I could make argument for many other inventions. But then I would be disagreeing with historian William Rosen author of The Most Powerful Idea in the World. Rosen claimed on the Jon Stewart Show (one of my favs btw) that the most powerful invention is the steam engine, because it marks both the birth of the industrial revolution in England, as well as the beginning of an era of sustained technological innovation. What do you guys think? Take my poll?

Image LOC

Jeff wrote me with the following question: I have a catchy name for a product that already exists, but as far as I can tell no one is using this name. If I trademark the name, can I sell the trademark to a company, similar to a web domain?

Jeff, the over simple answer is yes you can try to sell your trademark. However, it's not like cybersquatting. Trademarks are sold as part of the sale of a business. You can't trademark register a name unless you are using it in commerce (or bona fide intent to use) and not just the commerce (business) of selling the name. BTW There are now laws on the books that can deter the business of cybersquatting.

• Domain Names & Trademark Law
• And this interesting WIPO notice Volvo.ws VS Volvo

Trademark creation services do exist - people that make up a great name or logo for a business and then that business owner registers the trademark - for example this one that I found randomly. Don't know if that would work for a one off.

Famous Trademark Sales
The name Coca-Cola is a combination of the names of two ingredients, the coca leaf (from South America) and the kola nut (from Africa). Between 1887 and 1888, the name and formula were sold three times. Image Courtesy Coca Cola Company

According to KUER Local News, the new hot spot for inventions is the University of Utah. It's tied with MIT for being first in the nation for spawning new startup companies. Their graduate students went on to start companies like Silicon Graphics, Pixar, Adobe and Netscape. In 2008, Utah U's research led to the formation of twenty new companies, nearly seven times the national average of three for a university. I was happy to read that Utah U has a long history of hiring inventors including: Willem Kolff who developed the first artificial kidney and artificial heart transplant.

The year 1953 saw the development of IBM's first commercially successful general-purpose computer. Inventor, Thomas Johnson Watson Junior wanted to contribute a "defense calculator" to aid in the United Nations' policing of Korea after the Korean War. However, one obstacle Watson Junior had to overcome was in convincing his father, Thomas Johnson Watson Senior (the CEO of IBM) that computers would not harm IBM's card processing business. The 701s were incompatible with IBM's punched card processing equipment, at that time a big moneymaker for IBM. Illustration of IBM 701 EDPM Control Board by Mary Bellis

• History of Computers