Innovation is built on the obscure: innovation-enhancing software for uncovering the obscure

Abstract

Analysis of over 1,000 innovative inventions reveals that during the innovative process at least one rarely-noticed or new (i.e., obscure) feature is unearthed and built upon to create the solution (i.e., the Obscure Features Hypothesis for innovation: OFH) [6, 7]. Embedding the insights from this analysis into the structure of semantic networks creates AhaNets, which help optimize the search for the needed key obscure feature. Techniques to overcome cognitive aversions to noticing the obscure (i.e., fixation effects) further enhance innovation by improving the search process. Once implemented in software, AhaNets and counter-fixation techniques create an innovation-enhancing human-machine interaction.