What does this Thomas Edison quote mean?

Question

"your idea has to be original only in its adaptation to the problem you're working on." PLZZZZZ HELP!

~thx

Answer 1

the same concept/idea can be implemented in different problems, but of course in the different ways,

coz every problems is unique, so you need to

adjust the idea to the given problem....

in the end it comes as an original one, a unique one..

i guess...

Answer 2

i think it means that you have a new way of looking at a old problem....that is, you have a new perspective of viewing the problem....as alan kay (computer scientist) once said : "...perspective is worth 50 IQ points"

Answer 3

Many of us have the same idea about what problems need solving.  It becomes original when you develop something new and different to solve the problem.

This is the mean I read into it.  I have not studied Thomas Edison.

Answer 4

The idea you employ may be  an old one that has been used in some other fashion but it is a new technique in its application to the problem you are trying to solve.