I wrote a couple of months ago about the Amazon Echo, the latest piece of hardware to emerge from the South Lake Union headquarters of one my city's largest employers. A piece of hardware that follows in the wake of the successful Amazon Kindle and the failed Amazon Fire Phone. The Amazon Echo aims to get you to put a computer in the center of your living room and...

The economic outlook for 2015 is, by most accounts, "slightly better than 2014." That, of course, depends on what industry you're in. For some, that outlook could be a lot better with an injection of good, old fashioned innovation. Here is my short list of five industries most ripe for innovation in 2015.

2015 how can you best create an eco-system that allows today’s talent to flourish among Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Flux?

Just like his beloved grandfather, Avi Reichental is a maker of things. The difference is, now he can use 3D printers to make almost anything, out of almost any material. Reichental tours us through the possibilities of 3D printing, for everything from printed candy to highly custom sneakers.

Conventionalism, risk aversion and complacency kill innovation and entrepreneurship. Through our education, from kindergarten to grad school, then through our professional lives, we have been shaped in the same mold, even though we hear here and there that we need to “think outside the box”, that box being only aimed to fit into a bigger box, like the Russian dolls.

Change happens. It doesn't care whether you like it or not. Change doesn't need your permission. Change is the one constant in business. What you decide to do with change is up to you.

Don Wettrick is on a mission: revolutionizing the world of education by training the next generation of innovators.

If you read Innovation Excellence regularly, you know that we've discussed the Maker Movement several times. So we're happy to bring you The Grommet's take on what they are certain is not just a passing trend. Here is their visual representation of the Maker Movement; its impact on consumer products, manufacturing, retail, and our economy as a whole; and their commentary to go with it:

We invite you to our weekly interactive forum — to read and collect your comments on “An Innovator has an Obligation to…” We hope you’ll join the conversation!

FABERNOVEL is digging the gold out of the crowdfunding mine. Read on to find out more about the latest technological gems and trends that are emerging on our favorite crowdfunding platforms.