Unusual Inventions - the Post it Note
by Startacus Admin
In the coming week or two, we launch the collaborative section on the Startacus site. So we thought it only fair to give a timely nod to perhaps one of the best collaborative offline tools invented - the post it note.
Where would we be without post it notes?
Probably scribbling on pieces of paper I would imagine. However, the lowly post it note, the antithesis of the paperless office, can be used to allow ‘collaborative thinking and doing’ to be recorded and (more 
importantly) stuck and displayed at a second’s notice. Brainstorming and thinking outside of the box as a team, would certainly be less attractive without the post it note me thinks! But what is its’ story? Well....it so happens that the invention is a collaborative tale too...
The story goes that back in the 60’s, Dr Spencer Silver, a chemist at 3M in the States, had invented (by mistake) a low stick adhesive. For 5 years the Doctor pushed this new adhesive to little avail - the thinking was that a not-that-strong glue would not really stick with the glue buying public.
Anyhow, a colleague of Silver, Art Fry, who had attended one of the Doctor’s Seminars, realised the potential of the not-that-sticky adhesive, as a solution to keeping his bookmark placed in his hymn book. Bingo - the ethos of the post-it note was born.
A few trials later and a name change from press n’ peel, the post-it note went on general sale.
For those of us who cannot get our heads around the idea of a paperless office, and love a little scribble or doodle, the post it note is our offline memory and collaborative saviour, so we say a big high five to Dr Spencer Silver and Art Fry for having the tenacity to keep at it.
If Startacus’ collaborative space is half as successful we will be very very happy.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Workplace discrimination and failure to address social mobility costs UK economy £270bn per year according to research by graduate recruitment platform Debut.
dip is a free to download and free to use shopping companion app that shows users relevant high street deals based on their hyper-location.
The EdTech startup aiming to connect inspirational teachers with those looking for something a little different
Stigma around mental health struggles and burnout is costing the UK economy £1.4bn a year through unexplained sick days.
The UK leads Europe and are fourth in the world for scaleup investment after US, China and India, according to the Tech Nation Report for 2019.
Currently in private beta, Paypal for Instagram Influencers XPO is a payment processing app that is aiming to make it simple and secure to pay influencers!
Weengs is a London based startup that's on a mission to simplify order fulfilment for small ecommerce businesses, helping business owners & e-sellers grow.
The portfolio and assessment platform that facilitates fast feedback and collaboration between teachers, students and parents.
Top technology investors have been named as part of a high calibre judging panel for upSTART, Digital DNA’s 2019 startup competition as the countdown for startups to apply begins.
EDF Energy’s innovation accelerator, Blue Lab are on the hunt for the best new ideas that could spark innovation in the energy sector.
Published on: 28th October 2012
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Stigma around mental health costs UK economy £1.4bn a year 15th May 2019 Stigma around mental health struggles and burnout is costing the UK economy £1.4bn a year through unexplained sick days.
- UK leads Europe in scaleup investment 13th May 2019 The UK leads Europe and are fourth in the world for scaleup investment after US, China and India, according to the Tech Nation Report for 2019.
- Energy Sector startups sought for EDF Energy’s 2019 Pulse Innovation Challenge 9th May 2019 EDF Energy’s innovation accelerator, Blue Lab are on the hunt for the best new ideas that could spark innovation in the energy sector.
- GovTech workspace to launch in London 30th Apr 2019 Workspace accelerator Huckletree and leading venture firm PUBLIC launches first GovTech workspace in Westminster, London.
