Finds

№ 17 | Autonomy, Architecture in LotR, a Robot that Draws on Walls, Story Structure Analysis, and Insights into How to Collaborate for Breakthrough Ideas

Stephen P. Anderson

Dec 16, 2022 — 2 min read

Assessing Autonomy

“Dear Executive: Why don’t people act? This is why no one is stepping up.” I’ve been on both side of this autonomy discussion; it’s not as simple as it is often framed. Great question, with solid, honest answers.

LotR Architecture

I kind of love this tweet thread exploring the architecture of The Lord of the Rings films… It’s great to think about how architecture—IRL or on screen—affects us. The final tweet sums it all up rather nicely: “The buildings of our towns and cities affect us - shaping our emotions and conveying information - no less than those in cinema. More so, even, because we actually live and work in and use them every day.”

Scribit

Ooh—a robot that can draw on vertical walls?! Once you get past the ‘how is this possible’ stage (essentially same tech in 3d printers + nails and string…?), you can start thinking about potential applications. The co-worker who shared this has this to say: “Interesting take on the idea of bridging analog/digital with physical space. What if this were a bot to draw your workshop on the walls of a physical collaboration space?”

Story Structure Analysis [x3!]

What a week for sharing narrative patterns… First, I stumbled across this thread that identifies 12 storytelling principles used to write bestselling nonfiction (note: a qualitative analysis of works by only 3 authors, all successful). Then, my co-worker Erik casually mentioned the book The Bestseller Code. And later in the week, I stumbled across a more modern take on this analysis that uses “natural language processing to show that 85% of 1327 books analyzed fell under one of the following six shapes.”

Breakthrough Ideas and Collaboration

Here’s an interesting take, that kind of makes sense: “Create ideas with strangers, refine them with friends/peers.” Here’s the tweet from Helen Bevan that links to the full research.

№ 83 | Stop Project 2025 Comics, Future for All: A vision for 2048, eyeConnect Cards, The Rule Book, and the Effects of Geography on Voting

This edition of the newsletter comes a couple days later than usual, but for a wonderful reason—I spent 5 days last week playing board games with my friends at BGG Con. 🎲 🤩 Next issue will resume the normal Sunday schedule! 🥸Reminder: If you're participating in the Create A

№ 82 | Pebble Talk, The Mood Meter, 3 Styles of Play, A Convection Simulation, an Electoral College Simulation, and What If America Had 6 Political Parties?

📍In case you missed it… Throughout November, I’m hosting another Creative Challenge: Create A Real Life Character Sheet. About 15 people have signed up so far, and there’s space for a few more folks—you should join us! Pebble Talk Here’s a way to avoid awkward small

Creative Challenge #3: Create A Real Life Character Sheet

Welcome, new readers. From time to time, I organize “Creative Challenges,” that fit with the whole “playful things to think with” theme. Previously, there was a One Card Serious Game Challenge, followed by the Make a Zine Challenge. I hadn’t planned on doing another Creative Challenge until next year

№ 81 | Scientific Papers as Comic Strips, 52 Things About Cards, Thermodynamics Cards, Collaborative Place Futures Toolkit, and Why The Work is Never Just “The Work”

✉️Look for 2 extra special emails heading your way, later this week! 1/ The promised print-and-play Zombie Leadership cards. 2/ An announcement about our next Creative Challenge… Scientific Papers as Comic Strips Yes! Comics as things to think with. Here’s an interview with Kanaka Rajan, who uses “narrative illustrations