Context:
Thomas Edison's process of experimenting with the light bulb was a highly systematic form of trial and error. Edison's search was highly focused because he had realized the need for the proper filament early in his experimenting; and Edison was no stranger to trial and error experimenting. Although later successful, Edison's work with the storage battery is a clear example of this. His tests included nearly 10,000 experiments, all failed, yet Edison concluded, "
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work".