Unlearning 101

Unlearning the Computer Interface

Microsoft has developed a cool new interface that allows consumers to control images on the front of the device (or phone) from the back. As devices get ever smaller, this seems like a natural evolution of where interface technology is headed. Will other device manufacturers be able to unlearn the current paradigm?

Unlearning Happiness

Imagine you won the lottery. Now imagine you lost the use of your legs in a car accident. In a year's time under which event would you experience more happiness? It seems like an idiotic question. The answer is obvious: the lottery will make us happier. The only problem is that this isn't true. I encourage you to watch this very insightful video from Dan Gilbert, the author of "Stumbling Upon Happiness" and pay very close attention to what he calls "The Impact Bias." His comments on the "paradox of choice" may also encourage many of us to unlearn what we think will make us happy.

Unlearning Smell

Below Luca Turin delivers a fascinating talk on the "science of smell." If his vibrational theory of smell is correct -- and he appears to deliver compelling evidence at the end of his talk -- a great many scientists will have to unlearn what they think they know about smell. (So, too, will the perfume industry.)

Unlearning Brainstorming

Janet Rae-Dupree had an insightful article entitled "Teamwork, the True Mother of Invention" in yesterday's New York Times. At one point she writes:

“Innovation today isn’t a sudden break with the past, a brilliant insight that one lone outsider pushes through to save the company,” he says. “Just the opposite: innovation today is a continuous process of small and constant change, and it’s built into the culture of successful companies.”

She later notes that: "researchers have shown repeatedly that individuals working alone generate more ideas than groups acting in concert. Among the problems are these: Throwing in an idea for public consideration generates fear of failure, and workers looking to advance their own interests often keep their best ideas to themselves until a more opportune time.

My take-a-way from the article is that if you want to spur creativity and innovation you may have to unlearn the process of "brainstorming."

Unlearning 80,000 Years

It was only two days ago that I said we must unlearn 700 million years. Now it appears we must add another 80,000 years. According to a recent article in the National Geographic scientists now believe that modern humans may have evolved more than 80,000 years earlier than previously thought.

Unlearning Your Age

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article describing how appliance manufacturers are now doing a better job of designing products for aging baby boomers. One strategy they employ is to make their younger engineers wear "aging suits" to help them empathize with and better understand how more elderly users might actually experience a product. To this end, the younger workers tape up their fingers to simulate arthritis; stick cotton balls in their ears to lessen their hearing; and wear thick glasses to affect impaired vision. All-in-all the strategy seems to have delivered some impressive results and it speaks to the benefits of unlearning one's age.

Unlearning 700 Million Years

In my hometown newspaper there is a fascinating article entitled "New evidence suggests new view of Earth history" which suggests that geologists may have to unlearn what they think the first 700 million years of Earth's 4.5 billion year existence were really like. Up to this point, most geologists assumed Earth was a hellishly hot place. According to more recent research, however, 4 billion years ago the sun was producing 30 percent less energy than today -- which would have made the Earth a much cooler place.

Here is the quote I like the best, though: "We thought we knew something we didn't," said T. Mark Harrison, a professor of geochemistry at UCLA.

Unlearning Foie Gras

I don't eat foie gras, but this 20-minute presentation by Dan Barber is a case-study in how any number of industries -- but especially those in agriculture -- would do well to unlearn their current production methods and instead study Mother Nature:

Unlearning the Conventional Wind Turbine

Is it possible that a wind turbine half the size of a conventional wind turbine could generate a comparable amount of electricity? According to this article  the answer is yes.

To better understand how this new turbine can also use less land; operate at higher wind speeds; and reduce transportation costs, I invite you to watch this short five-minute video.

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