Think Different: Lifesaver Bottle

I'm a big fan of TedTalks and I came across this one. Michael Pritchard invented the Lifesaver Bottle in 2007 after being inspired/enraged by government response to tsunami that hit SE Asia and Hurricane Katrina in the US. The product itself is really impressive and scalable to other sizes for different purposes (military, humanitarian, and "leisure"), but what I got out of the TedTalk was his approach to the issue at hand.

The issue of safe drinking water is often considered a developing world issue. But this is also relevant when responding to natural disasters. Pritchard looks at not just the issue at hand, but how providing drinking water can not only help people have safe water to drink, but also can save money by allowing people to stay put in areas and avoiding refugee camps. By not relocating people, the area's infrastructure can be rebuilt more quickly. Overall, I was impressed by how Pritchard thought about the micro and macro issues at hand.

As obvious as it sounds, it seems like the foundation of innovation-social or not- is epitomized by the phrase: Think Different. Michael Pritchard encouraged people to "think different" in his talk. He says to think different about innovation, implementation of new technologies, and questioning existing processes. Over the summer, I worked at Apple and on the very first day, they ask their employees to do the same as MIchael Pritchard by showing this Apple ad. It's an oldie, but a goodie and completely inspiring. While innovation, and especially social innovation, is easier said than done. It doesn't hurt to think outside the box.