1. Have you ever seen or used a Super Soaker? It was invented by Lonnie Johnson, a former rocket scientist. It's a story of design, innovation, culture & racism and more... 
2. He was born in Mobile, Alabama. His Dad taught him to fix electronics and build with his hands. Senior yr of high school (1968) he built a propane powered robot with a tape recorder for memory, at the University of Alabama. He won. But there was no interest from the school.
3. This was just 5 years after Alabama state governor Wallace refused to let black students into a school. JFK had to call the national guard to let them in (and enforce the Brown v. Board of Education decision).
4. Instead he attended Tuskegee University on a scholoarship and got a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a masters in nuclear engineering. He explains:
5. He continued to invent and tinker in his spare time, and that's where the idea for a water gun came from.
In 1982 He expirmented with a non CFC-cooling system - and by accident it shot a stream clear across the room. Giving him the idea - But he didn't build it. Not yet.
In 1982 He expirmented with a non CFC-cooling system - and by accident it shot a stream clear across the room. Giving him the idea - But he didn't build it. Not yet.
6. Often invention stories like this are explained as "discovered by accident." But that's a terrible framing of what goes on. It's an "accident" most people would throw away that these inventors instead decide to pivot towards. Few ppl do this.
scottberkun.com/2016/creativit…
scottberkun.com/2016/creativit…
7. Eventually he built a prototype. And wisely chose to do an early field test.
He gave it to his young daughter and watched her play with her friends. She dominated! "They couldn't even get close to her with their little squirt guns".
He gave it to his young daughter and watched her play with her friends. She dominated! "They couldn't even get close to her with their little squirt guns".
8. He also did another field test, this time with his boss who was a Major.
"What is that Johnson?" I said, "This is my water gun, sir." And he said, "It looks strange - does it work?"
LJ shot him in the face. And a big waterfight ensued! Water, beer, everything was fair game.
"What is that Johnson?" I said, "This is my water gun, sir." And he said, "It looks strange - does it work?"
LJ shot him in the face. And a big waterfight ensued! Water, beer, everything was fair game.
9. After some rejections and many itterations he found a company to partner with. It was originally called the Power Drencher.
It was more expensive than most other water guns. But better designed. It was the Apple of water weaponry (went after high-end of the tech market).
It was more expensive than most other water guns. But better designed. It was the Apple of water weaponry (went after high-end of the tech market).
10. There was some controversy over their use as kids would spray people who were "unarmed". A reporter once serously asked LJ "Super Soakers are being used in drive-by shootings... [do you have a] comment."
He said "Well… you know… I think we should have more of that."
He said "Well… you know… I think we should have more of that."
10. It did well and with marketing support and a new name the rest was history. There are 170+ different models based on his patents, generating over $1bil in sales.
(Photo of Gabriel Nyantakyi, a Super Soaker fan, who founded Waterarms over Firearms waterarms.org)
(Photo of Gabriel Nyantakyi, a Super Soaker fan, who founded Waterarms over Firearms waterarms.org)
11. With his profits he started a scientific research lab, working on environmentally conscious batteries and engines.
"So it's really only thanks to the Super Soaker and Nerf guns that I have been able to develop the ceramic battery and the J-TEC."
"So it's really only thanks to the Super Soaker and Nerf guns that I have been able to develop the ceramic battery and the J-TEC."
12. He uses his story to help kids, the primary users of his invention, to think about how it was made and how they can be creators too.
11. With his profits he started a scientific research lab, working on environmentally conscious batteries and engines.
"So it's really only thanks to the Super Soaker and Nerf guns that I have been able to develop the ceramic battery and the J-TEC."
"So it's really only thanks to the Super Soaker and Nerf guns that I have been able to develop the ceramic battery and the J-TEC."
12. He uses his story to help kids, the primary users of his invention, to think about how it was made and how they can be creators too.
