The toughest part of this blog is to come up with some pragmatic reasons as to why we should put effort into understanding the ecology of innovation. This morning I jotted 4 areas that on a personal level can benefit from a better understanding of innovation:
1) Socialization -
The current catch phrase for this concept is community, but 'it' is much broader. We are social animals there by needing in some way to interact with others. How we choose to interact is a personal choice. Whether it is through organized religion, strong family values, romance, online chat groups, etc., it does not matter as long as the activity fulfills that need in us.
2) Health -
Education is almost always listed as on the factors that impacts health. I think innovation has a similar impact. The more intellectual comfortable one is with the technology and methodology in one's life the healthier the lifestyle will be.
3) Self- worth -
Similar to health. The greater the understanding the more comfortable with a person is going to be with their surroundings, this think leads to greater sense of self.
4) Engagement -
The greater the technology the easier it is to go through the motions. It is easier than it has ever been to keep oneself occupied with things, but being occupied by something is not the same as being engaged with the thing we are doing. Engagement is a deeper awareness. It's not possible to say when one's mind is simply occupied and when it's engaged, but there is definite proof that engagement is healthy. [Make it an adventure]
Understanding how technology occupies our time helps an individual gauge he's level of engagement in it.
