> Hamming's essay isn't about inventing something no-one's come up with before.

Really? I wonder why the title is "You and your research"? You think he is talking about inventing things that someone has come up with before?

Let's look at wiki for research: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research

Research and experimental development is formal work undertaken systematically to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications

> Hamming's essay is about doing great work, solving important problems, and having significance.

No, that is your essay.