Steven Johnson on creative ideas and connected minds

Writer Steven Johnson did a wonderful lecture with supporting animation by the fine people at RSA.

The gist of the talk is that insights develop slowly. These ideas stew, uncompleted, until the missing piece can be found. When people are exposed to the musings of others, they are more likely to bring those ideas to completion.

This idea should take center stage in our increasingly connected world.

I’ve thought about this also, and I wonder if our access to information makes up for how specialized our knowledge has become.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments.

Note: You can also hear a longer version in Johnson’s TED Talk. Well worth the listen.