find an Oasis

Clip: UNC VR Room

Clip: Nanomanipulator

Ignore the Naysayers

Clip: VR Molecules

Clip: VR Bird

Clip: VR Dog

War Story: Serious Graphics

Find a Patron

War Story: Where is Ted Williams’s soul?

Ride the Tiger

Clip: CBS News on VR

War Story: Media Feeding Frenzy

Satisfy a Need

Memristive Crossbar

(HP Labs)

War Story: Phil Didn’t Write

Summary: Strategies of Independence

Quit and Go Elsewhere

Don’t Tell Them What You’re Doing

Ignore the Naysayers

Fund Yourself

Ride the Tiger

Start a Company

Convince Them

Have Patience

Summary: Strategies of Cooperation

Find an Oasis

Pay the Tax

Satisfy a Need

Find a Mentor

Find a Patron

Summary: Strategies of Mutuality