Hal Philipp on The Perils and Profits of Invention
On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Bradley Norris conclude a three-part interview with Hal Philipp, inventor of the modern touchscreen. In the previous two segments, Philipp discusses the inventions that culminated in his revolutionary touchscreen as well as its aftermath. This week coves some of the lessons Hal has learned over his career, with some questions from a live audience. Philipp shares the ups and downs of being a solo inventor, including the “manic-depressive” nature of the process, the dangers of patent trolls and litigation, and the challenges of commercializing and licensing his inventions. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to consider getting support from larger organizations or venture capital firms, as well as forming co-founder teams, to help mitigate the risks. Enjoy these valuable insights into the realities of being an independent inventor in a competitive technology landscape.
Additional Resources
- Part 1 of this conversation: The Accidental Inventor: An Interview with Hal Philipp
- Part 2 of this conversation: Defending a Patent: Lessons from Hal Philipp’s Entrepreneurial Journey
- Watch this interview on YouTube: Stories and Startup Tips from Hal Philipp, Inventor of the Touch Screen
- Hal Philipp’s publication with Robert J. Marks II
- H. Philipp and Robert J. Marks II “Microprocessor based light bridge sensors,” Industrial Optical Sensing, SPIE vol.961, pp.28-34, 1988 (The Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, Bellingham, WA)
- Robert J. Marks II at Discovery Institute
- Bradley Norris at Baylor University
- Hal Philipp at Michigan Tech
