The Process of Invention

There are a number of methods for coming up with (inventing) the technology of the future. Those commonly used in the past include:

Method 1: There was a clear and obvious need for a tool and someone makes it. Hence the old phrase "necessity is the mother of invention.

Method 2: Someone who was an expert in their field (and still had time to think) had an idea of what else might be possible for the future of technology

Method 3: Someone who was familiar with mutiple fields applied sciences from one to benefit another.

Method 4: Someone has been playing around with various combinations and by accident comes up with something new.