Creative Thinking :Creative Thinking 1 of 21 Creative Thinking © Steve Whitmore & Mike Sjoerdsma January 2008 “You can’t depend upon your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” –Mark Twain


Learning Objectives :Creative Thinking 2 of 21 Learning Objectives At the end of this module, you will understand some alternative approaches to creative thinking: Problem Posing Problem Solving


Inventions :Creative Thinking 3 of 21 Inventions What is the most important invention in the past 2000 years? Scientific method, civil rights, rudders on boats, western classical music, space travel, laser, transistor, hay, internet, steel, moveable type, antibiotics, atomic bomb, steam engine, the clock, television, idea of free will, unconscious mind, birth control, internal combustion engine, education . . .


Inventions :Creative Thinking 4 of 21 Inventions “The question is impossible to answer with one thing; one could for instance say with some justification “the germ theory of disease” but then that goes back to the microscope -- otherwise no one would ever have seen a germ -- and that to the lens, and eyeglasses may be as important as germs . . . and so on.” -Philip W. Anderson “There is no such thing as the single most important invention of the last two thousand years. The evolution of technology doesn't work like that. It's a web of ideas, not a zero-sum game.” -Howard Rheingold


Some Bad News :Creative Thinking 5 of 21 Some Bad News Research indicates that pre-school children are incredible engines of creativity. Consider, for example, what a child can do with a blanket, a table, and a cardboard tube – defend a fort or ride a unicorn – whole new worlds where anything is possible. Measured levels of creativity then decline throughout elementary and secondary school. Perhaps this decline has something to do with the expectation by adults that children adhere to certain structures, rules of conduct, and patterns of thinking. By the time people get to university, many are about as creative as rocks.


Creativity :Creative Thinking 6 of 21 Creativity Mature creativity is not innate nor does it arise from mystical inspiration. It comes from observation of the world around us with a “what-if” attitude – a willingness to suspend our dependence upon rules – a view that anything is possible. Observing nature Focused meditation Role playing Free writing Journal writing Problem posing


Problem Posing :Creative Thinking 7 of 21 Problem Posing Baby Monitor Heart Monitor Things you can improve: Reduce cost, size, complexity Increase reliability, lifetime, user interface


Observing Nature :Creative Thinking 8 of 21 Observing Nature Whitcomb Judson, inventor of the zipper in 1893 Did it arise from observing how feathers are held together? George de Mestrel, inventor of velcro in 1948 Observed how the burrs of certain plants adhere to clothing and animal fur. Andrew & Steve, inventors of SSTF (Slug Slime Thin Film) After characterizing the electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of slug slime, they found that only slugs have a use for it.


Focused Meditation :Creative Thinking 9 of 21 Focused Meditation Put on relaxing music. Find a comfortable chair or lie on the floor. Close eyes, and breathe slowly and deeply. Relax muscles in body, starting with face and moving through the torso down to the legs. Visualize ideas in your mind as clouds slowly passing by on a sunny day. Switch focus to the particular problem or idea you want to consider. Look at it from various perspectives as if it were a cloud floating by. Later record any insights or ideas that occur.


Role Playing :Creative Thinking 10 of 21 Role Playing Imagination is limited by our experiences. Overcome this by seeking out new experiences. Example: Learn how to best design products for the blind by wearing a blindfold at home for a few hours. Or spend a day in a wheelchair up at SFU to appreciate the difficulties faced by the physically disabled. Talk with your intended user group


Free Writing & Brainstorming :Creative Thinking 11 of 21 Free Writing & Brainstorming OK So I need to write about brainstorming. Usually its done in a group but not always sometimes individual. Works best in a group though people feed off each others creativity especially if they have different backgrounds – social professional – etc. So how does it work as a group - get people together for a time period ½ to 1 hour - anything goes. no criticism – insane crazy ideas are ok - need to ensure nobody gets censored though so need a group leader to facilitate stuff. should also record - Also good to later sort out ideas by being critical and further exploring them But the biggest point is to make sure there is no criticism & that people can come up with all sorts of ideas. Should also be fun laughing – sort of like a creative party with stuff written on the blackboard


Informal Journals :Creative Thinking 12 of 21 Informal Journals


Formal Engineering Journals :Creative Thinking 13 of 21 Formal Engineering Journals


Problem Posing :Creative Thinking 14 of 21 Problem Posing Observe how existing industrial, commercial, or consumer products and systems work. Note when some device or system irritates you (coin rollers). Analyze the purpose of existing products or systems with an eye to finding inefficiencies or problems. Analyze the nature of the problem by considering whether solving the problem is physically possible. Determine how best to improve the product or how to resolve or restate the problem. Consider how to develop and market the product (is solving the problem fiscally possible?).


Problem-Solving Heuristics :Creative Thinking 15 of 21 Problem-Solving Heuristics Create analogies Generate contraries Synthesize ideas Research the Literature Problem-solving heuristics are structured methods that allow one to discover new information or unexpected solutions to problems:


Create Analogies :Creative Thinking 16 of 21 Create Analogies X is like Y – a very powerful technique Static (or particle) perspective ( i.e., How do jet engines work?) Dynamic (or wave) perspective (i.e., Historical changes in jet engine design) Relative (or field) perspective (i.e., How are jet engines like rocket engines – vectored thrust)


Generate Contraries :Creative Thinking 17 of 21 Generate Contraries Thinking Inside the Box (Thesis) Thinking Outside the Box (Antithesis) Praise success and praise failure Praise success and punish failure


Synthesize Ideas :Creative Thinking 18 of 21 Synthesize Ideas The First Post-It-Note (Art Fry) AKA: Serendipity “Chance favours the prepared mind.” –Louis Pasteur


Research the Literature :Creative Thinking 19 of 21 Research the Literature See what other people have to say about the problem. Friends and colleagues? The web? Popular press? Libraries? Databases? www.lib.sfu.ca IEEE INSPEC SPIE scholar.google.com


Phrases that Kill Creativity :Creative Thinking 20 of 21 Phrases that Kill Creativity We tried that before. It costs too much. It’s too radical a change. Let’s get back to reality. You’re right, but . . . . Not that again. We did all right without it. Let’s form a committee. It can’t be done. Quit dreaming. NO! Et cetera


Conclusion :Creative Thinking 21 of 21 Conclusion “Computer are useless. They can only give you answers.” –Pablo Picasso “To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” –Thomas Edison