Beyond the loss of life, and without getting into the debate over the resources involved, the loss of the Titan submersible reminds us that technical, technological or usage innovation must never come at the expense of its users’ safety.
The exponential growth of digital startups and of #failfast has unleashed in us a desire to build companies at scale, and it allows us to challenge some established markets and ways of doing things.
Overall, this is good news: it stimulates our creativity and our thirst for innovation, and even, when possible, for progress.
There is, however, a fundamental difference between developing digital products for everyday use #digitalstartup and developing means of transport and technologies that could, for one reason or another, put their users’ lives at risk #industrialstartup.
It is not unusual to hear so-called “disruptive” companies say they cannot comply with established standards because they cannot afford to, or because those standards slow them down.
Let’s be clear: it would be fairly easy, for example, to build lighter and cheaper cars if we set aside all the safety rules that surround them.
Industrial standards have often been established at the cost of the lives of the men and women who adopted certain technologies in their early days, the early adopters.
The automobile, aviation and space exploration have also had their share of disasters.
The fundamental difference is that at the beginning of the last century, we did not have the same experience, nor the same capacity for simulation, design and manufacturing.
When most of the experts in the field tell you that you are putting your life, the lives of others and the reputation of an entire industry at risk, you have a duty to question yourself.
The race to innovate must not become an excuse for the extravagant follies of those who have the means to do anything they like, especially when it only serves a new kind of tourism. You know who I mean; there are many of them.
When you innovate, remember to surround yourself with experts, and remember to listen to them.
Make sure your business plan includes at least some resources to size, simulate and test your products. In short, follow the standards, and at the very least buy a copy of the GDI (the Guide du Dessinateur Industriel, the French engineer’s reference handbook)!
And be ready to walk away.
Leave a Reply