Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques by Michalko Michael

Author:Michalko, Michael [Michalko, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-09-28T00:08:09.038000+00:00

SUMMARY

Multiply your ideas by multiplying the number and kind of people you talk to about your chal enge.

How would you describe the fol owing figure?

There are so many things in our world that we take for granted, noticing them only when they are brought to our attention. Why, for example, do we only see the figure as three groups of two lines each, rather than six single lines? It is because we have become experts at perceiving nearby elements as a group instead of as a row. We only realize this when it is pointed out that the lines can also be perceived as six single lines in a row.

In much the same way, we take so many things for granted in our fields that we can only notice this state of affairs when it is brought to our attention by someone outside our field.

A salesman for Panasonic hosted a birthday party for his son at which the children al played with sample camcorders. The salesman discussed the merits of the camcorders with some of his son’s friends and asked for their suggestions as to how they could be improved. One of his son’s friends said: “The camcorders are great, but where can I get one for left handers?” An obvious question, but apparently no one had marketed a camcorder with a viewfinder that swivels to accommodate both right-handed and left-handed people. Panasonic does now. It immediately came out with a camcorder cal ed “The Switch-hitter.”

By talking to strangers outside your field, you’l get the kind of creative fiber you can’t get from your breakfast cereal.

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