La Salle Professor On Apple Watch: Just Invention, Not Innovation
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- La Salle University associate professor from the Department of Integrated Science, Business, and Technology, Bill Weaver, told Talk Radio 1210 WPHT morning host Chris Stigall that the new Apple Watch is far from an innovation and is really just an invention.
"We teach 'innovation,' and innovation and invention are two different things. The Apple website has it right on the site that these new devices are 'pure invention'. I'm a scientist. I love inventing things. I love applying for patents and getting an invention. An invention is simply the next step, sort of the next model of the car, 'ooh look it airbags and different safety features or now we have a blue tooth in our radio.' It's sort of the next obvious step, and finally the technology came around to make it really convenient or really awesome. Where the real value is and where the real 'Gee Whiz' factor is with 'innovation' is when you take inventions that are found in different sectors and put them together and sort of adopt them in your sector."
Weaver expressed his disappointment in Apple seeing as they were so revolutionary in past.
"Apple was really fantastically awesome for innovation, especially back with the iPhone when they put your digital camera, your MP3 player, your phone and your personal digital assistant in one device -- that was innovation. But now they're sort of hanging their hats on invention…They're inventing new things where they can, where the technology is, but as far is it solving a problem that already exists, that's hard to see."
What also is confusing to him is what exactly you are supposed to do with your iPhone 6 if you were to buy this new watch.
"If you already have this beautiful screen which is lovely, large, sitting in front of you or in your hand, why do you need to look at your watch on the other arm?"
And then there is the marketing strategy that has thrown him off as well.
"At $10,000 a clip and with $1 trillion in educational debt, I don't believe that it's the kids that they are marketing to…Last fall, fitness was their first push as this is the new Apple fitness watch, but gosh, I was really hard pressed to find any word fitness—people running around in spandex and sneakers with a four or five hundred dollar watch, they really didn't market it as this sweaty little device that you can put on and go hit the gym with it."