# Innovation in both the late 19th and early 21st century was tinkering based Both 1850-1900 and 1980-2020 innovations were tinkering based. This might explain the acquisition-based innovation markets. But the difference is that in 1980-2020 the tinkering is less get a thing to do a thing, and more get a computer to interact with people. ### Related - [[Publishing version of notes on the changing structure of American Innovation]] - [[There are four different levers of innovation]] - [[There are four different players in an innovation ecosystem]] - [[The Most Famous Loop - Article]]