Steven Johnson's new book 'Where good ideas come from' argues against the conventional idea of a sole genius having a sudden brainwave and creating a new invention. Rather, he says, at a certain time when most components and factors are ripe, people get together to take technology forward to the next step, often several people having the same idea in several places ('multiples') Pretty obvious stuff really when you come to think about it. It is interesting to look at the examples he gives though of each case: air conditiioning, natural selection etc.
He argues that the best way to encourage new ideas is therefore "to expand the range of your possible next moves – the perimeter of your potential – by exposing yourself to as much serendipity, as much argument and conversation, as many rival and related ideas as possible; to borrow, to repurpose, to recombine."
He argues that the best way to encourage new ideas is therefore "to expand the range of your possible next moves – the perimeter of your potential – by exposing yourself to as much serendipity, as much argument and conversation, as many rival and related ideas as possible; to borrow, to repurpose, to recombine."
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