Invention and Play

The connections between invention and play are so numerous and self-evident that you almost don't need anybody to tell you any more about it. Yet, if you click over to this site, you'll probably be as informed as you will be entertained by the stories, discussions and games provided by the Smithsonian Institutions' Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.

Start, for example, with Kevlar inventor's Stephanie Kwolek's opening words: “All sorts of things can happen when you’re open to new ideas and playing around with things," or those from the story about the philosophy governing the design company IDEO: “I think playing is critical for coming up with new ideas. It’s something we try to encourage here at the office. The play state is inherently creative.”

If you just want to play around, try "Tinker Ball" - it's kind of a Rube Goldberg machine-puzzle, who, as we discussed earlier, was a master of the invention-play connection.

Invention at Play is now a traveling exhibit. It is currently (until August 31) showing at the Arizona Science Center at Phoenix.