451

 watch the film, Flash of Genius about the inventor Robert Kearns and his 20-year battle against the major automakers in Detroit. Kearns came up with the idea for intermittent windshield wipers, captured in a patentable electronic switch. 

 Questions to consider while you are watching the movie:

• Who came up with the idea for the switch? How do we know? 
• Would you say Keane was successful? Why, or why not?
• What was the cost in Keane's personal life to achieve his business goal?
• How might you advise a modern-day inventor to avoid the problems faced by Robert Keane?