"Where do good ideas come from?"

As our regular readers know well, World Streets is in the collaborative idea-building business to define, reinforce and advance the New Mobility Agenda on streets and in cities around the world. So whenever we hear about something or someone who can help us sharpen our vision and tools, we are a willing audience. Today we are pleased to share with you a sharp five-minute brainstorming presentation that the popular science writer Steven Johnson has recently made on exactly our topic. You can buy his intriguing book under this title if you click here. But for now, sit back and let's hear to what Steven has to share with us on idea-building.

About Steven Johnson

Steven Johnson is the author of seven popular books looking at how science, technology and the human experience interact. He is also the founder of three websites, including his latest venture, hyperlocal aggregator site outside.in. His latest book, 'Where good ideas come from: The natural history of innovation', takes a look at how some of the world's greatest thinkers came to the conclusions that changed our world. In it he argues that the lone genius is the exception rather than the rule, and that innovation is usually a far slower, more collaborative process. You may also want to have a look at a recent interview that appeared in the New York Times in which Steven claims that he is "not a Communist. (click here). Now the point he raises in that piece, which I should like to come to later here, is what he calls "innovation in the fourth quadrant".   Right up our alley.  But more on that later.

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