Quote:
Originally Posted by BigJ
Researching, looking for, and finding examples of prior art is definitely part of engineering. Not doing so leaves you open to losing a lot of wasted time and, in the real world, a whole host of legal issues. This does not mean that one should not make an effort to fully understand and improve upon the ideas you find.
To paraphrase a famous quote, often the best way to a goal is to stand upon the shoulders of giants.  |
I don't think he was arguing against that. I think he was arguing that research should come after some brainstorming, rather than on day 1. Seeing already implemented solutions often can bias your thinking during these early design phases.