How can you hit it big and get rich? History is full of inventions and ideas that have made people wealthy. Let’s take a look at the stories behind some of them—and learn from their success so we can hit it big and get rich, too.
Though Rome once dominated the world, it disappeared from history after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Yet its religion, language, culture, and other influences endure. Why did Rome fall?
The main reason was that a small population tried to rule a much larger one and eventually could no longer manage it. Rome was forced to rely on mercenaries and, absurdly, ended up collapsing suddenly at their hands.
In the TV drama “The Legend of the Blue Sea,” a mermaid played by Jun Ji-hyun, who has become human, is frightened by a robot vacuum cleaner.
It’s a funny scene, but robot vacuum cleaners didn’t exist just a little over a decade ago. Now they have become an essential household appliance in many homes.
People use robot vacuums because they’re quiet, clean, and convenient. Leave one on its charging dock and it will roam around on its own, vacuuming floors and carpets once or twice a day. It makes little noise—just the sound of its brushes cleaning and the occasional bump into something. You can watch your favorite TV show without being bothered by its quiet vacuuming. That’s why many homes, whether occupied by someone living alone or a large family, have one or even two. Robot vacuums are an example of a hit invention that taps into people’s reluctance to clean or vacuum.
Meanwhile, dog owners face the challenge of taking their pets for a walk every day. The first few times, they may enjoy it, thinking it’s good for their health, but the routine can become a chore.
Now, a startup robotics company is boldly claiming it will bring a sci-fi movie robot to life. The robot is named Luna, after the Roman goddess of the moon. A humanoid robot about as tall as a person, Luna is poised to reach consumers with an affordable price and a wide range of features. Luna can exercise pets and bring drinks to its owner. In hospitals, it could assist doctors and nurses.
Luna was developed by RoboDynamics, based in Santa Monica, California. The company believes Luna will revolutionize robotics, just as PCs transformed home computing and smartphones revolutionized mobile devices. RoboDynamics is building a mass-production system for Luna. Early adopters who recognize its potential can reserve one for $999. Luna has an 8-inch screen for a face, which it uses to interact with people, as well as a microphone and wireless communications equipment. It stands 5 feet tall, with long arms, and can perform a range of tasks using various accessories, including an HD camera. It moves on wheels.
People are naturally inclined to seek convenience, so inventions that make life easier tend to become hits. Those who are standing want to sit; those who are sitting want to lie down. And no matter how much they’re paid, people want to avoid difficult and dangerous work. Robots that clean, wash dishes, do laundry, walk dogs, handle tedious chores, or ring up purchases at unmanned stores may increasingly shape our world. It seems this is an unavoidable part of our future.
Meanwhile, robots like those in “The Terminator” and “Star Wars,” which fly around and take on dangerous combat tasks such as firing machine guns and missiles, along with industrial robots that make cars and other products in factories, are essential for taking over difficult jobs and working in hot industrial facilities or hazardous places like nuclear power plants. At the same time, they make people anxious about humanity’s future. Combat robots could threaten the lives of their human masters, while industrial robots could take jobs away from people who need to work and earn a living.
The English edition is available on Amazon:
Attorney Sang Lee
· Registered patent attorney, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
· Juris Doctor, Loyola University School of Law
· Senior researcher, Landauer
· Researcher, Panasonic
· M.S. in Computer Science, University of Illinois
· B.S. in Computer Science, University of Illinois
Contact:
Email: sang@dream-law.com
Phone: 847-357-1358 ext 301
Fax: 847-357-1359
Questions about this story?
AI answers only from this article and related ones.
Answered from ten years of our reporting. Check legal and tax questions with a professional.
