I like James Brian Quinn's definition innovation: the reduction to practice of an invention in a culture. The focus of the question was on the expensive and gee

I like James Brian Quinn's definition innovation: the reduction to practice of an invention in a culture. The focus of the question was on the expensive and geeky but the larger impacts may come from the re-purposing of 'simple' technologies for basic human needs. Gerald Weinberg is dying of a rare form of cancer, thymic carcinoma. He used twitter to announce he was still alive http://twitter.com/JerryWeinberg/status/7271106797 http://twitter.com/JerryWeinberg/status/7271106797 and he is using a special blog http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/geraldmweinberg/mystory http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/geraldmweinberg/mystory to allow his family, friends, and many readers to follow his condition, leave tributes, and make donations. There are things that the "mainstream may get" before the HN community that are worth paying attention to as well. They may not be a source of "change your life" wealth, but they may change the quality of your life.