Comprehension Questions

1. How can you explain the term adaptation?

2. What is an innovation?

3. Give your own examples of innovations and adaptations.

4. Why are many innovations and adaptations manufactured and marketed by small businesses?

5. Why is it so important to obtain a patent?

6. Why does the failure of a new product take place?

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise 1. Choose the necessary word and put it in the sentence.

1. Though market research tries to predict the trends, there is no sure...	1 adaptation
2. This product isn't original, it is an...	2 innovation
3.... office receives applications from many young inventors.	3 inadequate
4. If the price is..., the product won't be sold out.	4 patent
5. A clock-television is an adaptation but the television itself is an...	5 failure
6. If a sure... is stopped, money and time I can be saved.	6 success
7. They failed because of... promotion campaign.	7 unreasonable

Dialogue

(Dick and Jack are having lunch. Dick is Vice President in charge of Product Development. And Jack is Vice President in charge of the Legal Department).

Dick How are the things?

Jack Great. We are busy with a new line of clock-television.

Dick Sounds interesting. Are you going to apply for a patent soon?

Jack Yes, we are. We are preparing the necessary papers now.

Dick And what did the Market Research say by the way?

Jack They think there is fair market for the product at the moment but it will take a

few years to catch on.

Dick I see. We'll have to turn a good promotional campaign.

Jack Without doubt.

Dick Well, it will be our advantage to have the patent on it as well. You have decided on the size, haven't you?

Jack We'll start with a small screen model. It will have a wake-up button and go-to-sleep button with timers. Market Research says that the automatic go-to-sleep button may be the bigger selling point.

Dick Yes. The idea of a set that turns itself off is great. To tell you the truth I'm always falling asleep in the middle of the show. Now it can be done.

Jack Well. In future we'll probably expand the line to include different size screens and colour.

Dick That's good.

Jack I think we are close to a big success.

Dick That is why we must be very careful. Before we begin to market television we must fulfil the most complete testing.

Jack You are right.

Dick What about the pricing? Has it been worked out?

Jack Not completely. Market Research Department says we can't have too high price on this kind of item.

Dick It's evident we must be very careful. Maybe this time consumers will really surprise us.

Jack Let's hope for the best.