Invention

An invention is a novel device or technique.

One question that society often asks is, "What conditions lead to the development of an invention?" There are two main opposing viewpoints on this; one school of thought argues that a lack of resources leads people to invent, whereas, the other school of thought argues that only an excess of resources will result in inventions.

See the Timeline of invention for a detailed list of inventions, listed by date of invention.

See also:

• discovery
• inventor
• patent
• technology
• Kranzberg's Laws of Technology
• Lemelson-MIT Prize
• National Inventors Hall of Fame
• Chindogu

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In music, an invention is a a short composition for (usually for a keyboard instrument) with two or three part counterpoint.