When was the last time that you watched a movie or read a book where an engineer was the good guy? I recently saw “Flash of Genius” on the big screen. It’s based on the true story of Robert Kearns, the man who invented the intermittent windshield wiper back in the early 1960s.
The movie depicts how Kearns developed the technology in his basement. But, along the way, his idea was stolen by several automakers. While the movie focuses on Kearns’ multi-year legal battle with Ford Motor Co. (Dearborn, MI), he also took on Chrysler LLC (Auburn Hills, MI) and other automakers.
Bob Kearns epitomizes the lone American inventor. I wonder how many guys like him are out there right now, toiling away in their basements or garages on tomorrow’s next breakthrough product. We sure could use more people like Kearns tackling today’s billion-dollar puzzle involving batteries and storage devices.
If you get a chance, check out the movie. Maybe you'll be inspired to go invent something. Then again, all the courtroom scenes may force you to think twice.
Although this movie focuses on engineering, I found several minor flaws with it. In one scene, where there’s a meeting in an office, the view out the window depicts a Ford plant that was built in 2003, even though it’s supposed to be 1963!
In another scene, there’s a conveyor in the background that looks like something you’d see on a loading dock - not an assembly plant. The director apparently just asked someone in the props department for a “conveyor.” Next time Universal Pictures makes a movie with manufacturing scenes, I suggest that they call ASSEMBLY magazine first.
The movie depicts how Kearns developed the technology in his basement. But, along the way, his idea was stolen by several automakers. While the movie focuses on Kearns’ multi-year legal battle with Ford Motor Co. (Dearborn, MI), he also took on Chrysler LLC (Auburn Hills, MI) and other automakers.
Bob Kearns epitomizes the lone American inventor. I wonder how many guys like him are out there right now, toiling away in their basements or garages on tomorrow’s next breakthrough product. We sure could use more people like Kearns tackling today’s billion-dollar puzzle involving batteries and storage devices.
If you get a chance, check out the movie. Maybe you'll be inspired to go invent something. Then again, all the courtroom scenes may force you to think twice.
Although this movie focuses on engineering, I found several minor flaws with it. In one scene, where there’s a meeting in an office, the view out the window depicts a Ford plant that was built in 2003, even though it’s supposed to be 1963!
In another scene, there’s a conveyor in the background that looks like something you’d see on a loading dock - not an assembly plant. The director apparently just asked someone in the props department for a “conveyor.” Next time Universal Pictures makes a movie with manufacturing scenes, I suggest that they call ASSEMBLY magazine first.
