Excess Inventions

As technology advances, so does the frequency of change. New, innovative creations are popping up around the globe, and the old is quickly becoming simply a part of the past. The age-old expression “if it ain’t broke, don’t’ fix it” is irrelevant as corporations strive to differentiate themselves against their market rivals. Although new products are refreshing, this desire to constantly maintain a competitive advantage over other companies through revolutionary merchandise is rapidly becoming ridiculous.

While on the bus, reading the September 24th Coffee News I encountered the ground-breaking Japanese invention of the Nemuri Tie, meaning pillow tie, launched by KTM Co..

Sep 24th edition of the Coffee News, highlighting KTM Co.’s Nemuri Tie

This tie targets the “hard-working business people who want to take a quick nap on the job” as more professionals spend longer hours at the office. It can be worn, and then inflated when one needs to catch some Zzzs. Though this tie does solve a need to society, albeit for a very particular niche of people, I begin to wonder how effective these trivial inventions are as a marketing ploy of differentiation against competitors.

Is the value of innovation dwindling in the eyes of consumers due to an excess of inventions?