When asked to write an article on the role of technology in creativity for WHY! I instantly thought to myself “wow, I really have my work cut out for me here”. With a background in Technology, Engineering and Computer Science, I wondered where exactly creativity fits in there. I began looking around, seeing what I could find that linked creativity with technology, and then it dawned on me. It had been staring me in the face the whole time.
Traditionally I have always started a blog post with an image, an image that represents somehow the idea of the words that accompany it. At this point I had already chosen the image. It was already there, waiting for the words to flow. This was it, this was creativity and technology co-existing. For me, without technology, my creativity would be limited even further than it currently is.
I thought I could make this into somewhat of an interactive game. The first thing I did was delete the image from this post, and now you’re wondering, “but what was this image?” I hope you are, because soon you will know. The aim of the game is to demonstrate the importance of technology in creativity. How this will be achieved is simple. I will give you as little information as possible, and I want you to use technology to either create, or find the image I had started this post with initially. Before I share this information I would like to put a thought to you.
Creativity is to be shared, is an art, of any form. Without people with whom to share this creativity, it is nothing more than a glorious idea. Technology, is the key to sharing these ideas, as sharing is the key to further creativity. When I create, I share, and through response, reaction, interaction and inspiration I am able to further my creative goals.
The role of technology is not limited to communication. Technology is the simplicity with which we are empowered to create, without fear of mistakes and their consequences. Through technology the limitations and the boundaries that hold back our creativity are lifted. One can redesign their home, their city, their planet without having to change a single thing around them. Through technology this idea can be shared, and through technology this idea can remain.
Not only is technology the the tool with which creativity is simplified, technology is the result of our creativity, the product of our desire to surpass our limitations, to pull down our boundaries and scale the walls too tall for us to climb. With our limitless creativity, restricted only by its container we have created a medium with which our mind shapes the things we do, no longer restricted in it’s ability to flow as water in a glass. Technology enables us, it is the tool by which we shatter that glass allowing the creative jiuces to flow, and meet withthe sea of inspiration that surrounds us.
Now back to our game. I will give you the name of two things, two objects, items, forms. I want you find imagine the image I saw as the representation of this article. Find, search, create. As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words. Without technology how would I have shared this image, the idea in my head. I have taken away the most powerful tool that enabled my to share my creativity and the ideas in my head by removing the image from amongst the words. Yet I am sure 100% that someone will find the exact same image I had, if not by creating themselves, with the aid of technology, a similar piece of art, tat inspires the same idea.
What are those two items of which I speak? “Light-bulb” and “goldfish”. Already I hope you have visions of exactly that of which I speak. Now share it.
by Hamid Elaosta
