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How many times can you hear the word "innovation" in a day before your brain damn near explodes? Prepare to gather your meninges. According to BusinessWeek, "a chorus of voices is calling for an end to the hype--and a focus on the fundamentals that drive real bottom-line-boosting innovation." The article investigates what this word really means and how it can be measured.

Consumers, businesses, and designers alike might bemoan the constant repetition of "innovation" in advertising, marketing plans, boardroom meetings, and brainstorming sessions. But the quest for products designed with improved usability or fueled by fresh new technologies, true innovations, won't soon end. As experts are starting to prescribe, innovative products can continue to drive profits if pursued with ROI, rather than marketing, in mind.

For some backlash variety, make sure to check out, "Beware the Backlash: A rising tide of disaffection towards design," by Kevin McCullagh.