Pecha kucha where good ideas come from

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Where Good Ideas Come From Where Good Ideas Come From The Natural History of Innovation The Natural History of Innovation by Steven Johnson by Steven Johnson A Pecha Kucha Presentation A Pecha Kucha Presentation by Laura Comppen by Laura Comppen

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This is a video based upon the book, Where Good Ideas Come From

Transcript of Pecha kucha where good ideas come from

Page 1: Pecha kucha   where good ideas come from

Where Good Ideas Come Where Good Ideas Come FromFromThe Natural History of InnovationThe Natural History of Innovation by Steven Johnsonby Steven Johnson

A Pecha Kucha PresentationA Pecha Kucha Presentation by Laura Comppenby Laura Comppen

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What is a ‘good idea’? What is a ‘good idea’?

The WheelThe Wheel

Sliced BreadSliced Bread

Toilet PaperToilet Paper

The InternetThe Internet

They’re all good ideas!!They’re all good ideas!!

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Many good ideas start from old Many good ideas start from old fashioned contemplation and are often fashioned contemplation and are often inspired by nature, inspired by nature,

such as ‘Darwin’s such as ‘Darwin’s Paradox’ -Paradox’ -

his scientific his scientific observations of observations of coral coral reefs in reefs in the Keeling the Keeling Islands Islands in 1836.in 1836.

What sparks a good idea?

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Some good ideas are inspired Some good ideas are inspired by other good ideas.by other good ideas.

Modern neonatal Modern neonatal incubators were incubators were inspired by a inspired by a chicken exhibit at chicken exhibit at the Paris Zoo in the Paris Zoo in the late 1870’s.the late 1870’s.

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In developing countries, In developing countries, where technology is scarce, where technology is scarce, neonatal incubators are neonatal incubators are built with automobile parts built with automobile parts for easy and accessible for easy and accessible repair.repair.

Some good ideas Some good ideas are influenced by culture.are influenced by culture.

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Sandals Sandals fashioned from fashioned from used tires are a used tires are a true testament to true testament to human ingenuity.human ingenuity.

Some good ideas Some good ideas are recycled from old ones.are recycled from old ones.

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Scientists theorize that life on earth Scientists theorize that life on earth began as a series of molecules known began as a series of molecules known as the ‘primordial soup’; which combined as the ‘primordial soup’; which combined to form proteins, later to form proteins, later forming the boundaries of forming the boundaries of cells - leading to the onset cells - leading to the onset of human life on earth. of human life on earth.

Some good ideas - such as life Some good ideas - such as life as we know it - are borne as we know it - are borne

from biology.from biology.

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Good ideas can develop Good ideas can develop through the ‘adjacent possible’.through the ‘adjacent possible’. Like a series of doors in a Like a series of doors in a

room, change and room, change and innovation can be ‘opened’ innovation can be ‘opened’ through the adjacent through the adjacent possible…ideas built upon possible…ideas built upon on the present state of things. A on the present state of things. A biological example of this would be species, biological example of this would be species, such as dinosaurs, evolving new bones to such as dinosaurs, evolving new bones to adapt to their environment, which ultimately adapt to their environment, which ultimately led to wings and flight.led to wings and flight.

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The ‘adjacent possible’ The ‘adjacent possible’ has its limitations. has its limitations.

Although creative Although creative potential is unleashed potential is unleashed through the ‘adjacent through the ‘adjacent possible’, there is a possible’, there is a finite number of finite number of prospects available. prospects available. Think of it as the Think of it as the number of recipes number of recipes available using only available using only cake mix ingredients.cake mix ingredients.

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Insight is often inspired by contemplation with Insight is often inspired by contemplation with naturenature

Liquid networks are fertile ground for innovationLiquid networks are fertile ground for innovation

Forward thinking people interacting Forward thinking people interacting within high-density populationswithin high-density populations

True insight takes time to True insight takes time to cultivatecultivate

Hunches that collide with other Hunches that collide with other hunches = good ideas hunches = good ideas

Good ideas share similar patterns.

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Good ideas share similar Good ideas share similar developmental timelines.developmental timelines.

Twentieth century Twentieth century innovation followed the innovation followed the 10/10 rule: a decade to 10/10 rule: a decade to build a new platform, and a build a new platform, and a decade for it to find a new decade for it to find a new audience. Think AM radio, audience. Think AM radio, VCR’s, and cell phones.VCR’s, and cell phones.

Today’s time frame may be Today’s time frame may be shorter. Think Facebook shorter. Think Facebook and YouTube.and YouTube.

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Good ideas can be influenced Good ideas can be influenced by environment.by environment.

Big cities foster more exploration of the adjacent possible Big cities foster more exploration of the adjacent possible than towns or villages. A great example of this is the than towns or villages. A great example of this is the Renaissance… a period of tremendous artistic and scientific Renaissance… a period of tremendous artistic and scientific growth stemming from the great minds collaborating in growth stemming from the great minds collaborating in Venice, Florence and Genoa, the largest cities in Italy at the Venice, Florence and Genoa, the largest cities in Italy at the time.time.

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A good idea develops A good idea develops in a network.in a network.

Like ingredients mixing Like ingredients mixing together in a recipe, a together in a recipe, a ‘liquid network’ ‘liquid network’ enables the enables the ingredients to collide ingredients to collide and make new and make new connections, forming a connections, forming a sum greater than its sum greater than its parts. parts.

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Hunches can be quick and instinctual; or develop Hunches can be quick and instinctual; or develop over a longer period of time. over a longer period of time.

Important innovation is likely to take place when Important innovation is likely to take place when hunches collide with other hunches.hunches collide with other hunches.

Darwin’s theory of natural Darwin’s theory of natural selection began selection began with a hunch.with a hunch.

Good ideas can be intuitive.Good ideas can be intuitive.

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Hunches, combined with serendiptous Hunches, combined with serendiptous dreams can blossom into a good idea, dreams can blossom into a good idea, even significant scientific discovery.even significant scientific discovery.

Serendipity can play a role Serendipity can play a role in developing good ideas. in developing good ideas.

German chemist Kekule von Stradonitz’ dreams about Greek mythology became a basis for a revolution in organic chemistry.

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When developing a good When developing a good idea, a steady persistent idea, a steady persistent accumulation of error can accumulation of error can translate into success. In translate into success. In other words, being incredibly other words, being incredibly wrong can lead to being wrong can lead to being overwhelmingly right!overwhelmingly right!

Error can factor into Error can factor into developing good ideas.developing good ideas.

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Good ideas Good ideas are built upon platforms.are built upon platforms.

Discoveries frequently Discoveries frequently come from existing areas come from existing areas (platforms) and turn out (platforms) and turn out many mass-appeal ideas: many mass-appeal ideas: Early microwave Early microwave technology > current technology > current Global Positioning System, Global Positioning System, or or GPSGPS - -

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Good ideas come from many sources, have Good ideas come from many sources, have much in common and share similar traits and much in common and share similar traits and timelines. But the true key of invention lies timelines. But the true key of invention lies back within Darwin’s Paradox: the back within Darwin’s Paradox: the

ability to collaborate; ability to collaborate; as this is where ideas as this is where ideas emerge, collide, and emerge, collide, and recombine…often to recombine…often to

great success.great success.

Good ideas surround us.Good ideas surround us.

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Where Good Ideas Come FromWhere Good Ideas Come FromThe Natural History of InnovationThe Natural History of Innovation

by Steven Johnsonby Steven JohnsonNew York: Penguin GroupNew York: Penguin Group

20102010

All images courtesy of Google ImagesAll images courtesy of Google Imageswww.google.comwww.google.com

Good ideas are inspired Good ideas are inspired by postgraduate reading material.by postgraduate reading material.