Woody Norris Invents Amazing Things - TED video

Woody Norris invents sound-related devices, one of which can target and channel sound to particular locations with a clearer more intense quality, calling it 'hypersonic sound'. He has marketed his invention, and sold it to the military, which uses it to create the sound of troops where there are none, thereby fooling the enemy. He has also sold sound devices to the ABC Network, Sony Entertainment ('Jabber' headphones), and Safeway Food Stores (for broadcasting advertisers). The science behind the invention is to create sound out in front of the source, not directly from the source itself, which can therefore amplify and purify the sound. He claims the concert industry could use it to assure a front row concertgoer hears the same sound quality as the backrow patron. The relevance of Norris' video talk to education is that he feels sometimes education closes peoples' minds to new and different, untried possibilities, because they feel that they've been taught the most recent innovations, and aren't willing to explore other possibilities. I think in some ways he is right, because education can channel students' thinking, much like the sound waves concept he has invented. It doesn't always promote divergent thinking, but may try to direct students' thoughts to one 'correct' answer. I would be interested in Norris' educational and employment background, just to see if he was more of a maverick and pursued his own ideas and ways of thinking. Very interesting video!