The development process

Innovation and invention

Verb	Noun : concept (uncountable)	Noun : thing (countable)	Noun : person
design : to make plans or drawings for how something is to be made	design	a design	a designer
develop : to make a new idea successful, for example by making or improving a product	development	a development	a developer
innovate : to think of new ideas, methods, products, etc.	innovation	a innovation	a innovator
invent : to design and make something for the first time	invention	a invention	a inventor
-	technology : the practical or industrial use of scientific discoveries	a technology	a technologist

countable = you can say a/an; uncountable = you can’t say a/an

Words

innovate /ˈɪnəveɪt/ vi, vt.

to start to use new ideas, methods, or inventions

The company has sucessfully innovated new products and services.

innovation /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən/ ★★☆ n.

[countable] a new idea, method, or invention

recent innovations in English teaching

[uncountable] the introduction of new ideas or methods

We must encourage innovation if the company is to remain competitive.

innovator /ˈɪnəveɪtə $ -ər/ n.

[countable] someone who introduces changes and new idea

invent /ɪnˈvent/ ★★★ vt.

to make, design, or think of a new type of thing

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.

invention /ɪnˈvenʃən/ ★★★ W3 n.

[countable] a useful machine, tool, instrument etc that has been invented

The dish washer is a wonderful invention.

[uncountable] the ac of inventing something

The invention of the coumputer has revolutionized the business world.

practical /ˈpræktɪkəl/ ★★★ S3 W2 adj.

relating to real situations and events rather than ideas, emotioins etc

Candidates should have training and parctical experience in basic electronics.

practical palns, methods etc are likely to succeed or be effective in a situation OPP impractical

It doesn’t sound like a very practical solution.

Research and technology

Hi, I’m Ray and I’m head of product development at Lightning Technologies. Lightning makes semiconductors, the components at the heart of every computer. I’m in charge of research and development(R&D) at our research centre just outside Boston. Our laboratories are some of the most innovative in the computer industry, and we have made many new discoveries and breakthroughs.

I love technology, using scientific knowledge for practical purpose. The technology of semiconductors is fascinating. We are at the cutting edge or leading edge of semiconductor technology: none of our competitors has better products than us. Everything we do is state-of-the-art, using the most advanced techniques available.

Of course, the hi-tech products of today become the low-tech products of tomorrow. Products that are no longer up-to-date because they use old technology are obsolete It’s my job to make sure that Lightning’s products never get into that situation.

Words

component /kəmˈpəʊnənt $ -ˈpoʊ-/ ★★☆ n.

[countable] one of several parts that together make up a whole machine, system etc SYN constituent

companies that make electronic components

constituent /kənˈstɪtʃuənt/ ★☆☆ n.

[countable] one of the substances or things that combine to form something

Sodium is one of the constiteunt of salt.

[countable] someone who otes in a particular area

breakthrough /ˈbreɪkθruː/ ★★☆ n.

[countable] an important new discovery in something you are studying, especially one make after trying for a long time

Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer.

cutting edge n.

1 [the cutting edge (of something)] the newest and most exciting stage in the development of something

research that’s at the cutting edge of genetic science

2 [singular] an advantage over other people or things

The team are relying on Gregg to give them a cutting edge.

leading edge n.

[singular] the area of activity where the most modern and advanced equipment and methods are used

Software companies are on the leading edge of technology in very competitive markets.

state-of-the-art adj.

using the most modern and recently developed methods, materials, or knowlege

His new laptop is state-of-the-art.

hi-tech /ˌhaɪˈtek◂/ adj.

informal another spelling of high-tech

hign-tech /ˌhaɪ ˈtek◂/ ★☆☆ adj.

[usually before noun] using high technology

high-tech industries

low-tech /ˌləʊ ˈtek◂ $ ˌloʊ-/ adj.

not using the most modern machines or methods in business or industry

He made low-tech, budget space movies.

obsolete /ˈɒbsəliːt $ ˌɑːbsəˈliːt/ ★★☆ adj.

no longer useful, because something newer and better has been invented

Will computer render books obsolete?

render /ˈrendə $ -ər/ ★☆☆ vt.

to cause someone or something to be in a particular condition

He was rendered almost speechless by the news.

Patents and intellectual property

Information or knowledge that belongs to an individual or company is proprietary A product dveloped using such information may be protected in law by patents so that others cannot copy its design.

Other companies may pay to use the design under licence in their own products. These payments are royalties.

In publishing, if a text, picture, etc. is copyright, it cannot be used by others without permission. Payments to the author from the publisher are royalties.

The area of law relating to patents and copyright is intellectual property(=IP)

Words

proprietary /prəˈpraɪətəri $ -teri/ adj.

realating to who owns something

They have proprietary rights to the data.

patent /ˈpeɪtnt, ˈpæ- $ ˈpæ-/ n.

[countable, uncountable] a special document that gives you the right to make or sell a new invention or product that no one else is allowed to copy

He applied for a patent for a new method of removing paint.

royalty /ˈrɔɪəlti/ n.

[uncountable] members of a royal family

At school the other children treated them like royalty.

[countable usually plural] a payment made to the writer of a book or piece of music depending on how many books etc are sold, or to someone whose idea, invention etc is used by someone else to make money

the royalties from his latest book

royal /ˈrɔɪəl/ ★★★ S3 W1 adj.

[only before noun] realting to or belonging to a king or queen

the royal palace

the royal family

used in the names of organizations that serve or are supported by a king or queen

the Royal Nave

the Royal Collage of Music

very impressive, as if done for a king or queen

a royal welcome

loyal /ˈlɔɪəl/ ★★☆ adj. OPP disloyal

always supporting your freinds, principles, country etc

The army has remained loyal to the government.

intellectual property(=IP) n.

[uncountable] law something which someone has invented or has the right to make or sell, especially something that cannot legally be copied by other people

Additional Word

infringe /ɪnˈfrɪndʒ/ ★☆☆ vt.

to do something that is against a law or someone’s legal rights

A backup copy of a computer program does not infringe copyright.

infringement n. [countable, uncountable]

It is the end of this time : )