Look around at what is bugging you, that is where you should begin your idea.

After looking through the coolest inventions of 2014 from the James Dyson Foundation Annual Awards, I had one question:

Can these inventions really achieve positive long-term changes or are they just ‘cool designs’ used to entertain us?

Inventions that are intended only to improve the existing problems by adding an additional layer of protection are unlikely to sustain a positive change in the long run. If the problems are not treated directly, over time, flaws will arise and complicate or worsen the current situation.

In comparison, disruptive innovations are powerful enough to spark a new trend, approach the problem in a different perspective and overcome the previous obstacles. The invention that enlightened me the most was the self-filling water bottle which was initially designed for cyclists. I would consider this one to be a disruptive innovation because the concept behind the invention could be make a significant difference in people’s lives. By collecting moisture from the air, this design has access to the unexploited freshwater in the atmosphere. Currently, the invention can collect half a litre of water in half an hour in a humid environment. With the help of professional research and experiments, we may have found the solution to the issue of inadequate water supply.