tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75839372024-03-13T00:37:47.794+00:00John's Ideas And CreativityIdeas, Creativity, Thinking, Life. <a href="mailto:boliviansecret@hotmail.com">Contact John</a>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-80340998140856881242020-10-18T14:36:00.002+01:002020-10-18T14:36:54.554+01:00Composing Melodies<p>There is a video on YouTube where the Mary Poppins tune "Chim Chim Cher-ee" is played <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=FEZEiTvYZFg">using a pencil. </a> I've been using the sound a biro makes when writing numbers on a piece of A4 paper to create melodies for years, so I thought I'd share the method. I don't know if it will work for anyone else - let me know - but I have managed to "scratch the itch" I had to write a few good songs I'm chuffed with.</p><p><u><b>Brief Overview</b></u></p><p>I pick four numbers (between 0 and 9), and write them on the piece of paper, and I write the numbers in varying sizes (Loosely the sizes are: very small (normal writing size), small, medium, and large). I focus on the sound made, and try to pick out an original melody in the sound. (I might have to rewrite over the numbers a few times!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe3-RjuwS24/X4rSHMBpTJI/AAAAAAAAAOc/NLtYc7-yVKcVuWGZdp2MfQedJOoCkFc4wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201017_121026380.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1150" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe3-RjuwS24/X4rSHMBpTJI/AAAAAAAAAOc/NLtYc7-yVKcVuWGZdp2MfQedJOoCkFc4wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20201017_121026380.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><u><b>The First Step</b></u></p><p>To kick off, I think of a singer and a song in the style I might like to write in. I write just two numbers on the top half of the paper (see diagram below), and I can write over them again and again if I like until I can pick out a melody. The melody will be maybe just one or two bars long, or perhaps I could say it could be the length of the first line of lyrics in a song. It doesn't have to be the catchiest tune ever - just something that is a new melody that I'm imagining being sung by my singer of my choice, and in the style of the song I chose. The important thing to do once I have a tiny melodic idea is quickly make up lyrics for that little section - even if it's any nonsense words as this helps to make the first melodic section more memorable when I introduce the next two numbers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5QXZzGp84l8/X4rSajH5QAI/AAAAAAAAAOk/q8AxU9wQQNMakorrUrtiVUUg5NBet-3_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201017_121044696.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1150" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5QXZzGp84l8/X4rSajH5QAI/AAAAAAAAAOk/q8AxU9wQQNMakorrUrtiVUUg5NBet-3_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20201017_121044696.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><u>Adding the next two numbers</u></p><p>The four numbers will look like this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2d_C3wN5YQ/X4rSrRMfn7I/AAAAAAAAAOs/wMx8R0aH83sLKQ-7RIgiX_IOBghE1y1WwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201017_121026380.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1150" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2d_C3wN5YQ/X4rSrRMfn7I/AAAAAAAAAOs/wMx8R0aH83sLKQ-7RIgiX_IOBghE1y1WwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20201017_121026380.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><u>Template</u> </p><p>I can pre-draw a template that will guide the size of the digits I am to write. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-giAMMlBJNU0/X4rT1NAHGjI/AAAAAAAAAPA/eq9MAMMM4043WqyNtzjmI4dgMiGdVmtXACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201017_122107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1150" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-giAMMlBJNU0/X4rT1NAHGjI/AAAAAAAAAPA/eq9MAMMM4043WqyNtzjmI4dgMiGdVmtXACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20201017_122107.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>And when the numbers are written it will look something like this: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZq2j2L18NY/X4rUSzPjlqI/AAAAAAAAAPI/23NXAhbFuZQpTXSWetcn9_fmO0_mXWjWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201017_122322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1150" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZq2j2L18NY/X4rUSzPjlqI/AAAAAAAAAPI/23NXAhbFuZQpTXSWetcn9_fmO0_mXWjWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20201017_122322.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>But will quickly look something like this when I've drawn over the numbers again and again in search of a melody!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-Dtt5H_1to/X4rUxiztxUI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/CdXMl2_GYQcbu0NbmQl3eHcCdDeHBbvkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201017_122449.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1150" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-Dtt5H_1to/X4rUxiztxUI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/CdXMl2_GYQcbu0NbmQl3eHcCdDeHBbvkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20201017_122449.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Not much effort has to go into creating a melody - to a degree they "lift" from the sound the biro makes. Just the four numbers is often enough to create a melody with "personality" that can be expanded into a song. Though sometimes I have needed a verse for a chorus, or a chorus for a verse, and written more numbers to help trigger an idea. (The more "personality" a song has developed, the harder it seems to be to use the numbers to generate a new part of the song, though.)<p><u>Funnel Method</u></p><p>This is a similar idea I've used. I put a funnel over my ear and move my fingers around the stem and "body" of the funnel to make "sliding" sounds that I try to pick out a melody from. Like above, I try to start out by just picking out a melody that is just a bar or two bars long, or the length of the first line of lyrics of a song. Melodic ideas don't jump out as easily as they do with the "writing numbers" approach above, but I've still got some decent tunes out of it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lr8dKNPIQ5Q/X4m0rLlEGNI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/CoVHCeWYL94IVh7gIyeyrL7YrcNi2-bbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s607/IMG_20201016_125349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lr8dKNPIQ5Q/X4m0rLlEGNI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/CoVHCeWYL94IVh7gIyeyrL7YrcNi2-bbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20201016_125349.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-68595601442179354662020-10-18T13:41:00.002+01:002020-10-18T13:42:35.733+01:00Neo; Neologisms and Fake Encyclopedia Entries<p>I've always called this the <i>Neo</i> technique, which is short for neologism. The idea is to make up a new word and treat it like a fake encyclopedia entry, with a fictional definition. </p><p><u>Making Fake Words</u></p><p>To make a word I take two words from a <a href="https://www.textfixer.com/tools/random-word-generator.php">random word generator</a>, lift a few letters (it's usually between two and five) from the ends or the beginnings of the words, and stick them together. </p><p>Example:</p><p>We<b>ird</b> Elect<b>ron</b></p><p>= Irdron.</p><p>With the word created, I then have to think what it means; What would I guess that word means if I saw it in an encyclopedia and couldn't see the definition? "Irdron" kinda sounds like a quantum particle, so (with a little imagination thrown in):</p><p>Irdron = Hypothetical quantum particle. </p><p><u>The General Encyclopedia</u></p><p>Pursuing this "general encyclopedia" path, it's like I've flipped open a general encyclopedia on a random page, picked out a random word, and read the definition. However, the word and defintion are both made up! Some examples:</p><p><b>Cla</b>w <b>Fl</b>y = Clafl. </p><p>Clafl definition = Musical instrument, makes a "clap clap" sound. Works same way as castanets. </p><p>Airs<b>hip</b> Fr<b>eak</b> = Hipeak.</p><p>Hipeak definition = The peak of hippy culture in the 60s.</p><p>E<b>ther</b> Dia<b>bolotry</b> = Therbolotry.</p><p>Therbolotry definition = When a theramin solo in a performance goes on too long and the audience exclaim, "This is utter therbolotry!"</p><p>There is sometimes a "feel" that the hybrid words have that intuitively leads to an idea for a definition. If a definition doesn't pop into my head, I'll try to think of a couple of words that the neologism sounds like it could be composed of, and use those words to steer me to thinking of a definition. Example:</p><p>Ur<b>ban rur</b>al </p><p>= banrur</p><p>"Banrur" sound like "banned roar" which leads to the definition:</p><p>The peak volume permitted by law at a public performance.</p><p><u>Coupling The New Word with A Real Word</u></p><p>This approach uses the format:</p><p>Neologism + real word.</p><p>The neologism goes in front of a real word chosen by a <a href="https://www.textfixer.com/tools/random-word-generator.php">random word generator</a>, and the neologism modifies the real word. </p><p>Libera<b>ting</b> <b>ma</b>ssacre = tingma.</p><p>Random word = bulldozer. </p><p>The neologism and random word put together gives: Tingma bulldozer. "Tingma" sounds like a remote tribe, so the definition I create is: When a remote tribe - The Tingma - link arms and combine strength to function as a human bulldozer.</p><p><b>Torr</b>id <b>Town</b>ship = Torrtown. Random word = Hop.</p><p>Torrtown Hop = Variation of the Lindy Hop, invented in the U.S. town of Torrtown. </p><p>A<b>bove</b> Chur<b>ch</b> = Bovech. Random word = root.</p><p>Bovech root = Hallucinogenic plant root found in Bovech, Germany. </p><p><b>Logi</b>c <b>Blast</b>ing = Logiblast. Random word = implant. </p><p>Logiblast implant = Hypothesised AI brain implant that can supplement all normal thinking with pure logic. </p><p><u>The Encyclopedia of Psychology</u></p><p>I can specify a type of encyclopedia for a particular area of interest. Here are some neologisms and definitions generated for an encyclopedia of psychology. </p><p><b>Cloc</b>k Orang<b>utang</b> = Clocutang = An orangutang's perception of the passing of time. </p><p>Base<b>line</b> <b>Eve</b>ry = Lineeve = Any individual's line of female ancestors. </p><p><b>Atro</b>city Nega<b>tive</b> = Atrotive = (adj, of chemicals) Any chemical that inhibits brain functions. </p><p><u>Neologism and Real Word</u></p><p>As above, I can use a neologism to modify a real word and come up with a definition for my psychology encyclopedia. Examples:</p><p>A<b>miss</b> <b>Simila</b>r = Misssimilia. Random word = doll. Misssimila Doll = Automaton doll from the 1800s that the inventor wanted to improve incrementally until the doll functioned as a human. </p><p><b>Inno</b>cent Bulb<b>ous</b> = Innous. Random word = Canvas. Innous Canvas = the blank "canvas" of the mind of a young infant. </p><p><b>Demo</b>cratic Cor<b>tex</b> = Demotex. Random word = Uncertainty. Demotex uncertainty = The mistaken assumption made by learners that all concepts that are unknown to them are of similar complexity. </p><p><u>Encyclopedia about...The Summit of Mount Everest</u></p><p>I can make the topic of my encyclopedia about anything I want, from the general to the specific. Here's some ideas for an encyclopedia about the summit of Mount Everest. </p><p>Cap<b>sule</b> Edu<b>cated</b> = Sulecated = Adjective that describes the surface appearance of rock where that rock is constantly at sub-zero temperatures and is at an altitude with low pressure. </p><p><b>His</b>s <b>Con</b>tinuous = Hiscon = A worsening of tinnitus symptoms due to low air pressure at high altitudes.</p><p><b>Zoo</b> Perple<b>xing</b> = Zooxing = When a mountaineer hallucinates fanciful non-existent creatures when affected by altitude sickness. </p><p><b>Bli</b>ster Demo<b>cracy</b> = Blicracy = A hierarchy a group of mountaineers generate to decide which climber will have the honour of summiting first. </p><p>And now with a neologism modifying a random word:</p><p>Atroci<b>ties</b> <b>Croo</b>k = Tiescroo. Random word = block. Tiescroo block = When the summit is blocked because a group of euphoric climbers are spending too long celebrating an ascent. </p><p>B<b>lip</b> Disfi<b>gured</b> = Lipgured. Random word = Purpose. Lipgured purpose = The medical procedure taken to treat frostbitten lips. </p><p><u>Uses</u></p><p>This is good fun, but it's also great for generating quiz questions (by using definitions to remind you of things in real life) and highlighting gaps in your own knowledge. </p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-81187455121105014872020-10-14T12:30:00.002+01:002020-10-14T12:31:15.055+01:00Examples of WIPED SWABS <p>This post has examples of thinking "journeys" generated with the <a href="https://johnideas.blogspot.com/2020/10/wiped-swabs-thinking-tools.html">WIPED SWABS thinking tools</a>. </p><p><u>Example 1</u></p><p>For the first example I'm going to choose an unusual focus: my <b>ignorance</b> of Wat Tyler, with the emphasis being on the ignorance. This is the extent of my knowledge of Wat Tyler:</p><p>Around14th century?</p><p>British.</p><p>Rebellion? Possibly the poor against the rich? </p><p><br /></p><p>For this example I'm going to go through all the WIPED SWABS tools one by one. The alternative (which I enjoy more because it involves more interesting tangents) is to pick the which tool I'll use by random means.</p><p><b><u>Wat Tyler</u></b></p><p><b>W</b>hat if I told you...Someone alive now wants to emulate him.</p><p><b>I</b>nterrupt: I'm thinking about Wat Tyler, and my lack of Wat Tyler knowledge.</p><p><b>P.</b> Positive: I may find out about history. (Positive of that = I might find other historic areas of interest.)</p><p><b>E</b>veryone Would Call It: Tyler project.</p><p><b>D</b>ictionary: Wat Tyler was a14th century peasant who rebelled against the rich.</p><p><b>S</b>uperpowers: What would I do if couldn't fail? Answer: Go back in time and meet him.</p><p><b>W</b>on't: I won't...read the entire Wikipedia entry on him. </p><p><b>A</b>dvice: See if there any famous paintings depicting him (like a Bayeux Tapestry kind of thing).</p><p><b>B</b>ig or Small thing? Answer: Small. General interest. My life won't be affected too much by my lack of knowledge of Wat Tyler.</p><p><b>S</b>entence: (My ignorance of Wat Tyler) is a sentence. It's also a fact. </p><p><br /></p><p>Next I'll pick one of the thoughts generated above and run through the WIPED SWABS tools again. I choose: <i>Reading the entire Wikipedia entry on him. </i></p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Reading entire Wikipedia entry on Wat Tyler. </u></b></p><p><b>W</b>hat if I told you... Your knowledge of history is so poor you'll have no idea of context.</p><p><b>I</b>nterrupt: I'm thinking about reading an entire Wiki entry on Wat Tyler.</p><p><b>P</b>ositive: I'll learn about Wat Tyler. (Negative of that): I might find that era of history doesn't interest me.(Negative of that): I might be wasting my time filling my head with useless knowledge.</p><p><b>E</b>veryone Would Call It: Intensive learning. Or Wikipedia learning.</p><p><b>D</b>ictionary: Learning about a topic by reading an entire Wikipedia entry.</p><p><b>S</b>uperpower (What would you do if you couldn't fail?) Answer: Speed-learn the Wikipedia entry in one second.</p><p><b>W</b>on't: I won't research the topic well enough to be able to critique the Wikipedia entry.</p><p><b>A</b>dvice: Find out what kinds of diseases were around in Wat Tyler's time to "fill out" your knowledge of those times.</p><p><b>B</b>ig or small: It would probably be a big undertaking to read the entire Wikipedia entry and learn it.</p><p><b>S</b>entence: (Read entire Wikipedia entry on Wat Tyler) is a sentence. The sentence is a goal. </p><p><br /></p><p>More examples to come...</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-87084141858652909782020-10-13T20:29:00.004+01:002020-10-14T12:34:25.448+01:00WIPED SWABS Thinking Tools<p>This is a bunch of ten thinking tools I've developed over the years. </p><p>The main point of the tools is to guide my thinking on any topic. It's a bit difficult to define it simply, but basically the idea is that the tools direct thoughts, turning them upside down and inside out to see where they end up.</p><p>The ten tools are represented by the acronym WIPED SWABS.</p><p>WIPED SWABS stands for:</p><p>1) <b>W</b>hat if I told you...</p><p>2)<b> I</b>nterruption</p><p>3)<b> P</b>ositive and negative array</p><p>4)<b> E</b>veryone would call it...</p><p>5) <b>D</b>ictionary </p><p>6) <b>S</b>uperpowers (What would you do if you couldn't fail?)</p><p>7) <b>W</b>on't</p><p>8) <b>A</b>dvice</p><p>9) <b>B</b>ig or small</p><p>10) <b>S</b>entence operations</p><p><br /></p><p>I'll go through each of the ten in turn.</p><p>The topic I'll be looking at with the tools is: <i>Snakes and Ladders game</i>. At the end of the post I'll link to some examples of the tools used on various topics.</p><p><b><u>Tool 1: What if I told you?...(WIITY)</u></b></p><p>WIITY?... is intended to jolt thinking. With WIITY? it's like a mentor is with me who tells me surprise information that provides a jolt. So with the topic Snakes and Ladders, I ask myself, "What information about Snakes and Ladders could surprise me?" and I write it in the What if I told you? format:</p><p>What if I told you...There's a Snakes and Ladders club near you.</p><p>What if I told you...You can play Snakes and Ladders online.</p><p>What if I told you...The most expensive Snakes and Ladders set is worth millions.</p><p><u>The Feeling Nudge</u></p><p>I can give the way I generate the WIITY a nudge by naming a feeling to modify the WIITY. I give myself a directive using the template:</p><p>Create a WIITY that has an X feeling.</p><p>The X will be a randomly generated feeling. Here are three WIITYs that are generated with the feelings <i>critical</i>, <i>general </i>and <i>examine-y</i>:</p><p>Create <i>critical-</i>WIITY: Playing Snakes and Ladders might not be as educational as you think.</p><p>Create <i>general</i>-WIITY: You could find other games similar to s and l.</p><p>Create ex<i>aminey-</i>WIITY: You could look at your own set and think of ways to improve it.</p><p><b><u>Tool 2: Interruption Tool</u></b></p><p>The purpose of Interruption is to simply make myself take a step back and become aware of what I'm doing right now. I will then write it down on paper so I can think about it using other tools. </p><p>It's generated by imagining someone interrupts me right now and says, "What are you doing now?" I answer that question using a sentence or two. So the current simple answer to the question would be, "Writing a blog post about WIPED SWABS". If I was in a game of Snakes and Ladders the answer would be, "Playing Snakes and Ladders".</p><p><u>Baton Approach</u></p><p>There can also be a "baton" approach to Interruption that generates more information about the present activity. With the baton approach, I think about what I would say to the interrupter if I was "passing the baton" to them. That is, asking them to take over my role from that point. In a game of Snakes and Ladders I could respond to the interrupter (baton taker) with, "I'm playing Snakes and Ladders with Steve, I'm on square 37, it's Steve's go".</p><p>I can also think about what I would say to a child if I I was passing them the baton. Assuming they're at an age where they know nothing about Snakes and Ladders, I would need to provide a lot of information. It's like the trigger question, "How would you explain this to a child?" It can generate a lot of useful information.</p><p><b><u>Tool 3: Positive and Negative Array</u></b></p><p>Positive and Negative Array is about positive and negative thinking. It's also about generating more information to think with. </p><p>It's easy to list a positive and negative for Snakes and Ladders:</p><p>Positive: I'll have fun with the family.</p><p>Negative: Someone will throw a tantrum. (Not me.)</p><p>With the array I pre-decide a sequence of negatives and positives, then respond to each in turn by applying it to the information above. The sequence for this example is +--+-</p><p>The first in the list is +, so:</p><p>Positive (of Snakes and Ladders) I will have fun with the family.</p><p>The next is -, so:</p><p>Negative (of having fun with the family) It might eat up a lot of time.</p><p>The next is - again:</p><p>Negative (of eating up a lot of time) Chores might not get done.</p><p>Then another +</p><p>Positive (of chores not getting done) Chores won't matter when it's pure fun time.</p><p>And finally a -, so:</p><p>Negative (of it being pure fun time) The kids might get too excited and be unable to sleep.</p><p><b><u>Tool 4: Everyone Would Call It</u></b></p><p>With EWCI I take a piece of information and ask myself, "What would everyone call it in two words?". So with Snakes and Ladders it could be <i>board game</i>. Or <i>family time.</i> </p><p>The negative thought above listed with Tool 3 -<i> chores might not get done</i> - could be represented with the two words: <i>chores crisis</i>. Or <i>wrong priorities</i>. Or <i>balance quandary</i>. </p><p>I can also ask, "What would everyone call it in one word?"</p><p>So Snakes and Ladders could be: <i>game.</i> Or <i>competition</i>. </p><p>And for a sentence - like <i>chores might not get done, </i>the one word could be: <i>problem</i>. </p><p><u><b>Tool 5: Dictionary Tool</b></u></p><p>With Dictionary tool I look at a piece of information - such as a word, sentence, etc - and generate a definition for it that looks like it could be a definition in a dictionary. </p><p>So Snakes and Ladders could be:</p><p>A game where a number of players traverse a board while sliding down snakes and climbing up ladders. The first to reach the 100 square wins. </p><p><i>Family time</i> would be: A time set aside where the whole family participate in an enjoyable activity. </p><p>It can get a bit trickier if there is a bigger chunk of information to define. So with the example <i>the kids might get too excited and be unable to sleep</i> I might apply the Everyone Would Call It (EWCI) to reduce the sentence to a more manageable two words. Those two words could be something like:<i> sleepless kids</i>. The definition for that could be: Kids that are too excited from recent activities and can't settle. </p><p>There is another option that can be used with the Dictionary tool. Its ICO. ICO stands for "Is a case of...". The aim of this is to kind of step up the concept level. I look at information and ask, "This (the information) is a case of what?" So with Snakes and Ladders the ICO could look like:</p><p>Snakes and Ladders is a case of...what?</p><p>Answer: A board game. </p><p>There aren't really any right or wrong answers, so other possibilities could be: <i>family hobby</i>. Or <i>colourful game</i>. Or <i>numbers game.</i> </p><p>The Dictionary and ICO options can be used together. Here's a sequence of Dictionary and ICO applied randomly:</p><p><i>Snakes and Ladders</i> ICO...a family game. </p><p><i>Family game</i> dictionary definition: Something the whole family can do and enjoy.</p><p><i>Something whole family can do and enjoy</i> ICO family pastime.</p><p><i>Family pastime</i> ICO: activity unit.</p><p><i>Activity unit</i> dictionary definition: A section of time that contains action.</p><p><b><u>Tool 6: Superpowers; What Would You Do If You Couldn't Fail? </u></b></p><p>Tool 6 is about sparking up the imagination. With <i>Superpower/What Would You Do If You Couldn't Fail?</i> I'm asking:</p><p>What would I do if I had superpowers? (Or if I were an all-powerful being, godlike entity, etc.)</p><p>and</p><p>What would I do if I couldn't fail?</p><p>I'll explain WWYDIYCF? first.</p><p><u>WWYDIYCF?</u></p><p>To start off, I go intuitive. I look at Snakes And Ladders and intuitively think about things I'd do if I couldn't fail. Maybe:</p><p>Invent an improved version that requires strategy instead of luck. </p><p>Make it an educational tool by doing a version that uses more maths. </p><p>Do a version that introduces more characters and objects with different functions. Eg, Magic wand = multiply two dice to decide how many spaces you move. Banana skin = your opponents must move five spaces back. </p><p><u>Ask WWYDIYCF? About Something Else</u></p><p>With this approach, I look at something unrelated to Snakes And Ladders and ask the WWYDIYCF question about that. Then I see if I can apply the generated idea to Snakes And Ladders. Examples:</p><p>What would you do if you couldn't fail about the local playground?</p><p>Answer: Make a tree walk among the trees where people can cross from tree to tree by rope bridges. </p><p>Applied to Snakes and Ladders: Make a 3D Snakes And Ladders game that is played among the trees. </p><p>What would you do if you couldn't fail about a robot?</p><p>Answer: Get it to do boring jobs. </p><p>Applied to Snakes And Ladders: Get a robot to pack away the game at the end of play. Get it to store all the tiny pieces - the dice, the counters - that are easy to lose.</p><p>What would you do if you couldn't fail about snails?</p><p>Answer: Be a snail for the day to see what it's like. </p><p>Applied to Snakes And Ladders: Have an option when playing Snakes And Ladders where a player can play the part of a snake for a while. The snake can move around the board, generally making itself a nuisance to other players. </p><p><u>What Would You Do If You Couldn't Fail and Had Superpowers?</u></p><p>For the first few ideas I start intuitively:</p><p>Go back in time and watch myself playing Snakes And Ladders as a child. </p><p>Devise the ultimate Snakes And Ladders game. </p><p>Devise a robot that draws a Snakes And Ladders game with chalk onto the playground. Every board is unique. It washes away in the rain.</p><p><u>Superpowers About Something Else</u></p><p>Again, I look at something else, but this time I'm asking what I'd do to the thing if I had superpowers. Examples:</p><p>What would you do with superpowers about shadow puppets?</p><p>Answer: Invent magical gloves that automatically move your hands into the correct position to cast the shadow of the required animal. </p><p>Applied to Snakes And Ladders: Invent magical gloves that always roll a six. </p><p>What would you do with superpowers about paper cuts?</p><p>Answer: Invent a new type of skin that heals itself quickly.</p><p>Applied to Snakes And Ladders: Invent a board that has "skin" that can heal itself when scratched, and move pieces around.</p><p>What would you do with superpowers about the periodic table?</p><p>Answer: Invent a smart periodic table that can answer any question about any element.</p><p>Applied to Snakes and Ladders: Devise a smart Snakes And Ladders board that asks a player their interests then customises the board to suit their interests.</p><p><b><u>Tool 7: WON'T</u></b></p><p>The Won't tool is used to list more information about a subject and look at different angles. To apply the tool all I do is name something about the topic I won't do.</p><p>For example:</p><p>I won't play Snakes and Ladders right now.</p><p>I won't learn the maths to work out the probability of winning from any stage of the game.</p><p>I won't try to find the set I used as a kid. </p><p><br /></p><p>I can also use the Won't sentences as an introspection tool, where I can look into the psychological reasons why I won't consider an option; am I automatically saying no to something when it could be worth pursuing the idea?</p><p>T<u>he Absolutely Last Thing I Would Do</u></p><p>To expand the thinking a bit I can also generate ideas about the absolute last thing I'd do. Some examples:</p><p>I won't spend the rest of my life playing Snakes and Ladders. </p><p>I won't visit the factory to see how it's made.</p><p>I won't start collecting different Snakes and Ladders games. </p><p><b><u>Tool 8: Advice</u></b></p><p>With Advice tool it's like a mentor is with me who offers advice. </p><p><u>Intuitive start</u></p><p>I start by intuitively making up some advice a mentor could give me:</p><p>See if you can play Snakes and Ladders online.</p><p>Find out if your family want to play.</p><p>Work out a way to play it so pre-maths children can join in.</p><p><u>Advice With a Feeling</u></p><p>I can also create advice where the feel of the advice is coloured by a feeling. The template for this reads:</p><p>Create advice with (feeling) feel.</p><p>With the feeling <i>dirty</i> selected this looks like:</p><p>Create advice with (<i>dirty</i>) feeling = Find out ways you can cheat. </p><p>More examples:</p><p>(<i>Greyhound-y</i>) advice: Make a version with cats and dogs instead of snakes and ladders. Or do one with spiders and electric eels.</p><p>(<i>Fast</i>) advice: Do time limit for games.</p><p>(<i>Leggy</i>) advice: Do a long term tournament with legs, sets, leagues etc.</p><p>(<i>Stick</i>) advice: Put Blu Tack on counters so they don't move when board is nudged. (Yes!)</p><p>(<i>Teenage-y</i>) advice: Introduce game changes so it's more exciting for teens.</p><p>(Link: <a href="https://johnideas.blogspot.com/2020/10/listing-feelings-and-emotions.html">How to list feelings</a>.)</p><p><b><u>Tool 9: Big or Small</u></b></p><p>The purpose with Big or Small is to evaluate the importance of something to me. So with Snakes and Ladders I'll be asking:</p><p>How do I see Snakes and Ladders?...as a big or a small thing? Is it a big or small thing to me?</p><p>Answer: It's a small thing to me (unless I'm doing blog posts) and as a game it gets quite boring quite quickly.</p><p><u>Big or Small...what?</u></p><p>I can also become mindful of the scale of things by asking the questions:</p><p>It's a big...(what?)</p><p>and</p><p>It's a small...(what?)</p><p>and then let those two questions lead me to thinking of an apt word or words. For example, Snakes and Ladders could be:</p><p>A big problem.</p><p>A big hobby.</p><p>A big challenge.</p><p>A big waste of time.</p><p>A big argument causer, etc.</p><p>It could be:</p><p>A small irritation. </p><p>A small pastime.</p><p>A small burden. </p><p>A small matter.</p><p>A small project, etc.</p><p><u><b>Tool 10: Sentence Tools</b></u></p><p>This last tool is made of two tools. <i>Label the Whole</i> and<i> Extract.</i></p><p><u>Label The Whole</u></p><p>To Label The Whole I choose a word to represent the sentence. I always start with using the label <i>sentence</i>. Thus:</p><p>The Snakes and Ladders game last night was great = sentence.</p><p>So when I'm referring to "the sentence" I'm referring to "The Snakes and Ladders game last night was great". </p><p>Once I've labelled the sentence as a sentence, I then aim to find more words that could label the sentence. I do this by asking myself:</p><p>That sentence is a (what?)</p><p>The sentence <i>The snakes and Ladders game last night was great</i> is also: a perception, a fact, an opinion, an information-container, a reflection, a memory, etc. </p><p>Once I've represented the sentence with label words, I can use the labels to generate ideas by thinking what actions I could take on them. Examples:</p><p>The perception: Challenge it!</p><p>The opinion: Spread it.</p><p>The memory: Log it. </p><p><u>Extract</u></p><p>With Extract Tool I take a word out of a sentence and opt whether to treat it as a verb or a noun. </p><p>For example, with the sentence:</p><p>Playing Snakes and Ladders is educational.</p><p>I can extract the<i> playing</i> and treat it as a noun (often by putting the word "the" in front). Thus: The playing.</p><p>I can extract the <i>educational</i> and treat it as a verb (by adding "ing"). Thus: educational-ing. (I can define what this means if it were listed in a dictionary as a verb. It could mean <i>To use Snakes and Ladders as an education tool. </i>)</p><p>I can extract the <i>Snakes </i>and treat it as a verb - Snakes-ing. (If defined by a dictionary it could mean<i> the action of sliding down a snake in a Snakes and Ladders game</i>.)</p><p><u>Brackets</u></p><p>I can also extract chunks of words using brackets and again treat them as a verb or a noun. For example, with:</p><p>Playing Snakes and Ladders is educational.</p><p>I can bracket (Snakes and Ladders) and turn it into a verb: Snakes-and-Ladders-ing. (Which defined in a dictionary would mean <i>Playing a game of Snakes and Ladders</i>.)</p><p><b><u><a href="https://johnideas.blogspot.com/2020/10/examples-of-wiped-swabs.html">Examples of the Tools Used on Topics</a></u></b></p><p><br /></p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-48417780831089673892020-10-10T11:07:00.001+01:002020-10-10T11:09:58.842+01:00PENLIO. Focus.<p>I learned all the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases">cognitive biases</a> to see if a common theme was evident. One thing I noticed was that many of them focus on things that are hard to focus on (an easy focus for example would be something like <i>getting up in the morning</i>, something more difficult to pick out would be something like <i> the amount of sugar I put in my coffee)</i> so I developed this PENLIO approach to find focusses about my life - where those focusses can be both the obvious focusses plus the non-obvious, more elusive focusses. </p><p><u><b>General Method</b></u></p><p>This is a generalised description of the method:</p><p>1) I focus on an earlier event.</p><p>2) I<b> dig out</b> how that event will occur later to a small degree. (Even if that degree is tiny.)</p><p>For example, If an earlier action was <i>having a drink</i>, then it's obvious that I will have a drink again later, so the final focus is<b> having a drink. </b></p><p>If I <i>switched off my alarm</i> this morning, then it's obvious that I won't be doing that later, so I have to dig out how I'll be doing that action to a degree later - even if the degree is very small. The nearest I'll get to switching off my alarm later is setting my alarm for the morning, so<b> setting the alarm</b> is the final focus. </p><p>If, earlier on, I climbed up onto the roof with a ladder to fix a loose tile, then I have to work much harder to dig out how I'll be doing that action later, because it's obvious I won't be climbing up on the roof. Maybe:</p><p>I'll check the tile from the ground, visually.</p><p>I'll climb up the stairs.</p><p><br /></p><p>I can pick either to be the final focus. I'll go for:</p><p><b>I'll check the tile from the ground.</b></p><p><u><b>PENLIO</b></u></p><p>PENLIO is an acronym where each letter stands for a different segment of time. It stands for: <b>P</b>ast, <b>E</b>arlier today, <b>N</b>ow, <b>L</b>ater today,<b> I</b>n the future, and <b>O</b>ver any times I'll start with just E - for <i>earlier today,</i> and L - for <i>later today.</i></p><p><u>Earlier to Later</u></p><p>Like above, I want to list an action from earlier today, then dig out how that action will be done again later today. To list the earlier action I use this template:</p><p>What (earlier today) had an X feel?</p><p>(where X is a feeling.) </p><p>If I add the feeling <i>broken</i> to the template it looks like:</p><p>What (earlier today) had a <i>broken</i> feeling?</p><p>Answer: I put a bottle in the recycling but it smashed.</p><p>So the initial action is: Putting a bottle in recycling and it smashed.</p><p><u>Digging Out the Action Later</u></p><p>So I smashed a bottle earlier today, and now I'm looking at later today and asking, "How will I do that action again later? How will I smash a bottle again later?" It's unlikely that that very action will happen again, so I have to dig out the event that's nearest to it. I'll probably throw another bottle in the recycling later, so the final focus is <b>throwing a bottle in the recycling.</b></p><p>Another example:</p><p>What (earlier today) had a <i>greedy</i> feeling? Answer: I had extra toast. How will I have extra toast later today? Answer: I'll probably have a midnight snack. Therefore the final focus = <b>midnight snacking</b>.</p><p><u>Later to Earlier</u></p><p>I can also go from Later to Earlier, where I name an action from later today and then dig out how I did that to a degree earlier today. I'll use a similar template (and add a feeling) to help me name a later action:</p><p>What (later today) could have a <i>steely</i> feeling?</p><p>Answer: I'll steel myself when I use the bathroom tap because the water is freezing cold! So the initial focus is:</p><p>Washing hands with freezing tap water.</p><p>Next I have to dig out how I washed my hands with freezing tap water earlier, It's easy. That tap water was just as cold earlier when I washed my hands, so the final focus is: <b>Washing my hands with freezing tap water. </b></p><p><u><b>Adding Now to Earlier and Later to make ENL</b></u></p><p>Now I add the N - Now - option to E and L to make ENL.</p><p><u>Now to Earlier today</u></p><p>I'll start with Now to Earlier today, where I name something I'm doing now and then dig out how I did it earlier. I'll use a similar template to the one used above and add the feeling <i>violent:</i></p><p>What (now) has a <i>violent</i> feeling? </p><p>Answer: My wife is watching a violent cop show. </p><p>So the initial action is <i>watching a violent cop show</i> and to do the dig out I ask: How did I watch a violent cop show earlier? I didn't watch a cop show earlier. I didn't even watch any telly earlier, but I did put some white noise on the telly to help me relax. So my final focus is <b>putting on white noise.</b></p><p><u>Later to Now</u></p><p>For Later to Now I'm finding an action I'll do later and then digging out how I'm doing it now. For the template I'll add the feeling<i> luxury.</i> </p><p>What (later today) will have a<i> luxury</i> feeling?</p><p>Answer: Curling up in bed. </p><p>I have to dig out how I'm <i>curling up in bed</i> now. I'm not in bed, but I am sitting here comfortably, so the final focus is:</p><p><b>Sitting here comfortably. </b></p><p><u><b>Adding the P and I Options (Past and In-the-Future) to make PENLI</b></u></p><p><u>Past to In-the-Future</u></p><p>I want to name something in the past then dig out how it will happen in the future. The template - with the feeling <i>covered</i> reads:</p><p>What (in the past) had a <i>covered</i> feel?</p><p>Answer: I slept in a tent in the garden.</p><p>It's easy to dig out this action in the future - I expect to sleep out in a tent when summer comes again, so the final focus is: <b>Sleeping out in the tent in the garden.</b></p><p><u>In-the-Future to Earlier today</u></p><p>I want to name an action in the future then dig out how that happened earlier today. I'll use the feeling <i>downtown-ish </i>and add it to the template:</p><p>What (in the future) will have a <i>downtown-ish</i> feel?</p><p>Answer: I will visit London.</p><p>How earlier today did I visit London? The furthest I got from home was going to the local shops! So the final focus is <b>going to the local shops. </b></p><p><b><u>Adding the O Option - Over-any-times - to make PENLIO</u></b></p><p>The Over-any-times option completes the PENLIO acronym. It refers to actions that happen over any times, or all times.</p><p><u>Over-any-times to In-the-future</u></p><p>I want to name an action that happens at any times and dig out how it will happen in the future. The feeling is <i>flamboyant</i> and added to the template reads:</p><p>What (over all times) has a <i>flamboyant</i> feel?</p><p>I'm pretty far from flamboyant, so the nearest I get to being flamboyant is going to a fancy dress party. So the initial focus is: Going to fancy dress party. </p><p>How will I go to a fancy dress party in the future? It doesn't need much digging as I will be going to a fancy dress party at some point. So the final focus is: <b>going to a fancy dress party.</b></p><p><u>Later to Over-any-times</u></p><p>The template - with the feeling <i>glory-ish</i> - reads:</p><p>What (over all times) has a <i>glory-ish</i> feel?</p><p>I like to watch the World Cup. How will I get close to this later? Answer: I'll watch the England V Wales game. So the final focus is: <b>Watching the England V Wales game.</b></p><p><b><u>Double Letters</u></b></p><p>I can use the same pair of letters from the PENLIO acronym: Eg, Later to Later. When this happens I first focus on the action, then think about how that action will happen at <i>another</i> time as well.</p><p>What (later today) will have a<i> fakey</i> feeling?</p><p>Answer: I'll probably see some fake news online.</p><p>So for the second Later part I'm trying to dig out<i> another</i> occasion later today when I'll see fake news online. This will probably be when I see someone spreading fake news on social media. Thus the final focus is: <b>Seeing fake news spreading on social media. </b></p><p><u><b>Double Feeling</b></u></p><p>For a bigger challenge I can name two feelings in a template. This also helps me to name more specific actions. For example:</p><p>What (earlier today) was <i>gross</i> and <i>planet-y? </i>Answer: I realised I forgot to watch the meteor shower last night. </p><p>What (now) is <i>playful</i> and <i>froggy?</i> Answer: I can see my daughter's Tiddlywinks game on a shelf. </p><p><b><u>What to do with the information?</u></b></p><p><u>Problem Solving</u></p><p>Just focussing on something can pinpoint a problem or suggest ways something can be improved. For example, with the freezing cold water I mentioned above I can I realise it's difficult to wash hands for twenty seconds as a Corona measure when water is freezing cold, so maybe I need to buy some alcohol gel. </p><p><u>Listing Positives and Negatives</u></p><p>I can list positives and negatives. What's positive about fake news on social media? Being more aware of fake news in social media comments might be positive because it will make me think more critically. A negative might be that I'm sure to swallow some information that isn't true and be influenced by it negatively.</p><p><u>Carrying Out an Action on the Final Focus </u></p><p>I can name actions I could do on the focusses. For example, if my final focus is <b>going to the local shops</b>, I could:</p><p>Order online instead.</p><p>Be more organised and make a shopping list.</p><p>Experiment by buying food I don't normally buy. </p><p>Buy presents.</p><p>Change the route so I get more exercise.</p><p>Etc.</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-16647450104988268902018-11-08T22:40:00.000+00:002018-11-09T13:47:13.316+00:00SMUCKS talk about human biologyWriting stories and brainstorming can overlap. With the SMUCKS approach, I write a discussion on a subject that takes place between the members of the Star Trek crew. The acronym SMUCKS represents the six main Star Trek characters:<br />
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1. Spock.<br />
2. McCoy.<br />
3. Uhura.<br />
4. Chekov.<br />
5. Kirk.<br />
6. Scotty.<br />
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The discussion between the SMUCKS can lead to just about anywhere, but I like to pick out:<br />
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New ideas.<br />
Areas for investigation and exploration.<br />
Fresh tangents.<br />
Focuses.<br />
Gaps in my own knowledge becoming apparent.<br />
Story ideas.<br />
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<u>How</u><br />
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I can use any of the methods that featured in the <a href="https://johnideas.blogspot.com/2018/11/methods-to-generate-speech.html">Methods to generate speech</a> post. For this example I'll use the sound of the writing of two randomly-chosen numbers to inspire ideas for speech.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_d-ok_nk8A/W-LFk2wr7uI/AAAAAAAAAIc/WB-lQvJR5oMSQp0HfNSl1_h6SYzHvbGvQCLcBGAs/s1600/31written.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="539" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_d-ok_nk8A/W-LFk2wr7uI/AAAAAAAAAIc/WB-lQvJR5oMSQp0HfNSl1_h6SYzHvbGvQCLcBGAs/s200/31written.jpg" width="111" /></a></div>
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<br />
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The subject I'm choosing is <i>human biology</i> because I didn't study it at school and I know very little about it.<br />
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I use a dice to choose which of the SMUCKS characters speaks.<br />
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So, to start off:<br />
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The dice rolls a 6. That means Scotty speaks.<br />
Then the two dice roll a 3 and a 6. I write those numbers and listen to the sound the writing makes.To me - with the subject of human biology in mind - that sounds like "I could drop dead tonight".<br />
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So that gives:<br />
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Scotty: I could drop dead tonight.<br />
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The conversation continues:<br />
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The dice rolls 5 = Kirk speaks.<br />
The two dice roll a 5 and 2. To me that sounds like, "It it was happening, would you know it?"<br />
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Thus:<br />
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Kirk: If it was happening, would you know it?<br />
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And then I continue the process to develop the conversation:<br />
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McCoy. It depends if the brain can still function.<br />
McCoy: It might go on functioning<br />
Chekov: Wait! How could it function?<br />
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Kirk: Is it because the brain itself wouldn't be damaged?<br />
Uhura: What if a device could sustain it?<br />
Spock: You'd have to act fast.<br />
Uhura: Or the brain would be deprived of oxygen.<br />
Scotty: What if that was a desirable state?<br />
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Chekov: Like you stay at a stage of death?<br />
McCoy: Could you measure the stage?<br />
Spock: Or be at that stage without dying?<br />
Spock: I could see this leading to a discussion on ethics!<br />
Kirk: Or the potential of the human brain.<br />
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Spock: Our priority should be to cure mental illness.<br />
Chekov: I wish I could've helped my mother.<br />
McCoy: Did she suffer from mental illness?<br />
Scotty: It's hard to watch a loved one suffer.<br />
McCoy: Which is why this should be a priority.<br />
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You can see that the conversation develops and in some ways develops a life of its own. The conversation moved into the subjects of psychology and ethics. On the subject of human biology I became aware of gaps in my knowledge and asked questions such as:<br />
What does the brain need to function?<br />
How damaged could a brain be and still manage to function/produce consciousness?<br />
Could an artificial environment support a brain?<br />
How much oxygen does the brain need?<br />
What does the brain do with oxygen?<br />
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I also thought of a good idea for a sci-fi story: A scientist discovers a way to make parts of a brain switch off. At a certain stage a person fills euphoria, but at a later stage they experience an increase in artistic creativity, but that comes with mental illness. Does the scientists turn bad and exploit the artistic creativity of the subjects whilst they suffer?<br />
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<u>See also</u><br />
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<a href="https://johnsideasshadow.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-smucks-talk-internet.html">The SMUCKS talk internet</a><br />
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<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-42751852550390726342018-11-06T13:50:00.000+00:002018-11-06T14:00:32.129+00:00A to Z of useful words.I've been collecting useful words for many years. That is, words that appear to be key when thinking about a subject, and thus lead to the listing of the most useful information. I've (just about) managed to squeeze them into an alphabet where every letter of the alphabet represents one of the useful words. Here they are:<br />
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A: Action.<br />
B: Belief.<br />
C: Cause. (As in something that causes an event. Or a <i>trigger.</i>)<br />
D: Duration. (Any period of time or one specific time.)<br />
E: Event.<br />
F. Feeling. (Or <i>emotion</i>.)<br />
G. Goal. (Or <i>purpose</i>, <i>objective</i>, etc.)<br />
H. Helpful thought. (and positive thoughts. And <i>pros</i>, if listing pros and cons.)<br />
I. Idea.<br />
J. Juncture. (A specific moment in time.)<br />
K. Key-fact.<br />
L. Liver. (Bit of a squeeze; anything that's alive, but usually a <i>person</i>.)<br />
M. Milieu. (Another squeeze. Basically a <i>situation</i> or a <i>scenario</i>.)<br />
N. Negative, unhelpful thought. (Or <i>con</i>, if listing pros and cons.)<br />
O. Object. (As in a tangible object.)<br />
P. Problem.<br />
Q. Question or quibble. (The questions are any question that may arise about a subject. The quibbles are attacks, challenges etc.)<br />
R. Result. (Or <i>consequence</i>.)<br />
S. Solution. (As in the solution to a problem.)<br />
T. The Big Picture. (Or <i>The Whole Affair</i>. Or <i>The Story So Far</i>.)<br />
U. Utterance.<br />
V. A Place. (Another squeeze. I think of the V as representing an arrow that points to a place.)<br />
W. Words. (Or <i>body of words</i>. Ranging from single words up to books etc.)<br />
X. Mistake. (The X represents the crossing out of a mistake.)<br />
Y. Decision. (The stem of the Y representing a direction of thought and the "V" part representing options available, thus a decision.)<br />
Z. Zoom to the future. (<i>Expectations</i>.)<br />
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<u>Using the words</u>.<br />
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Say the subject is <i>London.</i><br />
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I'll use the format: Name London X<br />
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and select a random letter for the X. So Q for quibble would give:<br />
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Name a London quibble.<br />
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Possibilities: Too much rubbish. Too much pollution. Travel is expensive. Etc.<br />
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Another example:<br />
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Name a London milieu (situation, scenario):<br />
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Possibilities: The New Years Eve celebrations. Crowding on the tube. The Queen's birthday celebrations. Terror attacks. Etc.<br />
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<u>Doubles</u><br />
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I like to use two of the words in combination.<br />
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Example:<br />
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Name a London KZ = Name a London key-fact expectation.<br />
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Possibility: If I research London I'll find lots of interesting facts I didn't know.<br />
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Example 2:<br />
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Name a London ER = event result.<br />
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Possibilities: Winner of the FA Cup. Spectators' ratings of the 2012 Olympics. The role of the London Marathon in motivating people to keep fit. Etc.<br />
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<u>The Pangram</u><br />
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I pick the random letters from the following pangram:<br />
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<i>The five boxing wizards jump quickly.</i><br />
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<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-54865587381632040272018-01-16T13:24:00.002+00:002018-01-16T13:24:39.115+00:00Random Word Generator Highly recommended:<br />
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<a href="ttps://www.textfixer.com/tools/random-words.php">Random Word Generator</a>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-51103063607308967742015-08-17T18:45:00.003+01:002015-08-17T18:45:28.877+01:00DO IT techniqueThis is a nice simple process to approach creativity.<br />
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<a href="http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~charles57/Creative/Techniques/do_it.htm">DO IT </a><br />
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<br />Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-57487369467971794672013-06-13T12:35:00.000+01:002013-06-13T12:35:06.115+01:00SSILD Lucid Dreaming Technique There is now a blog about the SSILD lucid dreaming technique:<br />
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<a href="http://cosmiciron.blogspot.co.uk/">SSILD lucid dreaming</a>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-85195654969919995502013-02-14T07:31:00.002+00:002013-02-14T07:31:27.817+00:0029 Ways to Stay Creative<a href="http://faveup.com/infographics/29-ways-to-stay-creative-infographic/91381">29 Ways to Stay Creative</a>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-56044587470265946712012-09-07T05:43:00.000+01:002012-09-07T05:43:31.415+01:00SSILD lucid dreaming techniqueI recommend this new lucid dreaming technique:<br />
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<a href="http://www.dreamviews.com/f49/senses-initiated-lucid-dream-ssild-129734/">
Lucid dreaming technique: SSILD, Senses Initiated Lucid Dream.</a><br />
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A quick summary: In bed at night, you do a number of cycles where each cycle focuses on observing the darkness behind your eyelids, listening to the noise in your ears, and noticing body sensations.<br />
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More lucid dreaming techniques to come soon!Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-14093053277714623652009-10-22T10:28:00.009+01:002009-10-22T12:36:39.548+01:00Reverse Blinking TechniqueA friend alerted me to this Reverse Blinking technique. I was sceptical at first, but I was so amazed by the results I felt compelled to share.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Reverse Blinking may do for you</span>:<br /><br />Nothing (it doesn't work for everyone.)<br />Put you to sleep quickly.<br />Make you so tired you feel you have to sleep.<br />Put you into a trance so that you can use autosuggestion.<br />Initiate hypnagogic hallucinations (that is, the kind of hallucinations we experience pre-sleep).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How you do it:</span><br /><br />1) Lie down comfortably, as if you're going to sleep.<br />2) Relax. Close your eyes.<br />3) Count to five in your head.<br />4) On the count of five reverse blink: that is, open your eyes quickly (but in a relaxed manner) and close them again. (NB: I estimate that the reverse blinks are about twice the duration of a normal blink - with the eye-opening the duration of one normal blink, and the eye-closing the duration of one normal blink.)<br />5) Repeat stages three and four.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Experimenting with hypnagogic hallucinations</span><br /><br />I wanted to see if I could combine Reverse Blinking with autosuggestion to control the images I would see in hypnagogic hallucinations. I achieved this simply: In my count to four (before the reverse-blink) I would insert the suggestion: "I will see an image of London". Then, after a while - once my eyelids were feeling very tired - I stopped reverse-blinking but continued with the counting to five and the London suggestion. On the count of five I was finding that random images of London places were popping into my head, without any attempt to visualise on my part.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Experiments</span><br /><br />There are some experiments I want to try with this technique.<br /><br />1) I want to see if I can make the hallucinations creative: I'd make a suggestion like, "I'll see a good idea about a place in London" etc.<br /><br />2) I want to use the suggestion, "I'll see a memory from my childhood my conscious mind has forgotten".<br /><br />3) On some occasions I've actually stopped blinking and dreamed that I was continuing to blink. I would be interesting in finding out what happens if I create a trigger to ensure I keep blinking and don't fall asleep. Maybe this would be a metronome in 5/4 time. The sound of the metronome click would remind me not to fall asleep. What will I experience when I continue Reverse Blinking beyond the stage where I'd normally fall asleep?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trying it</span><br /><br />Would love to know how others get on with this. I expect that some people will find that it doesn't work at all, while others will, like me, be amazed. When I used the technique two days ago I was reverse-blinking and thinking to myself, "It isn't going to work this time" but within two reverse-blinks I was hallucinating.<br /><br />A word of warning though: hypnagogic hallucinations can be frightening.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-49657981858015215112009-04-19T13:07:00.005+01:002009-04-19T13:50:22.619+01:00Thinking about thinking...a great blogIf you're like me and enjoy thinking about thinking - and thinking of ways to improve your thinking - then I highly recommend Luciano Passuello's <a href="http://litemind.com/">Litemind</a> site.<br /><br />The site has a simple mission:<br /><br /><a href="http://litemind.com/about/">To explore ways to use our minds efficiently.</a><br /><br />The site is full of information on creativity skills, memory skills (including such methods as the Major system and Roman Room system), self improvement strategies, and Mind Maps on well-known books (such as The Medici Effect). There are also some wise words on overcoming "the dreaded P" - procrastination!<br /><br />I can't recommend this blog highly enough.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-76425284917660418952007-10-27T18:00:00.000+01:002007-12-30T17:22:39.354+00:00Flip-flop Technique for Creating Ideas and Fresh, Relevant Brainstorming ChallengesThis flip-flop technique can quickly generate a list of ideas and fresh, relevant brainstorm challenges. There are three key stages:<br /><br />1) I create (or find an existing) brainstorm challenge<br />2) I create an idea for that challenge<br />3) (The most important stage) I create a hindsight-brainstorm: that is, I look at the idea created at stage 2 and ask "If a brainstorm challenge had created this idea, what could that brainstorm challenge have been? How would it have been worded?"<br /><br /><strong>Example</strong><br /><br />Say, for example, I am the boss of a pizza shop and I want to improve my business. I can set the brainstorm challenge:<br /><br />How can I improve my pizza shop?<br /><br />It's not too difficult to create an idea for this. Maybe:<br /><br />Have a varied menu<br /><br />Now for the hindsight-brainstorm: I ask myself: What brainstorm challenge could've created that idea? Maybe:<br /><br />How can I attract customers?<br /><br />The cycle continues and for this I create the idea:<br /><br />Provide small samples of pizzas<br /><br />Hindsight-brainstorm: What brainstorm could have created this idea? Maybe:<br /><br />How can I get people to try my pizzas?<br /><br />Idea: Go to local sporting events and open a stall with samples<br /><br />Hindsight-brainstorm: How can I use local sporting events to attract customers?<br /><br />Idea: Put advertising posters at local sports grounds<br /><br />Hindsight-brainstorm: How can I use local sports grounds to promote my pizzas?<br /><br />Idea: Offer a catering service for events/functions held at the sports ground<br /><br /><strong>Problems and possibilities </strong><br /><br /><strong>Problem: Can't think of any ideas?</strong><br /><br />If my brainstorm challenge is:<br /><br />How can I make my pizza menu interesting?<br /><br />and I can't think of any ideas, I can simply ask the question: In what ways is the pizza menu <em>already</em> interesting? One possibility could be:<br /><br />It has lots of striking colours<br /><br />which expressed as an idea reads:<br /><br />Add lots of colour to make the menu more appealing<br /><br />From this point I can either build on that idea and increase the degree (add <em>yet more</em> colours (maybe to appeal to children?) to the menu) or create a hindsight-brainstorm such as:<br /><br />What would make my menus more appealing?<br /><br /><strong>Problem: Can't create a hindsight-brainstorm?</strong><br /><br />If I'm struggling to think of a hindsight-brainstorm for any idea, I can choose one of Kipling's six honest serving men -- what, who, when, where, why, how (<a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2005/03/mnemonics-and-creativity.html">here's a mnemonic</a>) -- and pick one random word from the idea to see if I can combine the two to construct a hindsight-brainstorm challenge.<br /><br />For example, if my idea is:<br /><br />Provide small samples of pizzas<br /><br />My hindsight-brainstorms could be (among many options)<br /><br />(<em>What</em> & pizza) = what can I do with pizzas to attract new customers?<br />(<em>Who </em>can't create a hindsight-brainstorm for this idea)<br />(<em>When</em> doesn't work)<br />(<em>Where </em>doesn't work)<br />(<em>Why</em> & pizza) = why would I cut a pizza into small pieces?<br />(<em>How</em> & small) = how can I give customers a sample or "small taste" of my products?<br /><br /><strong>Possibility: Keeping one challenge or idea</strong><br /><br />Of course, at any stage I can decide to keep using one hindsight-brainstorm challenge and continue creating ideas. If the brainstorm is: How can I use local sporting events to attract customers? My ideas could include:<br /><br />Sponsor a local sporting event<br />Start a new sports event -- the "pizza shop cup"!<br />Put advertising at local sports events<br />Offer discounts to sports fans who can provide a ticket from the sports event<br /><br />And I can create multiple hindsight-brainstorms from one idea. If my idea is: attract passers-by by putting special offers in the window, my hindsight-brainstorms could include:<br /><br />Where can I advertise special offers?<br />Who would be attracted by special offers in the window?<br />How can I target passers-by?<br />Why would I be putting something in the window?<br /><br /><strong>Game/Exercise</strong><br /><br />I started this game/exercise in <a href="http://www.brainreactions.com/">BrainReactions</a>' <a href="http://www.brainreactions.net/">Brainstorming Tool</a> :<br /><br /><a href="http://www.brainreactions.net/brainstorms/1868">Flip-Flop Brainstorming Challenges/Ideas: How Can I Improve My Creativity?</a><br /><br />Will be interesting to see how it pans out!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/brainstorming" rel="tag">brainstorming</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/ideas" rel="tag">ideas</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/creativity" rel="tag">creativity</a>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-1155747654974114912006-08-17T18:22:00.000+01:002006-08-27T20:00:27.103+01:00Quota Listing<a href="http://www.freefoto.com"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 163px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 101px" height="125" alt="FreeFoto.com" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1208/474/200/glasses.jpg" width="185" border="0" /></a><a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2006/08/starting-point-for-creative-challenges.html"><strong><em>I'm an optician, I'm about to leave my premises to put advertising leaflets on the windscreens of local cars. I have hired a temp to help me distribute the leaflets. We have fifty leaflets each to distribute.</em></strong> </a><br /><br /><br />Okay, so I'm an optician and I'm sat here ready to distribute the leaflets. Now, suppose that someone walks into my optician's premises and asks "Who's the boss?" Of course, I would answer "I am!" Job done? Question answered satisfactorily? Not necessarily. I can set a quota for my answering of the question; I step into fuzzy-thinking territory and find out how many answers I can create to the question "Who's the boss?"<br /><br />I call this listing technique <em>quota-listing 25/100</em>. At first I try to create twenty five possible answers to the question and then proceed to thoughts of the first hundred and then beyond. As I do this, I allow a high degree of 'fuzz' in my thinking: I consider how many people could -- even if it's by the <em>smallest, slightest degree</em> -- be labeled "the boss".<br /><br /><strong>The first 25</strong><br /><br />Boss 1 = me<br /><br />Boss 2 = my receptionist<br />Obviously my receptionist plays a pivotal role in the running of the business. So, <em>to a degree</em>, my receptionist is the boss<br /><br />Boss 3 = my wife<br />My wife makes a contribution to the business by providing feedback and helping me maintain my well-being.<br /><br />Boss 4 = the temp<br />Helping me to distribute the leaflets on this day. A valid contribution to the business<br /><br />Boss 5 = my most regular customer<br />Providing regular custom and feedback, and telling their friends and colleagues how good my service is.<br /><br />Etc to 25<br /><br /><strong>Up to 100</strong><br /><br />I can opt to complete the listing up to 100, or I can merely acknowledge and entertain the <em>possibility</em> of completing the list to 100; I can ask myself "What sort of person would be numbered 89?" etc.<br /><br />Boss 38 = the manager of the restaurant next door<br />How is he the boss? Well, if he provides good food then more customers will come to his shop/the area and thus more people will see my premises.<br /><br />Boss 50 = the future boss of this opticians<br />I don't know who he/she is yet, but surely someone will take over the business in the future.<br /><br />Boss 78 = the editor of the local newspaper who edits my advertisement in the paper<br />The editor has the power to help my business by printing my adverts.<br /><br />etc to 100<br /><br /><strong>Beyond 100</strong><br /><br />I can continue listing beyond 100, or, as discussed before, merely acknowledge the possibility of listing beyond 100. Again I can ask myself questions like "What sort of person would be numbered at 250 or 2400?".<br /><br />Boss 312 = Tony Blair<br />Tony Blair? Yes, he's boss to a degree. His decisions will affect the economy and ultimately affect me and my business.<br /><br />Boss 1045 = my first ever customer<br />Played a (very minor) role in shaping the business. Made me realise some mistakes I'd made. Put me in a good mood on my first day.<br /><br /><strong>An example of quota-listing for the optician's location</strong><br /><br />So the question/directive is:<br /><br />Name the business's location<br /><br /><strong>Location 1 to 25</strong><br /><br />Location 1 = 22 New Cambridge Road, London<br />Obviously at number one is the address.<br /><br />Location 2 = the east end of the street<br /><br />Location 3 = next to the barber's shop<br /><br />Location 4 = South England<br /><br />etc to 25<br /><br /><strong>Location 26 to 100</strong><br /><br />Location 26 = my home<br />I take some of my work home. Many important documents are at home. My home address is, in effect, an extension of my work premises.<br /><br />Location 27 = my car<br />Contains documents and I spend much time in my car thinking about the business<br /><br />Location 36 = the map/sign at the end of the road that shows the names of all the shops in this road<br /><br />Location 57 = the local newsagents: there is an advert for my opticians in the window<br /><br />Location 89 = the local park<br />Where I often walk and think about my business<br /><br /><strong>100 plus</strong><br /><br />Location 101 = the advertisement for my business in Yellow Pages<br />Another way that my business extends beyond the four walls.<br /><br />Location 140 = the home of one of my regular customers<br /><br />Location 812 = the pair of glasses that Mr Rogers bought five months ago<br />These were once on my premises. There is a chance (and a very slim chance, seeing that this is number 812) that someone will see his glasses (just as they do the glasses on show at my premises) and ask where he bought them.<br /><br />Location 3063 = the local swimming baths<br />Providing a great service for opticians: where many people lose contact lenses that need replacing!<br /><br />etc<br /><br /><strong>The switch to creative mode</strong><br /><br />There is also a <em>creative mode</em> for quota-listing. Here I make the switch from listing information to trying to generate new ideas. With the listing I was answering the directive:<br /><br />List (25/100) the boss<br /><br />but now I set the creative directive:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create (25/100) bosses</span><br /><br />(I colour this blue to differentiate it from the listing.)<br /><br />The creative-mode is very different from the listing-mode. My first directive reads:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create boss 1</span><br /><br />and I consider what this could mean. The first possibility is this: that I get a partner in the business. I can continue with my creating up to 25:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create boss 2</span> = promote my receptionist<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create boss 3</span> = train the temp in the business<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create boss 4</span> = start looking for a replacement for when I retire<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create boss(es) 5</span> = sell shares in the business<br /><br />etc to 24<br /><br /><strong>26 to 100</strong><br /><br />There comes a point when I can use the information listed at the listing stage to inspire ideas. For example, number 78 on the list of bosses was: the editor of the local newspaper that prints my advertisements. So although I'm not taking the extreme choice of stepping aside and installing him as boss, I can ask myself how he can play more of a role (a 'boss role', if you like) in the business and pay more of a contribution. The initial answer is obvious: I can proactively ask him if he thinks there is any way my advert in his paper can be improved or if the newspaper can play any role in promoting my business.<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create boss 26</span> = give the newspaper editor an opportunity to give input<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create boss 36</span> = (using Tony Blair, number 312 at the listing stage) give Tony Blair a one per cent share in the business. An unusual idea -- perhaps to make some kind of political statement. Sure to attract much publicity. Also, my business could be labeled as a 'typical example of a business' and, at budget time, be used to show how the changes in a budget will affect a typical business.<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create boss 78</span> = (using 1045 from the listing -- the first ever customer) give some randomly chosen customers the chance to give feedback. Maybe by some market research by phone or maybe by actually bringing them to the premises and asking them for feedback on my services and procedures.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>100 plus</strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create boss 101</span> = collaborate with the other shopkeepers in this street: create a "shopkeepers club" where the owners meet up regularly and discuss ways to promote the area and each business<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create boss 983</span> = utilize passers-by. Stop them and say "Ten seconds of your time. What's your first impression of this opticians as you pass?"<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Create boss 4038 =</span> Find the remotest opticians in the world and install it as a 'twin' opticians (like the twin-towning scheme).<br /><br /><br />Tags:<br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/creativity" rel="tag">creativity</a> <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/ideas" rel="tag">ideas</a> <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/idea+generation" rel="tag">idea generation</a> <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/brainstorming" rel="tag">brainstorming</a>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-1154781151371139012006-08-05T13:32:00.000+01:002006-08-05T13:46:25.583+01:00500 uses for a paperclip: stepping up the concept level and naming/listing<strong>Stepping up the concept level</strong><br /><br />There's a solitary red paperclip on my desk that needs five hundred uses. However, when considering that challenge, am I creating uses for <em>that</em> paperclip, all red paperclips, all paperclips in general, or what? What I like to do at the start of a brainstorming challenge is "up" the concept level to <em>dictionary level</em>. On a written brainstorm I remind myself of the need to do this by writing:<br /><br />The paperclip is a paperclip<br /><br />where the latter paperclip is the paperclip(s) I would consider as a result of reading a dictionary definition.<br /><br /><strong>Naming/listing</strong><br /><br />Now that I know I am considering paperclips at the dictionary-level of a concept I can start naming and listing paperclips. The directive can read:<br /><br />Name paperclip<br /><br />and I can name paperclips off the top of my head, but I can improve the search by using the directive:<br /><br />Name X paperclip<br /><br />where the "X" will be replaced with a <a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2006/01/five-sources-of-random-words.html">random word</a> to help list more paperclip examples.<br /><br /><strong>Naming/listing: using words of two or three letters</strong><br /><br />For my directive's "X" I usually start by using words of two or three letters. With the random word "key" My directive reads:<br /><br />Name <em>key</em> paperclip.<br /><br />I try to list two or three types of <em>key</em> paperclip:<br /><br />Important paperclips, paperclips used as a keyring, the first ever paperclip manufactured.<br /><br /><strong>Uncovering the "hidden" examples</strong><br /><br />I like to create a considerable list with the two/three letters approach. This helps to create a multifarious list and uncover the "hidden" examples. For example, the directive:<br /><br />Name <em>sad</em> paperclip<br /><br />made me think of an unusual example of a paperclip: <a href="http://www.csun.edu/itr/guides/images/nt-defaults01.gif">Office Assistant</a>. Copious listing helps to uncover more examples -- both the obvious and non-obvious -- and map out the terrain for the challenge.<br /><br /><strong>Using longer words and naming concepts</strong><br /><br />For my naming/listing directive I can use any random word. So for example:<br /><br />Name <em>famous</em> paperclip<br /><br />made me think of this: <a href="http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/">I traded one red paperclip for a house</a><br /><br />However, sometimes a directive will suggest a concept that is worth considering in its own right. With the directive:<br /><br />Name <em>future</em> paperclip<br /><br />I can name examples of future paperclips (paperclips I will own, future designs of paperclips etc.) or I can conclude that the concept of <em>future-paperclip</em> is worth listing and remembering in its own right. I can represent this concept with a hybrid-word or opt to make up a neologism.<br /><br /><strong>Using the hybrid-word to list more examples</strong><br /><br />I can use the above hybrid-word future-paperclip to list more examples. With the directive:<br /><br />Name <em>next</em> future-paperclip<br /><br />I could consider: the next paperclip to arrive on the market, paperclips that will by used at the store Next, mooted paperclip designs etc.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-1154774232319648032006-08-05T11:35:00.000+01:002006-08-05T13:48:07.716+01:00Name 500 uses for a paperclip: starting outAs I start out on the classic brainstorming challenge about naming as many <a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2006/07/project-name-five-hundred-uses-for.html">uses for a paperclip</a> as possible, there are a number of preliminary stages that I consider:<br /><br />Switching to present moment awareness<br />Stating the creative directive<br />Stepping up the concept level<br />Naming/Listing<br /><br /><strong>Switching to present moment awareness</strong><br /><br />Instead of rushing into the exercise of creating uses for the paperclip I can start out by considering present moment awareness. This takes the form:<br /><br />Now Here Me Doing: creating 500 uses for a paperclip<br /><br />The full benefits of this will be considered in a later post. But briefly, this information can be changed with the <a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2006/02/sentence-restructuring.html">sentence restructuring</a> technique to provide different insights into the challenge and maybe create some other challenges. I could rearrange the information to read:<br /><br />Creating 500 uses for a paperclip is being done here now by <em>me</em>.<br /><br />With "me" as the focus word I could consider alternatives such as asking others to participate in the project, etc.<br /><br /><strong>Stating the creative directive</strong><br /><br />The creative directive reads:<br /><br />Create 500 uses for a paperclip<br /><br />As before, the <a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2006/02/sentence-restructuring.html">sentence restructuring</a> approach can provide variations or insights into the challenge. So if I rearranged the information to read:<br /><br />There are 500 uses for a paperclip that you must <em>create </em><br /><br />then with "create" as the focus-word I can generate other alternatives such as:<br /><br />List 500 uses for a paperclip<br />Find 500 uses for a paperclip<br />Improve 500 uses for a paperclip.<br /><br /><a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2006/08/500-uses-for-paperclip-stepping-up.html">Stepping up the concept level and naming/listing</a>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-1152872513754157102006-07-14T11:17:00.000+01:002006-07-14T18:40:25.963+01:00Idea generation: the grid technique<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1208/474/1600/Grid.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1208/474/200/Grid.jpg" border="0" /></a>I use this <em>grid technique</em> to generate ideas. With this technique I choose an object and mentally superimpose a grid onto the object. With any/each of the squares of the grid labelled as a "square/area" I create a creative directive:<br /><br />Create X square/area<br /><br />where the 'X' will be replaced by an adjective or word with an adjectival function.<br /><br /><strong>Example</strong><br /><br />For my starting object I'll use an object that already has a grid and individual squares in its structure - the <a href="http://graphics.samsclub.com/images/products/0084256902502_LG.jpg">tennis net of a tennis court</a>.<br /><br />I choose a <a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2006/01/five-sources-of-random-words.html">random word</a> to complete my creative directive: in this example my random word is "blood". My directive reads thus:<br /><br />Create <em>blood</em> square/area<br /><br />I can consider that the "square/area" part of the directive applies to <em>one specific</em> square, <em>any</em> square, or <em>all</em> the squares. I then ensure that I complete the challenge and guarantee newness - either by creating a thought experiment (or <a href="http://www.mycoted.com/Provocation">lateral thinking provocation</a>) or by creating a specific new idea.<br /><br />Here are my thoughts on <em>blood</em> square:<br /><br />A square that absorbs any blood that lands on it.<br /><br />My immediate thought is that if the net was from a top tournament like Wimbledon then somebody could sell that part of the net on eBay. Which leads to the idea: cut up the net after tournaments and auction/sell the sections to raise money for a charity.<br /><br /><strong>More tennis net examples (from a 'live' brainstorm)</strong><br /><br />Create <em>chemist</em> square/area<br />First thought: the "+" of the squares could be coloured green to advertise a chemist. Which leads to: the squares could alternatively be circular (sponsorship from a tennis ball manufacturer). Further thoughts: some of the circles could be filled in, with the name of the ball manufacturer on the circles.<br /><br />Create <em>flow</em> square/area<br />First thought: all of the squares on the net could constantly move (flow along). Further thoughts: sometimes a shot will hit the net and 'bobble over' to the other side, winning an easy point. Is the chance of that happening the same if the ball hits the other side of the net? Problem to highlight: unfair advantages caused by players being at different ends (I'm aware that players swap ends). Example: the problem of the sun in the eyes of a player at one end. Preliminary thoughts on solution: a small portable <a href="http://www.balloons.net/images/Helium_Balloons/big/Corona%20Lime%20Blimp.jpg">blimp</a> to block the sun?<br /><br />Create <em>beg</em> square/area<br />First thought: a square on the net with the message "please advertise your product/service here for £10,000". Further thoughts: some value is apparent here -- the message would act as a kind of advertising <em>teaser; </em>due to the unusual nature of the message people would be more likely to notice any advert when it eventually appears. Here I also notice an assumption I've been making: that the net is at a top tournament. What if that message appeared on every tennis net in the country? Stepping to a broader concept level: perhaps an advert could appear on every example of a specific thing throughout the country. For example, marathons have a blue-dash line on the road to show runners the route. Perhaps each of the dashes could be replaced with a photo of an energy drink?<br /><br />Create <em>molecule</em> square/area<br />First thought: would it be possible to create a version of tennis played at a molecular level? Table tennis could be considered to be a miniature version of tennis -- how far could the miniaturisation continue? What if: the game of miniature tennis occurs on a 'court' the size of a shoe box? Each participant could play the game via a computer which would control the 'rackets' in the box. Further thoughts: maybe there could be a computer game where participants play their opponent via the internet and the game is played on a type of real tangible court at some location.<br /><br /><strong>A second level grid</strong><br /><br />If I choose to, I can select any of the squares of my grid and again mentally superimpose a grid onto that. With the tennis net example, I can either visualise my grid on objects only (the strands of the tennis net) or imagine my grid within the space of the square (in effect, some of the resulting squares would be in 'thin air').Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-1152719314545987012006-07-13T10:46:00.000+01:002006-07-13T21:46:42.806+01:00Project: name five hundred uses for a paperclipI've been meaning to get this project started and blog about it for some time. The project is based on the classic brainstorming/creativity challenge "Name as many uses for a paperclip as possible". The purpose of this project is to find the most productive ways to create and find uses for the paperclip, explore how focus switching and changing of perspective can occur and, of course, find five hundred uses for a paperclip.<br /><br />Looking at the uses for a paperclip there are the usual offerings : a toothpick, a bookmark, a hair pin, a key ring, a nail cleaner etc. But I also want to look into how focus-switching and changing of perspective can occur. I mean the kind of focus-switching that can lead to these considerations and ideas:<br /><br />Start a 'Name a million uses for a paperclip' blog<br />Contact paperclip manufacturers and ask them for inventive uses<br />Find more uses by Googling "uses for a paperclip"<br />Ask other bloggers to post about the challenge on their blogs<br /><br />Feel free to contribute any uses or new perspectives on the problem.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-1140948641651962862006-02-26T10:10:00.000+00:002006-02-26T16:22:35.670+00:00Ing-est: another technique for listing information about a subjectIf I am considering a subject the <em>ing-est</em> technique is a quick technique for directing attention and listing information. With this technique I spot an action that is occurring to the highest degree.<br /><br />For example, say my creative subject is: the Olympics. I use the format:<br /><br />What's (action) est?<br /><br />I choose an action - say, blowing, and insert that into the format thus:<br /><br />What's blowing-est?<br /><br />Which means: what is blowing the most?<br /><br />Possible answers: the Olympic flame, flags, the wind, the javelin as it flies through the air, etc.<br /><br /><strong>People</strong><br /><br />I can also use the method to list people. This time my question takes the format:<br /><br />Who's (action) est?<br /><br />So, with the Olympics example, I can choose an action and insert this in the format:<br /><br />Who's shouting-est?<br /><br />Possible answers: a patriotic fan, a coach, an athlete shouting as they win an event etc.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-1140945758018497562006-02-26T09:22:00.000+00:002006-02-26T10:29:54.606+00:00The superlative's superlativeAs I go about my daily business I like to nurture a creative attitude - I'll spot problems, ask 'What if?' and be aware of the here-and-now. With such an array of creative techniques available to help think creatively it's possible to suffer from a kind of 'option blindness' -- or paralysis by analysis, like the centipede that doesn't know which leg to move next. The <em>superlative's superlative</em> is a great entry point for creativity and a simple way to set a creative challenge and get the thoughts rolling.<br /><br /><strong>Objects</strong><br /><br />Aware of the here-and-now I'll consider an object near me or an action I'm doing at the time. With an object, I consider how I could make that object or action into the superlative/ultimate form. So if I was opening a door I could set the challenge in the format:<br /><br />Make the door the <em>door-est</em> door.<br /><br />This can be provoke many questions and lead me to consider what the ultimate door (the door-est door) would be like and how it would be defined...<br /><br />The greatest door? The most efficient door? The largest door? The door that can be used 24/7? The door that can be used by the most people? The most famous door? The door most universally recognised as a door? A door that recognises people who shouldn't use the door and thus automatically locks itself? If I choose one of these possibilities (say, the most efficient door) I can consider how I would go about realising that goal.<br /><br /><strong>Actions</strong><br /><br />I can also use the technique for actions. So if I'm in discussion with someone I can set a challenge in the format:<br /><br />Make the discussion the <em>discussion-est</em> discussion.<br /><br />If a discussion was the ultimate, perfect discussion what would it be like? Super efficient? Super problem-solving? Super honest and free from hidden-agendas?<br /><br />See also: <a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2006/02/fiction-quick-way-to-make-up.html">Fiction: a quick way to make up interesting characters</a>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-1140880152625124792006-02-25T15:08:00.000+00:002006-02-25T20:43:46.473+00:00Using adverbs to help write information about a subjectAdverbs and adverbial phrases can be used with 'prompter questions' to quickly create a list of information about a particular subject. Say, for example, my subject is 'Live8'. My prompter question is in the format:<br /><br />What's done...(adverb)?<br /><br />Using the techniques from the <a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2006/02/listing-adverbs-and-adverbial-phrases.html">Listing Adverbs and Adverbial phrases</a> post I list the following adverbs/phrases:<br /><br />in the air, with eggs, secretly.<br /><br />My first question thus reads:<br /><br />At Live8, what's done in the air?<br /><br />Possible answers: the airship/helicopters filming the event. Throwing something into the crowd. Waving hands in air.<br /><br />My second question reads:<br /><br />At Live8, what's done with eggs?<br /><br />Possible answers: feeding the performers and stage staff. Throwing eggs at bad acts (!)<br /><br />And the third thus:<br /><br />What's done secretly?<br /><br />Possible answers: smuggling in surprise guests, counting the money collected on the day, big stars leaving the arena.<br /><br /><strong>Cyclical approach</strong><br /><br />I can use the information listed to list more adverbs. The question "What's done secretly?" led to the answer "big stars leaving the arena". I can now consider adverbs (or adverbial phrases) that fit the action of big stars leaving the arena. For example:<br /><br />Big stars leaving the arena is done: in a limo, at the end, with bodyguards etc.<br /><br />I can pick one of these adverbs ('at the end') to form another prompter question:<br /><br />At Live8, what's done at the end?<br /><br />Possible answers: the grand finale, the goodbye, crowd dispersion, the big clean up, a final collection at the exits etc.<br /><strong><br />Ideas</strong><br /><br />I've found that using this approach can trigger ideas with very little creative effort:<br /><br />Listing 'throwing eggs at bad acts' led to the idea of doing a comedic Live8 with bad acts such as those who failed in X Factor shows, or groups that released awful records.<br /><br />Asking 'What's done with regret?' resulted in the answer 'Stars of the 1985 Live Aid watching the show at home sorry about not being included'. This led to the idea of a Live8 that would feature the acts of 1985 who didn't feature at 2005.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-1140260885498988422006-02-25T14:07:00.000+00:002006-02-25T18:28:22.166+00:00Defining/texturing listing activitiesAt various stages of creativity, when I am making a list of any kind I can opt to define/texture the listing activity by using adjectives (and words/phrases that function as adjectives).<br /><br />So, for example, if I am listing information about a subject (say, the Olympics) I can state my directive as:<br /><br />List information about the Olympics<br /><br />and then define/texture the listing by using adjectives and words/phrases that function as adjectives:<br /><br />List <em>arrival</em> information about the Olympics<br />List <em>likely to amaze</em> information about the Olympics.<br /><br />(The first could suggest: the opening ceremony, flights into the country, order of arrival of events etc. The second could suggest: the records, the outstanding athletes, the distance traveled by the torch etc.)<br /><br /><strong>Various stages of creative thinking</strong><br /><br /><strong>Listing information</strong><br /><br />The defining/texturing approach can be used when listing information about a subject. The defining/texturing templates for this would read as:<br /><br />List X information<br />List X facts<br />List X problems<br />List X ideas<br />List X rules (with a view to breaking them)<br /><br /><strong>Creating ideas</strong><br /><br />At the creative stage the defining/texturing templates would read thus:<br /><br />Create X idea<br />Create X 'What if?' (See <a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2005/12/colouring-creative-what-if-questions.html">'What if?' post</a>)<br /><br /><strong>Movement and using 'What if?' questions</strong><br /><br />If am using<a href="http://www.mycoted.com/creativity/techniques/provocation.php"> lateral thinking provocations</a> or 'What if?' questions for thought experiments, I can use the defining/texturing approach to help list consequences, benefits, and the circumstances when the thought experiment would be beneficial. Thus the templates for this read:<br /><br />List X consequences<br />List X benefits<br />List X circumstances when idea is beneficial<br /><br /><strong>Listing Assumptions </strong><br /><br />I can use the defining/texturing approach to help list assumptions about a subject. So, if I my subject is the Olympics and I use the defining/texturing template "List X assumptions about the Olympics" a possible final directive could read thus:<br /><br />List <em>Simon</em> assumptions about the Olympics<br /><br />and a possible assumption listed could be: I assume that people called Simon are allowed at the Olympics.<br /><br /><strong>Taking concepts from the defining/texturing directive</strong><br /><br />I can opt to lift (or create) a concept directly from the defining/texturing template. So if a directive was:<br /><br />List <em>scientific</em> information about the Olympics<br /><br />I can forget about naming a specific example of scientific information and just use 'scientific information' as a concept in itself. I can create a word from this if I like such as "sci-info".Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583937.post-1140348443626137312006-02-19T11:21:00.000+00:002006-02-19T11:50:25.550+00:00Refining and developing ideas by adding adverbsAdverbs can be added to ideas to suggest ways to refine and develop ideas. With the following <a href="http://globalideasbank.org/site/home/">Global Ideas Bank</a> idea:<br /><br /><a href="http://globalideasbank.org/site/bank/idea.php?ideaId=3577">Lottery entry slips - tick box for 10% to charity</a><br /><br />I can add an appendage to the idea:<br /><br />is done...X<br /><br />Next I <a href="http://johnideas.blogspot.com/2006/02/listing-adverbs-and-adverbial-phrases.html">find some adverbs</a> (and/or adverbial phrases) for the 'X'. Here are some possibilities:<br /><br />Idea is done...prehistorically<br />Idea is done...in the dark<br />Idea is done...inquisitively<br />Idea is done...for tourists<br /><br />Next I consider each one and see if any ideas come about.<br /><br /><strong>Idea is done...prehistorically</strong><br /><br />This initially suggests that past winners could volunteer ten per cent of their winnings. Not likely to happen. What if the idea was enforced? The lottery is relatively new in the UK so it wouldn't be possible to track winners further back than ten years 'to prehistoric times'. However, there were other possibilities to win money such as the Pools and Premium Bonds before the lottery. This leads to the idea that ten per cent idea could be applied to the Pools and Premium Bonds.<br /><br /><strong>Idea is done...in the dark</strong><br /><br />If a lottery slip were filled out in the dark the direct consequence is that the person wouldn't know if they'd ticked the ten per cent box properly. This gives me an idea: maybe a random element could be introduced; the lottery player would 'gamble' and agree that up to fifty per cent of their winnings could go to charity.<br /><br /><strong>Idea is done...inquisitively</strong><br /><br />There could be an 'inquisitive' TV documentary that explores the direct effect the new income would have on a specific charity. Or there could be a 'inquisitive' study into what goes through a person's mind when they are ticking the box. This leads to the idea that the person could specify which charity they'd like to receive the funds.<br /><br /><strong>Idea is done...for tourists </strong><br /><br />I'm not sure if tourists are allowed to play the UK lottery. Would this be for tax reasons? If this was the case then a new box could be added that is ticked by tourists that states that they agree to a percentage of their winnings being used to pay tax and thus avoid problems.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348033030467961976noreply@blogger.com0