The Best for the Most for the Least

“We wanted to make the best for the most for the least.”

—Charles and Ray Eames

New technology often seems to exist for its own sake, instead of representing added productivity or true progress.

That’s why it’s so great to see this Fulbright scholar use 3D printing to create prosthetic limbs for children at a price that’s a hundred times cheaper than before. The arm in this video was built from $350 in materials; traditional methods have the price point of an entry-level luxury car.

Most insurance plans won’t cover a cost that high, only to do so again and again as the child grows. This innovation provides a practical solution to that very real business problem. This is design and technology, working together at their best.

Innovation Defined

If you feel like the word “innovation” is being diluted to the point of meaninglessness, you’re not alone. Thankfully, Horace Dediu has done a nice job of explaining that innovations must be useful, not just new—or even valuable.

When you change the conversation and ask, “what’s useful?” you can talk about the scenarios in which your product gets used. At that point, you’re making real progress towards innovation.