Choose one of the following tasks to do for next week, or come up with your own related task.
1) Look over all the diagrams that we created and create a master diagram that sums up the commonalities in them all.
2) After you look over all the diagrams that we created maybe you will notice that they cannot be reduced to one master diagram. If this is the case, reduce them to two (or three) diagrams. Begin to think about how the two (or three) diagrams you came up with differ, what different predictions they make, and how we might test them.
3) Look at the eight theories from the literature that I presented. Which of the theories do you think is the most promising to build upon? Is there some way to combine two or more of the theories into a grander theory?
4) Compare the eight theories from the literature with the diagrams that we created. Are there important things mentioned in the eight theories that we left out of our diagrams. If so, create a new diagram that incorporates it.
5) Come up with your own task for next week. That is, come up with your own next step for building a theory of insight problem solving.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Status of Our Lab & the Big Picture
As you can tell from our meetings, there is a great deal of room in the area of insight problem solving for new work (new theories and new experiments).
I am very impressed with all the work that our PuzzleLab group has been doing. You have really given yourselves to the puzzles and all the tasks that I have asked you to do. Thanks for giving yourself to the topic and making lab so enjoyable.
As you also know, I am very interested in coming up with practical results that can improve people's problem-solving abilities. First, I believe it is a scientist's responsibility to society to address research questions that can potentially benefit society. Second, I believe that given the times we live in improving people's problem-solving abilities is a very important task. In the coming decades there is going to be so much innovation required as we search for more and more "green" products, more energy-efficient devices, and new sources of energy (to name a few areas). Any psychology results that can improve problem-solving skills and enhance innovation could play an important role in this transition to a "green" world. Further, as my TV show design highlights, many clever inventions are needed to improve the basic quality of life for so many of the world's poor. Again, psychology results could assist the process of invention for this noble and important cause.
Based on the scholarship I received this year, the UMass engineering department agrees with my basic vision and sees potential in my research for results that could directly help engineers become more innovative.
Recently, other areas of application have come to my attention.
1) Shiraj Sen is a doctoral student in computer science working in the robotics lab. He is trying to make a robot that can learn about the objects in its environment and then solve problems using those objects. Although the problems are simpler than the ones we humans deal with, still they are a type of insight problem in that the representations of the objects are incomplete and the robot needs to notice new features about the objects. Shiraj and I have been meeting and he is going to be using an idea of mine in his dissertation work. I have not shared this idea with you, but I will sometime in the coming weeks.
2) There is a fairly new area of research called CreativeIT (Creative Information Technology). The premise of the area is that computers can be used to help us humans overcome some of our limitations when it comes to being creative. My research definitely fits into this new area. Here is a quote from the National Science Foundation website.
"Information technology is playing an increasing role in extending the capability of human creative thinking and problem solving. The study of creativity and computing as a way to advance computer science and information technology, cognitive science, engineering, education, or science can lead to new models of creativity and creative computational processes, innovative approaches to education that encourage creativity, innovative modes of research that include creative professionals, and new technology to support human creativity."
These are some of the reasons I think the study of insight problems is important and exciting. I am glad that you are a part of it.
I am very impressed with all the work that our PuzzleLab group has been doing. You have really given yourselves to the puzzles and all the tasks that I have asked you to do. Thanks for giving yourself to the topic and making lab so enjoyable.
As you also know, I am very interested in coming up with practical results that can improve people's problem-solving abilities. First, I believe it is a scientist's responsibility to society to address research questions that can potentially benefit society. Second, I believe that given the times we live in improving people's problem-solving abilities is a very important task. In the coming decades there is going to be so much innovation required as we search for more and more "green" products, more energy-efficient devices, and new sources of energy (to name a few areas). Any psychology results that can improve problem-solving skills and enhance innovation could play an important role in this transition to a "green" world. Further, as my TV show design highlights, many clever inventions are needed to improve the basic quality of life for so many of the world's poor. Again, psychology results could assist the process of invention for this noble and important cause.
Based on the scholarship I received this year, the UMass engineering department agrees with my basic vision and sees potential in my research for results that could directly help engineers become more innovative.
Recently, other areas of application have come to my attention.
1) Shiraj Sen is a doctoral student in computer science working in the robotics lab. He is trying to make a robot that can learn about the objects in its environment and then solve problems using those objects. Although the problems are simpler than the ones we humans deal with, still they are a type of insight problem in that the representations of the objects are incomplete and the robot needs to notice new features about the objects. Shiraj and I have been meeting and he is going to be using an idea of mine in his dissertation work. I have not shared this idea with you, but I will sometime in the coming weeks.
2) There is a fairly new area of research called CreativeIT (Creative Information Technology). The premise of the area is that computers can be used to help us humans overcome some of our limitations when it comes to being creative. My research definitely fits into this new area. Here is a quote from the National Science Foundation website.
"Information technology is playing an increasing role in extending the capability of human creative thinking and problem solving. The study of creativity and computing as a way to advance computer science and information technology, cognitive science, engineering, education, or science can lead to new models of creativity and creative computational processes, innovative approaches to education that encourage creativity, innovative modes of research that include creative professionals, and new technology to support human creativity."
These are some of the reasons I think the study of insight problems is important and exciting. I am glad that you are a part of it.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Clever Crows
Cracking nuts by dropping them in traffic over a pedestrian walkway. The cars run over the nuts to crack them. The stoplight stops the traffic and the crows safely collect the nut fragments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PmkreJHw4k
A crow bends a straight wire so it can hook food that is out of reach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeQppJmOWJA&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PmkreJHw4k
A crow bends a straight wire so it can hook food that is out of reach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeQppJmOWJA&NR=1
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Chimp Solution
Here is a solution that this chimp took about 10 minutes to create. The clip is from "Ape Genius," a NOVA special for PBS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrPb41hzYdw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrPb41hzYdw
Hints for Jail Cell Problem
First Hint
Try a visual juxtaposition diagram. The peanut is at the bottom and you want it near the top so you can reach it.
What can effect this transformation? Imagine the peanut moving from the start state to the end state? What can help the peanut do this?
Second Hint
Try a visual superimposition diagram.
What can effect this transformation? Again, imagine the peanut moving from bottom to top? What can help the peanut do this?
Try a visual juxtaposition diagram. The peanut is at the bottom and you want it near the top so you can reach it.
What can effect this transformation? Imagine the peanut moving from the start state to the end state? What can help the peanut do this?
Second Hint
Try a visual superimposition diagram.
What can effect this transformation? Again, imagine the peanut moving from bottom to top? What can help the peanut do this?
The Jail Cell Problem
You are locked in a jail cell!
If you solve the puzzle, the warden will let you go free!
Here is your jail cell!
Affixed to the inside of one of your bars is a tall (2 foot), slender (two of your fingers can fit in), transparent tube (illustration below). A peanut is dropped to the bottom of the tube. You must get it out but you cannot remove the tube from the bar or break it. You have to repeat your solution in front of the warden to make sure that you did not cheat.
All you have in your cell are the usual items: cot, pillow, desk, sink, and toilet. How can you win your freedom?
Hints are at the next post: "Hints for Jail Cell Problem"
If you solve the puzzle, the warden will let you go free!
Here is your jail cell!
Affixed to the inside of one of your bars is a tall (2 foot), slender (two of your fingers can fit in), transparent tube (illustration below). A peanut is dropped to the bottom of the tube. You must get it out but you cannot remove the tube from the bar or break it. You have to repeat your solution in front of the warden to make sure that you did not cheat.
All you have in your cell are the usual items: cot, pillow, desk, sink, and toilet. How can you win your freedom?
Hints are at the next post: "Hints for Jail Cell Problem"
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