"Bigger Data" Visualization to Visual Analytics: a path to Innovation. "Happening, definitely! Misleading, possibly?" A review of some examples applicable to IP Discovery

An image is worth a thousand words. This is a common adage which may have to be revisited. The query "Eiffel Tower" yields about 60 million images using GoogleTM search engine. These words combined with "steel structure" score about 20 000 images. The power of images is paramount. With about 80 million enforceable patent documents, a large number containing images, one may wonder whether the adapted tools to exploit this image databank are available and used. Adding three dimensional activation of patent drawings by means of computer aided design would likely return creative amazements with large potential for innovation. In 2010 ideators filed approximately 2 million new patent applications around the world. These patents tend to contain more readily exploitable images.Combinatorial, associative or intersecting approaches, as illustrated in the introduction, are definitely a major source of inspiration for innovation, moreover disruptive. What about the "Big Data" necessity? Can the 60-70's technology wonders, such as PCs, Biotech, Mechatronics, further evolve today without the "Big Data" component? Big data approach is definitely not common in the IP domain; matter of legal fears or lack of adapted tools? The question will anyway probably not slow-up the advent of Big Data in a broad fashion in many areas. Inclusive innovation, with a goal to serve beyond the development mainstream, encompasses more consumer data therefore Big Data analysis too. Inclusive, open and disruptive innovation modes are pending on good and clear visualization of the trends, initially partly or mostly technological.This chapter, as part of a series on innovation, attempts to answer some questions related to the above matter and provides insight in the visualization technical status and its potential and direct applicability to IP analysis, and IP discovery in general. Visual analytics, although not developed, are integrated in the horizon of a bigger data analysis bringing additional questions such as:Beyond the classical synergy -additive- equation, is there a potential for multiplying the ideation outputs?Furthermore, is there presently too much emphasis engaged on the data itself, rather than the analytical trends and the acumens that can be produced? Are the available tools, such as for extraction, suitable?