Thinking in Pictures

A typical report on education and the economy written circa 1998 would most likely have a collage that includes photos of young knowledge workers: one in a white coat holding a test tube, perhaps one wearing a suit seated at a computer, and maybe another adjusting a CNC lathe or some other advanced manufacturing equipment. Two guys and a woman. Probably one of African-American descent.

Today, the picture would certainly be different. It might still include a scientist, probably doing something environmental like examining a plant. There might be a technician or nurse with a medical imaging device. And there would probably be design team—a multicultural group of hip young people in a cool space strewn with all kinds of curious looking toys and gizmos and drawings.

The lathe might be replaced by a solar array. There might be a laptop in the picture or perhaps someone would be using a Blackberry, but the computer would be like the phone in those business images of yesterday—just a routine tool, not a major part of the story.

What's the point? I thought I would try thinking in pictures. Maybe that's one way to develop imagination. It was easier than my usual analytical approach and the time seemed to go faster.