Innovation or Invention

Larry Schmitt from Inovo made some very interesting remarks about innovation verses invention. Larry stated that you cannot give your produc the title of innovation. That title has to come from the community or public. If the public uses the product well and responds to it well emotionally and rationally, it may be an innovation. If it is just a new product that doesn't get used much, it is considered to be an invention not an innovation.

In regards to the iPhone, I read about a research study that Apple did last year in Thailand with the iPhone. The test market was patrons of malls in largely populated areas. Many of the research subjects were not interested in the iPhone because they preferred to speak face to face or they lived in very rural areas that would not get reception.

So, I can see how a product can be seen as an invention in one country or area and an innovation at another.