Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Dyson is in the news frequently and so a dedicated thread.

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DIB:

As I said here before, what I know about the school, I read here from posters like you who posted the info.

In the final analysis, if you want something bad enough, nothing matters except getting it done.  Dyson didn't.  We can expound on the reasons, blame others for it, and make up excuses for the failure.  Doesn't change the outcome.  If dyson proceeds the same way in the future, it will most probably strike out once again.

Politicians, aka bureaucrats, get the pulse of the people before giving the nod.  Regardless of the worthiness and benefits.  If the people want it, the Bath decision would reflect that.  If the people are against it, a reason[s] are made up to scrub it.  From what I read here from the UK posters, the electorate was divided almost split down the middle both for and against.  When that's the case, there's something called "schmoozing" that comes into play to "win" a favorable ruling.  No "schmoozing" no deal done. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
I'll just tackle the above highlighted - An inventor who builds a solution others are willing to pay for, all without having any business sense or desire can sell or licensee their widget and go on to be a millionaire/multi-millionaire and this widget/reversed engineered copies can make billions (for the assignee mfg. and the innovative lazy mfgs.).  Not a bad payday for the non-business minded inventor as compared to some occupations.  Although some may consider walking to the mailbox ever 3 months collecting royalty checks dull and exhausting. 

DIB

Hello DIB:

Years and years ago, I had a retired insurance company executive as a professor for my first college level marketing course.  He said that you can invent a better mousetrap and wait for people to beat a path to your door to buy it.  Or, you can advertise, hire a team of sales people and sell it.  James Spangler invented the first portable upright vacuum cleaner in 1907.  But, it wasn't called a Spangler, it is called a HOOVER.  

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Carmine,

Your still guessing of the facts and assuming Dyson did not correspond in a smart, kind, business manner with the politicians and others.  He did.  And he backed it up with much money and time too.  Look around, do you see any other inventors that have been asked by the British Government to build such a school?

The project was doomed from the beginning due to the unelected "Heritage" powers (servants to historical structures, not building economies, etc.) that had much say in the matter.  These delay tactics worked, eventually the Government (federal?) gave up and pulled out, Dyson then voiced his frustrated concerns for his countries lack of inventiveness and influencing kids (future students) to this end.

After Sir James was treated grievously early on in the developing process, I was surprised to see him continue to trust (the city officials and powers) that it would all work out (for the kids).  The City of Bath's greater majority mostly wanted the school in their city, it was the old buildings and constructing new buildings that were at issue (from what I understood, it is an old, quite city).  The City of Swindon’s mayor (if memory is correct) scoffed in disbelief at how the City of Bath was treating Sir James and tried to woo Mr. Dyson to his city.  But Dyson had his heart set on Bath.

The only pulse a politician has a feel for in these modern times are results from polling and alike.  The intuitive or God-led or greater-good and not poll-driven politician is now a rare breed.

DIB

Much pent up hostility.  And naivete.  A simple fact:  Historical significance always trumps all other causes.  Nothing is more sacrosanct than history.  James chose the wrong site.  Basta, end of story.  Blame it on poor advice and/or lack of planning.  Whatever.  James didn't know when to cut his losses [contra rotating washer].  When defeat is inevitable, accept it graciously. 

On a similar note, follow the "Trumpster's" efforts and actions to get a luxury golf course/retreat in the historic wild life preserve of Ireland's serene untouched countryside.  Do you think inventing is creating business opportunities from scratch where no one else dares to tread?  Like say Las Vegas?    It takes guts, gusto and a get it done attitude.  MOST IMPORTANTLY, business smarts.  The Donald has it!  

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Carmine,

Your professor was dead wrong of “wait[ing]”, but of course he is an insurance man and is subject to an insurance mans mentality.  After he misinformed a young person (you), did he then try to convince you of the infinite and sweet upsides to the many worthless insurance products he sold/once sold.

DIB

Hello DIB:

His point was you can't sit back and wait.  You have to get out and sell. 

He was not in the sales end, he was part of upper management.  Tho, he held sales persons in all fields in the highest esteem.

I wasn't so young at the time.  I was one of the older crowd in class.  He respected and liked me because I was in business before becoming a college student. 

Carmine D.

DysonInventsBig wrote:

Thanks for pointing this change out. The use of Flash to present information like this is usually tedious at best, but this Dyson example is quite good.

There's lots of stuff there that even a borderline Dyson obsessive like myself didn't know. If you're new to the world of Dyson, you could literally spend hours here.

Points :-

Videos of dust mites
http://www.dyson.co.uk/insidedyson/#dustmitezoo

See them move and everything!

Things we never launched
The Dyson tank vac:-
http://www.dyson.co.uk/insidedyson/#thingsweneverlaunched

Our family had a VAX 'tank' cleaner at about the time Dyson were looking in to this area. They were popular, the tagline from the TV adverts "The best selling vacuum cleaner that Washes, washes, washes...." True to the write up, the novelty of waiting until the summer to shampoo your carpets soon wore off.

DC06 robot vac
http://www.dyson.co.uk/insidedyson/#dc06

Really good segment, with a number of videos of the machine that haven't been seen before.

Inventions
http://www.dyson.co.uk/insidedyson/default.asp#inventions

Sound absorbent screens, developed by Dyson engineers to filter out human voices - crazy! Dunno about the implied fact that only James Dyson's thumbprint has access all areas around the HQ - but it's certainly true that the workforce as a whole is kept isolated. For example, if you were working in marketing on a certain product, you'd be allowed access to 'the basement' to talk to the people working on your product, but you wouldn't be able to see what else might be going on.

Research, design and development
http://www.dyson.co.uk/insidedyson/default.asp#rdd

Nice video - 'gotta love that giant robot arm!

Dyson HQ
http://www.dyson.co.uk/insidedyson/default.asp#dysonhq

'...there's no air conditioning - displacement ventilation is used to blow cool air in at floor level while warm air naturally rises and is dispersed through vents in the roof'

I remember some years back, the account of a journalist who turned up to interview James Dyson, who was witness to an air conditioning engineer protesting that it wasn't possible to do what James was asking. James was proclaiming "But we want FRESH air", before asking him to go off and think about it again. Clearly, it was somehow resolved!

I haven't been around for a months.. Anything new from Dyson regarding a Stick, Robotic vacuum and a washing machine?

During the recent  HSN airing of DC21, the dyson Dave guy stated several times that dyson is not just a vacuum inventor but a problem solutions inventor.  He followed the statement with the stat that dyson's work force is comprised one third of engineers and has filed over 635 patents.  Sounds like a patent record.

Carmine D.