The above Animate talk was created with Riverhead Books to promote and celebrate the publication of Steven Johnson's latest book, Where Good Ideas Come From.
Steven Johnson maps out the story of how humanity generates ideas and innovations and concludes that,
"individuals have better ideas if they're connected to rich, diverse networks of other individuals. If you put yourself in an environment with lots of different perspectives, you yourself are going to have better, sharper, more original ideas. It's not that the network is smart. It's that you are smarter because you're connected to the network." (From Salon Interview)
Accepting that modern technologies allows for multi-tasking lifestyles and constant distractions he also posits that these same technologies allow for increased connectivity and are, in themselves, drivers for creative ideas, innovation, and invention. As he says, "Chance favours the connected mind." So, like Norman, Steven Johnson believes there are many positives that we enjoy due to our increased ability to interact no matter where we live or work. As Norman says, "throughout the last one hundred years, as technologies have changed, the importance of communication has remained high on the list of essentials." (p. 148) Obviously, for Steven Johnson, it seems that only good things can come from an ever increasing variety of ways to communicate and connect, along with technologies that reduce barriers for sharing ideas, 'hunches,' and blossoming synergy.
I agree with Norman that in the past "people who separated physically would often separate socially and emotionally as well." (P. 149) When my family first emigrated to Canada the cost of a telephone call to England was prohibitive and therefore the normal mode of communication to keep in touch with our physically distant family was by writing letters and then going to the post office to mail them. Over time this became tedious and did nothing to retain a sense of close family ties, although we tried. Today, I communicate with our daughter, Collette, who lives in Ottawa, through video chat - at no cost! We are able to reduce that 'social and emotional' distance by not only talking with, but seeing each other. It is indeed a wonderful thing! We are even in the process of setting up a free Skype account for my parents so that they too can talk and see their other daughter and related family who are still far away in England. To keep in touch with friends within the city of Liverpool (where I was born) used to cost quite a lot per call. Now, our daughter Corrina calls me every day for a quick chat, and we don't have to consider the expense! Again, how wonderful! I can attest to the comment, "The ability to keep in touch throughout the day maintains a relationship, whether it be business or social." (Norman p. 151) And my family has yet to embrace texting - although iChat is becoming popular for us!
However, I hope that I never forget "that one person's 'keeping in touch' is another person's interruption." (Norman p. 153) Too often I have been enjoying a face-to-face conversation with someone, trusting that they too are amenable to the chat, only to find that suddenly your special time together has been usurped by the ever needy cellphone: it doesn't seem to matter who is on the other end! Or else, you are watching a movie or theater production and suddenly someone's needy communication tool wants attention. We have all witnessed this I know. I agree that "the person engaged in the cell phone conversation feels emotionally satisfied, while the other feels ignored and distanced, emotionally upset." (p.153)
A new phenomena I have experienced is what I will call the "In group" and "Out group" SmartPhone culture. It seems that those with this type of technology are, as a group, taken with comparing, sharing, and playing with the technology: almost individually participating in a group experience, if you will. The participants appear unaware of others within the social set that do not have such products - a similar diemma to the telephone snafus mentioned above.
As for distracted in the car!
As Norman emphasizes, "your visceral and behavioral levels of processing still function well, but not the reflective, the home of planning and anticipating." (p. 155) I have witnessed this too often on roads such as the high speed Deerfoot Trail, here in Calgary. It seems that people cannot afford to 'waste' time: sitting and 'just' driving appear to be occasions for catching up on those conversations that one can't fit into 'busier' and 'more productive' times of the day. I know because I have participated in this dangerous behavior. Now I am trying hard to keep these words of Norman's in my head as I drive, " Continual switching of attention is normally a virtue, especially in the world of social interaction. In the mechanical world, it can be a peril." (p. 156)
With all of this mind, we shouldn't forget to Keep It Real!
"individuals have better ideas if they're connected to rich, diverse networks of other individuals. If you put yourself in an environment with lots of different perspectives, you yourself are going to have better, sharper, more original ideas. It's not that the network is smart. It's that you are smarter because you're connected to the network." (From Salon Interview)
Accepting that modern technologies allows for multi-tasking lifestyles and constant distractions he also posits that these same technologies allow for increased connectivity and are, in themselves, drivers for creative ideas, innovation, and invention. As he says, "Chance favours the connected mind." So, like Norman, Steven Johnson believes there are many positives that we enjoy due to our increased ability to interact no matter where we live or work. As Norman says, "throughout the last one hundred years, as technologies have changed, the importance of communication has remained high on the list of essentials." (p. 148) Obviously, for Steven Johnson, it seems that only good things can come from an ever increasing variety of ways to communicate and connect, along with technologies that reduce barriers for sharing ideas, 'hunches,' and blossoming synergy.
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| Communication Age by Dom Dada |
A new phenomena I have experienced is what I will call the "In group" and "Out group" SmartPhone culture. It seems that those with this type of technology are, as a group, taken with comparing, sharing, and playing with the technology: almost individually participating in a group experience, if you will. The participants appear unaware of others within the social set that do not have such products - a similar diemma to the telephone snafus mentioned above.
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| Carphone by Sweens308 |
As Norman emphasizes, "your visceral and behavioral levels of processing still function well, but not the reflective, the home of planning and anticipating." (p. 155) I have witnessed this too often on roads such as the high speed Deerfoot Trail, here in Calgary. It seems that people cannot afford to 'waste' time: sitting and 'just' driving appear to be occasions for catching up on those conversations that one can't fit into 'busier' and 'more productive' times of the day. I know because I have participated in this dangerous behavior. Now I am trying hard to keep these words of Norman's in my head as I drive, " Continual switching of attention is normally a virtue, especially in the world of social interaction. In the mechanical world, it can be a peril." (p. 156)
With all of this mind, we shouldn't forget to Keep It Real!
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