Nintendo has done it again.  It shook up the gaming industry in 2006 by introducing the Wii, which ignited interest in the previously untapped 95% of the population worldwide.  It accomplished this by blending passive and active entertainment via the ‘Wiimote’ motion sensor.  The much anticipated follow up to the Wii in 2012, the Wii U, was a colossal flop, because it failed to deliver any new, compelling features to fuel mass appeal.  But now, Nintendo is back once again with a roar: Enter the Pokemon Go.

I admit it. I have a special affinity for innovations that address a prevalent social need by a deceptively simple and effective solution.  A solution that takes an ordinary object and transforms its functionality by daring to ask the ‘What if?’ question.

According to a survey conducted by marketing firm Havas Worldwide, only 20% of people in the industrialized countries disagreed with the statement: “I could happily live without most of the things I own”.  And so the sharing economy takes root.

As one of the judges for the European Venture Award, I was interviewed at the InnovEIT Conference this spring.  During the session I talked mostly about entrepreneurship in Europe.

Following up on my story last week about GE’s big idea for using CO2 emissions, let’s continue with another seemingly wacky, repurposing concept again this week.  How about a giant space umbrella to solve the problem of global warming?