watch the film, Flash of Genius about the inventor Robert Kearns and his 20-year battle against the major automakers in Detroit. Kearns came up with the idea for intermittent windshield wipers, captured in a patentable electronic switch.
Questions to consider while you are watching the movie:
- Who came up with the idea for the switch? How do we know?
- Would you say Keane was successful? Why, or why not?
- What was the cost in Keane’s personal life to achieve his business goal?
- How might you advise a modern-day inventor to avoid the problems faced by Robert Keane?