It’s funny the way that we innovate. Some people see something and then it leads them to think about something in a different way. I’ve seen many people in work while we are brainstorming problems suddenly get inspiration from the dumbest comment made by someone else. The case of the cardboard programmer, where you explain the problem as if to a third party and the problem becomes apparent. We get ideas from all areas and everyone seems to have their own ways of innovating and problem solving. Personally, I seem to solve all my problems in my sleep. I go to bed with an issue and I wake up with a way forward or a solution. I’m not the only one who does this either.
This one though is one I’ve never heard about. It seems that Ivan Vakarelski has worked out a new way to create LCD and plasma screen from something he saw in coffee rings. The ones you leave on tables when you put a cup down that has something on the bottom. Read here.
Isn’t the human brain marvellous. It will be what makes us improve ourselves. It makes us overcome our adversities and plan for the future. It makes us question things and see if there is a better way to do things. Cheaper, faster and preferably both with some new add ons. Whenever someone invents something there is always someone right behind them using that as a basis for a better version with enhancements.
Of course not all brains do this. Some never even think about everyday things and question if it makes sense and it isn’t just those with the high IQs that do the thinking. Many people with high IQs think in such a logical and basic way that they actually rarely come out with anything outside the box. I knew a guy when I was working in a thinktank who was really good at making things work. He had a very high IQ but he couldn’t think of them but once they were explained by people who had the basic ideas he engineered the product. Strange but it worked.
So next time you are in a lab and a guy seems asleep or engrossed in the way a fly walks across a window don’t think they are slacking. That might be someone just about to discover a cure for cancer. I learnt a long time ago not to try and enforce strict rules to people and groups that actually get the job done. You just interfere with how they problem solve.
Compare that with the problem solving that goes on in the public sector. Nothing outside the box. All to a hidden agenda. All toeing the party line. No brains going there but lots of useless short term output to make it seem as we are doing something. Now is that because of the rules in place in the public sector or because the public sector attracts a certain type of person? I’m going with the rules as the main culprit but I suspect it is a mixture of both and the public sector has a significant proportion of those who don’t want to think.
True innovation leads to productivity, progress and profit. The gaining of rewards leads to people innovating and not everything is monetary. Some people get their rewards from public acceptance and thanks and others from money. To each their own.
Anyway, I was wondering if there was a way we could teach ourselves how to think? Is there something hardwired into every brain that decides if you can do this or not or is it something we have and we can only use it if t is there? Is this something that could be taught at an early age so we benefited from the advantages of this way of thinking. Of course it would take us away from the concept of being ‘Alphas‘ so may not be wanted as much by some.
Personally I believe that it is taught at an early age and if you don’t get it then then the educational process we have won’t let you pick it up after then. Kids are very inquisitive and yet when they get to their teens their futures are pretty well mapped out for most of them although many things can change it as they get older.
I’m looking for some research on this but there doesn’t seem to be a lot out there.
Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level, and then beat you with experience. — Scott Adams
Triggering innovation
It’s funny the way that we innovate. Some people see something and then it leads them to think about something in a different way. I’ve seen many people in work while we are brainstorming problems suddenly get inspiration from the dumbest comment made by someone else. The case of the cardboard programmer, where you explain the problem as if to a third party and the problem becomes apparent. We get ideas from all areas and everyone seems to have their own ways of innovating and problem solving. Personally, I seem to solve all my problems in my sleep. I go to bed with an issue and I wake up with a way forward or a solution. I’m not the only one who does this either.
This one though is one I’ve never heard about. It seems that Ivan Vakarelski has worked out a new way to create LCD and plasma screen from something he saw in coffee rings. The ones you leave on tables when you put a cup down that has something on the bottom. Read here.
Isn’t the human brain marvellous. It will be what makes us improve ourselves. It makes us overcome our adversities and plan for the future. It makes us question things and see if there is a better way to do things. Cheaper, faster and preferably both with some new add ons. Whenever someone invents something there is always someone right behind them using that as a basis for a better version with enhancements.
Of course not all brains do this. Some never even think about everyday things and question if it makes sense and it isn’t just those with the high IQs that do the thinking. Many people with high IQs think in such a logical and basic way that they actually rarely come out with anything outside the box. I knew a guy when I was working in a thinktank who was really good at making things work. He had a very high IQ but he couldn’t think of them but once they were explained by people who had the basic ideas he engineered the product. Strange but it worked.
So next time you are in a lab and a guy seems asleep or engrossed in the way a fly walks across a window don’t think they are slacking. That might be someone just about to discover a cure for cancer. I learnt a long time ago not to try and enforce strict rules to people and groups that actually get the job done. You just interfere with how they problem solve.
Compare that with the problem solving that goes on in the public sector. Nothing outside the box. All to a hidden agenda. All toeing the party line. No brains going there but lots of useless short term output to make it seem as we are doing something. Now is that because of the rules in place in the public sector or because the public sector attracts a certain type of person? I’m going with the rules as the main culprit but I suspect it is a mixture of both and the public sector has a significant proportion of those who don’t want to think.
True innovation leads to productivity, progress and profit. The gaining of rewards leads to people innovating and not everything is monetary. Some people get their rewards from public acceptance and thanks and others from money. To each their own.
Anyway, I was wondering if there was a way we could teach ourselves how to think? Is there something hardwired into every brain that decides if you can do this or not or is it something we have and we can only use it if t is there? Is this something that could be taught at an early age so we benefited from the advantages of this way of thinking. Of course it would take us away from the concept of being ‘Alphas‘ so may not be wanted as much by some.
Personally I believe that it is taught at an early age and if you don’t get it then then the educational process we have won’t let you pick it up after then. Kids are very inquisitive and yet when they get to their teens their futures are pretty well mapped out for most of them although many things can change it as they get older.
I’m looking for some research on this but there doesn’t seem to be a lot out there.