Web Tool For Brainstorming

WEB TOOL FOR BRAINSTORMING - SOFTWARE TOOL FOR GENERATING IDEAS Dejan Ristevski1, Vane Spasov1, Milan Petkovski2, Dimitar Trajanov2 1 Lazarov Consulting Engineering, Skopje, Republic Of Macedonia, 2 Faculty for Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Skopje, Republic Of Macedonia •

Abstract – The Web Tool for Brainstorming is software tool for generating creative ideas. About creativity, brainstorming, mind tools and software for electronic brainstorming is described in this paper. The software is designed for helping the people that are responsible in decision making areas like project management, company management, education, art etc. This tool helps in decision making by simply writing the key words for the problem. Then the tool generates ideas in correlation with this words by using the power of internet, Google Product (Froogle) and Google Sets. Usage of the software in the Faculty Of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Computer Science Department, Skopje. This Web Tool For Brainstorming can be used in wide spectra of areas for personal creativity improvement, company usage and for fun.

Reversal and SCAMPER – which is used for improving a product or service • Attribute Listing, Morphological Analysis and Matrix Analysis – used for creating new products, services and strategies • Brainstorming – for generating many radical ideas • Random Input – for making creative leaps • Concept Fan – used for widening the search for solutions • Reframing Matrix - Looking at problems from different perspectives and many others. One of the mentioned creativity tools that are subject of our interest are Brainstorming and Random Input techniques. They are an excellent way of developing many creative solutions to a problem. Brainstorming works by focusing on a problem, and then coming up with very many radical solutions to it. Ideas should be as broad and odd as possible, and should be developed as fast as can. Random Input [2] is a lateral thinking tool which is very useful when you need fresh ideas or new perspectives during problem solving. There are two Google services that are very useful to be utilized in our work. First one is Google Products [17] which generates random words, noun of real existing object, and the idea here is that noun to be used as random input which will force you to think of new ideas that you wouldn't normally think of. The second one is Google Sets [13] service which is a tool that fleshes out “sets,” or lists of things of the same kind [3]. This area is very interesting for many scientists and enthusiasts. They have spent time for developing useful creativity support software that uses similar concepts as those described before. For example ParaMind Brainstorming Software [4] is one kind of creativity support tool. This tool generates idea combinations that are directly related to the idea that is typed on the user interface screen. It works on subjects from different areas such as writing, law, marketing and scientific inventions. The user writes the sentence and selects words from the sentence to expand generation of new text. This tool uses database of one-thousand related word categories and new words can be added. This tool is interesting but is limited from perspective of poor words database. Also users of different platforms such as Mac OSX, Linux, and Windows need separate installation. Brainstorm and Affinity Diagram Tool [5] is another software tool developed by PathMaker. It is used for brainstorming and combining ideas. This diagramming software tool combines two important creative processes in a split window. The brainstorm tool permits recording

1. INTRODUCTION Creativity is a mental and social process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts, or new associations of the creative mind between existing ideas or concepts [1]. An alternative conception of creativeness is that it is simply the act of making something new. From a scientific point of view, the products of creative thought, sometimes referred to as divergent thought, are usually considered to have both originality and appropriateness. Although intuitively a simple phenomenon, it is in fact quite complex. It has been studied from the perspectives of behavioral psychology, social psychology, psychometrics, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, philosophy, history, economics, design research, business, and management, among others. The studies have covered everyday creativity, exceptional creativity and even artificial creativity. Unlike many phenomena in science, there is no single, authoritative perspective or definition of creativity. And unlike many phenomena in psychology, there is no standardized measurement technique. Despite, or perhaps because of, the ambiguity and multi-dimensional nature of creativity, entire industries have been spawned from the pursuit of creative ideas and the development of creativity techniques. Because scientific discoveries and engineering innovation produce broad benefits, improved tools that advance individual, group, and social creativity are becoming very important in our days [18]. There are several different tools for creativity [2] that can help us to become intensely creative. They will help us both solve problems and spot opportunities that might otherwise miss. Following techniques are known as creativity tools: 1

of creative ideas that answer a central question. The software is used to record the ideas which are editable, as are the central question. Also affinity set headers are editable, collapsible and expandable. The main issue is that there is no way for generating new idea from some kind of database or source. There is no way to make random input of some word that is going to develop brainstorming process additionally, but all ideas came from the user that only writes down them and combines them in similar groups. The Solutions Genie [6] is brainstorming tool developed by DSS Systems & Software Technologies Ltd. It uses the Electronic/Network Brainstorming aspect for generating ideas and can be used in organizations to help continuous quality and process improvement. The Brainstorming Toolbox [7] is developed from Infinite Innovations Ltd. Brainstorming Toolbox is a desktop application that incorporates several creativity tools such as: random word, random picture, challenge facts, false rules, SCAMPER. It is used for brainstorming, creative thinking, lateral thinking, creativity and problem solving. Other software tools that incorporate visual techniques for brainstorming called mind mapping allows you to brainstorm and visualize ideas. Mind mapping helps you organize complex ideas or processes to increase understanding, plan more efficiently and turn ideas into action faster. These tools are IdeaFisher [8], ConceptDraw [9], SmartDraw [10], MatchWare[11].

group. When individual members reach their limit on an idea, another member's creativity and experience can take it to the next stage. Therefore, group brainstorming tends to develop ideas in more depth than individual brainstorming. Brainstorming in a group can be risky for individuals. Strange and often very valuable suggestions may appear stupid at first sight. Because of such, session leader is needed to chair sessions tightly so that uncreative people do not crush these ideas and leave group members feeling humiliated. To run a group brainstorming session effectively, following steps are needed: 1. Define the problem for solving clearly, and lay out any criteria to be met. 2. Keep the session focused on the problem. 3. Ensure that no one criticizes or evaluates ideas during the session. 4. Encourage an enthusiastic, uncritical attitude among members of the group. Try to get everyone to contribute and develop ideas, including the quietest members of the group. 5. Let people have fun brainstorming. Encourage them to come up with as many ideas as possible, from solidly practical ones to wildly impractical ones. 6. Ensure that no train of thought is followed for too long. 7. Encourage people to develop other people’s ideas, or to use other ideas to create new ones. 8. Appoint one person to note down ideas that come out of the session which should be studied and evaluated after the session.

2. BRAINSTORMING AND RANDOM INPUT Brainstorming is a process designed to obtain the maximum number of ideas relating to a specific area of interest. Brainstorming can be an effective way to generate lots of ideas on a specific issue and then determine which idea – or ideas – is the best solution. At the conclusion of the brainstorming process, ideas are categorized and ranked for follow-on action. It's a process of discovery where you start with a kernel of an idea and then expand. During brainstorming sessions there should be no criticism of ideas. The thinker is trying to open possibilities and break down wrong assumptions about the limits of the problem. Judgments or analysis at this stage will stunt idea generation. The thinker should only evaluate ideas after a brainstorming session has finished. There are two kinds of traditional brainstorming: individual and group brainstorming Individual brainstorming [2] is performed when single person brainstorms on his own; he will tend to produce a wider range of ideas than group brainstorming because he has not to worry about other people’s egos or opinions, and so can be more freely creative. However he could not develop ideas as effectively because he doesn’t have the experience of the group to help him. One major benefit [12] is that you don't have to worry about other people judging your ideas as they're created. You're free to go wherever your brain takes you as you utilize the brainstorming technique to generate ideas. Group brainstorming [2] can be very effective as it uses the experience and creativity of all members of the

Random Input [2] is a technique for linking another thinking pattern into the one we are using. Along with this new pattern comes all the experience that thinker has connected to it. To use Random Input, a random noun from either a dictionary or a pre-prepared word list is needed to be selected. It often helps if the noun is something that can be seen or touched (e.g. “helicopter”, “dog”) rather than a concept (e.g. “fairness”). This noun is used as the starting point for brainstorming on the problem. If good word is chosen, then a range of new ideas and concepts will be added to the brainstorming, while some will be useless. Example: Imagine that we are thinking about the problem of reducing car pollution. So far in thinking through the problem we have considered all the conventional solutions of catalytic conversion and clean fuels. Selecting a random noun from the titles of the books in a bookcase we might see the word “Plants”. Brainstorming from this we could generate a number of new ideas: 1. Plant trees on the side of roads to convert CO2 back into oxygen. 2. Similarly, pass exhaust gases through a soup of algae to convert CO2 back into oxygen. Perhaps this is how an “air scrubber” in a space crafts works?

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3. Put sulfur-metabolizing bacteria into an exhaust gas processor to clean up exhaust gases. Would nitrogen compounds fertilize these bacteria? 4. Another meaning of “Plant” is factory. Perhaps exhaust gases could be collected in a container, and sent to a special plant to be cleaned? Perhaps we could off-load these gases at the same time as we fill up with fuel?

Even though Google Sets [3] is an imperfect and idiosyncratic tool, it has impressive associative powers. The technology behind Google Sets is also used to improve the regular Google search engine, “to get you more related and more accurate results.” Google decided to make Google Sets available as a separate tool because it “stood alone on its own and was kind of interesting.”

These ideas are very raw. Some may be wrong or impractical. One of them might be original and the basis of some useful development.

4. USED TECHNOLOGY The Web Tool for Brainstorming (WTB) is designed and developed as web application that uses Silverlight 2.0 [14] and therefore it looks like desktop application. The application user interface is thankfully to the opportunities given and represented by the Silverlight which is Rich Internet Application standard. The objects that are displayed within the web page are designed with Blend Expression 2.0 [15], which is important and necessary helping tool for designing graphical objects for this architecture. All those graphical objects have declarative representation with XAML structure. Anything that is created or implemented in XAML can be expressed using a more traditional .NET language, such as C# or Visual Basic.NET. However, a key aspect of the technology is the reduced complexity needed for tools to process XAML, because it is based on XML. As a result, a variety of products are emerging, particularly in the WPF - Windows Presentation Foundation space, which create XAML-based applications. As XAML is simply based on XML, developers and designers are able to share and edit content freely amongst them without requiring compilation. The XAML based coding is strongly linked to the .NET Framework 3.5 [16] technologies. The XAML code produces the look and representation of the graphic object that is used in the user interface of the WTB, presented on Figure 1.

The Random Input is often used to initiate Brainstorming session, and because of that we have developed software tool that combines these two techniques. 3. GOOGLE SETS SERVICE Google Sets [13] is a large-scale clustering algorithm that uses many millions of data instances extracted from web data. More specifically, it invites users to enter a few items that all fall into a certain category. It then tries to determine what the category is and generate a list of more items that belong in that category. The Google Sets page contains blank lines for entering items and two options for getting result, “Long Set” and “Short Set (15 items or fewer)”. “Long Set” option is for a list that is as comprehensive as possible but likely to include some items that are weakly related or seemingly unrelated to the others. “Short Set” option is for a list that is more focused and less likely to contain outliers, though not necessarily free of them. Few examples are following, which are better than descriptions at communicating Google Sets’ purpose, behavior, and peculiarities. First is a straightforward query, one whose input is exactly what Google Sets requests: “a few items from a set of things.” Example 1 User Input: fork, stove, blender Google Sets Output: fork, stove, blender, microwave, refrigerator, and other things that are found in kitchens Example 2 User Input: kitchens Google Sets Output: kitchens, bathrooms, home offices, laundry rooms, and (mostly) other spaces found in homes

Figure 1 - WTB object represented by XAML Furthermore in the application is used web service that communicates with the graphic interface. This web service is the heart of the application because it is responsible for generating ideas.

As examples 1 and 2 show, Google Sets treats inputs in only one way: as members of a set. So, when the inputs are things that are found in kitchens, the outputs are more things that are found in kitchens. The input “kitchens,” on the other hand, does not lead to a list of things found in kitchens. Rather, it causes Google Sets to generate items that belong in the same category as kitchens, namely, other rooms found in homes. In other words, the only way to get items that belong in a certain category is to list a few items in that category, not to name or describe the category. This distinction explains why inputs reappear in the output.

5. WEB TOOL FOR BRAINSTORMING The process for creating ideas starts with the root node which is actually presented in the user interface drawing board when the tool is started. The main board is consisted of main node which represents problem definition node. This node has menu around itself and contains buttons for performing actions. Also on the right 3

side of the board there is navigation menu for moving the node network to all directions, zoom in/out and positioning to the starting point. The main WTB board is presented on Figure 2.

For the defined problem this tool enables adding new node manually or automatically. The manual adding is creating new node that represents new idea and is defined from the user by populating the node properties such as name, content and asset value. The automatically node adding is generating ideas which are associated with the problem represented by the selected node. We have developed two aspects of automatic generating ideas, getting random word from Google Products and getting similar category words from Google Sets. Generating of new ideas is with button clicking from the menu surrounding the node. The tool takes the word/words from the node name and sends it/them to the Google Sets service, then the service generates result set and the ideas are drawing as nodes on the drawing board. The drawn node network has “flower” representation. If generated ideas are not interesting in the process of brainstorming and the creativity process is somehow blocked then Random Input needs to be initiated by invoking random words from the Google Products. It contains nouns of physical products. These nouns are used as starting point for generating ideas for the defined problem on the central node. Google products or popularly known Froogle gives 25 random product names. Then randomly selecting two or three of them are given as input array to Google Sets which continues the list of the given ideas which some of them are good or neither of them are good and can be deleted and initiating new brainstorming session is required. The idea nodes are branched with sub-nodes. Every added node is linked with its parent node. The tool enables repositioning of every node, so it allows the thinker to make own structure of the nodes. On Figure 5 is presented idea generation from already defined idea node. When some of the nodes are moving on the board by the user, all of his children are moving too, except those nodes that have children nodes. This is done because of uniform positioning when large network of nodes is generated.

Figure 2 - WTB Board The menu buttons allow adding new idea manually, generating ideas automatically, deleting node, and focusing the node. The main node and the idea node are presented on Figure 3 where can be seen the surrounding menu for these separate nodes.

Figure 3 - Starting and idea nodes The WTB has an interface for updating the node properties. The node has Name, Type, Content and Asset value properties. The name field is for writing word or word combination. This name is starting point of brainstorming process. The type is read only and gives information if the node is root problem or idea node. The content is for writing additional information for the node while brainstorming. The asset value is for the idea node and represents field for giving value to the idea in the whole network of ideas. The updating interface is shown for every selected node from the drawing board, presented on Figure 4.

Figure 5 – Visual representation from automatic idea generation

Figure 4 - Node properties updating 4

Example: If car pollution problem is investigated with WTB then in the central node the name of the problem is written. This words combination is given as input array to Google Sets and is used to be extended. The generated array of new words is displayed as new nodes that are connected to the root node, in this case the „car pollution” node. The user also can add his new idea by adding new node, or can delete the node that has no reason to be in the nodes network. These results are shown by the WTB used on the „car pollution” problem, presented on Figure 6:

The nodes are: - noise pollution, axair climate, soot pollution, world map, toxic, particle pollution, ozone disinfection, basic chemistry, haz mat, global warming, air pollution, noise pollution These generated ideas are good starting point for thinking and evaluating the good ones and removing the most irrational one. On Figure 8 is presented brainstorming session extended to several nodes and the results are:

Figure 6 - Car pollution problem The generated node results are: - car pollution, land pollution, neighborhood noise, smoke, air quality, ozone pollution

Figure 8 - Extended ideas We are going to remove all nodes from the network that we think are inappropriate. All other generated nodes or manually added (not generated automatically) can be additionally updated with value that represents the metric which is going to be one of the factors for making decision, the node to stay or remove it from the nodes network. On Figure 9 is presented idea node properties with asset value set to 70 meaning that this ideas will participate in the decision making with that value.

If we extend the investigation on the generated nodes and start again generating new ideas from the node “ozone pollution” we are getting this result, presented on Figure 7:

Figure 9 - Evaluating node After the brainstorming session is finished the user can save the whole project in XML file, and he can send this file with e-mail to his collaboration partner. This XML representation is displayed on Figure 10. This second user can open the web page and import the received XML file. Then the whole structure with nodes

Figure 7 - Result of continuous idea generation 5

[3] Jill Cirasella, Google Sets, Google Suggest, and Google Search History: Three More Tools for the Reference Librarian’s Bag of Tricks, (accessed 15.01.2009) [4] ParaMind Brainstorming Software -Idea Creation Technology http://www.paramind.net/ (accessed 10.01.2009) [5] Brainstorm and Affinity Diagram Tool, http://www.skymark.com/pathmaker/tour/brain.asp?gclid =CIOd9NKeopgCFQpatAodzVV5mQ (accessed 10.01.2009) [6] Solution Genie, http://www.brainstormingdss.com/site/bsnet.html (accessed 10.01.2009) [7] Brainstorming Toolbox, http://www.infinn.com/toolbox.html (accessed 10.01.2009) [8] Idea Fisher, http://www.thoughtoffice.com/?page_id=148 (accessed 15.01.2009) [9] ConceptDraw, http://www.conceptdraw.com/en/products/mindmap/main .php?utm_source=Trial&utm_medium=About&utm_term =en-win&utm_content=6&utm_campaign=MM (accessed 15.01.2009) [10] SmartDraw, http://www.smartdraw.com/downloads/index.htm?WT.svl =link01 (accessed 10.01.2009) [11] MatchWare, http://www.matchware.com/EN/products/openmind/defau lt.htm (accessed 10.01.2009) [12] Jason R. Rich, Brain Storm: Tap into Your Creativity to Generate Awesome Ideas and Remarkable Results, Career Press, 2003 [13]Google Sets, http://labs.google.com/sets (accessed 15.01.2009) [14] Silverlight 2.0, http://silverlight.net/ (accessed 15.01.2009) [15] Microsoft Expression Blend,

and ideas generated as the original one are going to be drawn on the display. After that the brainstorming can be continued by other user.

Figure 10 - XML representation of the nodes network In the future the WTB is planned to be reworked as multiuser system. This means that the application will have system for registering users and every user could login to the WTB in order to perform brainstorming session. The user could invite other users to continue the brainstorming in real time. 6. CONCLUSION In this paper we present web tool for brainstorming which represents one kind of creativity support tool. We have covered the brainstorming and random input as techniques for creativity and utilizing the Google Products and Google Sets as services for generating ideas. The Brainstorming is a process designed to obtain the maximum number of ideas relating to a specific area of interest. During the brainstorming session there should no criticism of ideas. Evaluating of ideas comes at the end of the brainstorming session. Random Input is technique for linking another thinking pattern into the one we are using. Along with this new pattern comes all the experience that thinker has connected to it. Google Products at its first page gives 25 random product names that are nouns representing physical products. These nouns are used as starting point for generating ideas for some problem which name is not written on the central node. Then randomly selecting two or three of them are given as input array to Google Sets which continues the list of the given ideas which some of them are good or neither of them are good.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?Famil yId=5FF08106-B9F4-43CD-ABAD4CC9D9C208D7&displaylang=en (accessed 15.01.2009) [16] Microsoft .NET Framework, http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?Famil yId=333325FD-AE52-4E35-B531508D977D32A6&displaylang=en (accessed 15.01.2009) [17] Google Products, http://labs.google.com/products (accessed 15.01.2009) [18] Ben Shneiderman, CREATIVITY SUPPORT TOOLS-Accelerating Discovery and Innovation, December 2007

REFERENCES [1] Creativity article on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity , (accessed 15.01.2009) [2] James Manktelow, Mind Tools Essential Skills For An Excellent Career, Mind Tools Ltd Signal House, Station Rd Burgess Hill, West Sussex, United Kingdom, 2003

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