Can America's genius for invention endure?
By Jane O’Brien
Summarized by Dingilian
New inventions are made year after year in the United States, and some even say
this year there will be record number processed by the US Patent and Trademark
Office. David Kappos, director of the US Patent and Trademark Office, agrees
that the “spirit is alive every bit as much as it was 200 years ago.” However,
there is one major problem - because of the recession these days, there are
concerns that paying for scientific research has decreased.
However, despite the fact that Americans like to invent, China is challenging
their innovation and technology. China's investments on research and development
are second to the United States. The US Patent and Trademark Office says, “Half
of the US patent filings this year will come from foreign inventors.” America's
under-investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics may lead to
a crisis in innovation in the next few years. "The grand experiment of the 19th
Century brought us to where we are today, and the US is still at the forefront
of innovation," says Mr. Massey. "But the rest of the world is catching up.”
In addition, what about the inventions that cause pollution, emit greenhouse
gases, ruin supplies of clean water and destroy animal habitats? “This attitude
of the limitlessness of nature in the US is a myth we need to dispel” proves
that the United States should care more about Mother Nature. "It was already
evident in the 19th Century with the demise of the buffalo that this wasn't
actually accurate. Yet we continue to go forward in some areas of our industry
as if the health of our natural systems is something we don't need to be
concerned about."
To conclude, while America processes more inventions each year, it adds on to
the problems with the budget crisis, Mother Nature, and China is still catching
up. It would be nice if Americans could make more inventions to help save the
environment instead of just for businesses and industries!
The hopeful side is that for people of all ages, the United States is one of the
most opportune areas for innovation.