You invented a lot of what I'm using this very instant to compose this message.
I yearn to do great works of engineering and art, which I consider what you have done.
How do you come up with ideas?
replies(2):
I yearn to do great works of engineering and art, which I consider what you have done.
How do you come up with ideas?
What he said was important was to have a big horizon, at least 10 years. Anything less would not do.
Then envision what should be possible in that time. "It would be ridiculous if $X wasn't possible in $Y years" and then backtrack on what would technically be required to make that happen.
Rinse repeat. He said that with good company support and a good team, you often found yourself delivering at half that time none the less (but again, you should never constrain yourself to that little, or else you will stress towards performing, instead of thinking properly about the problems needing to be solved).
Alan: Hope I didn't butcher your message too much :)
[1] I think it might be this one, but I honestly haven't checked. See it anyway. It's a good talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdSD07U5uBs