Lateral Thinking 

Dr. Edward de Bono coined the term "lateral thinking" to encompass those techniques we use to develop new patterns of thought. He argues that lateral thinking is most of what we consider "creative thinking". Normally, we think by recognizing familiar patterns in the incoming stream of data. Past experience acts as a funnel. Once we have the pattern, we run with it down the mainstream of thought:

De Bono also claims that once the new path -- the creatve idea -- has been discovered, the way back to the original thought pattern must be obvious. Otherwise our thinking process cannot accept it as a logical thought and we will discard it. Ironically, every creative idea must be "obvious" after-the-fact if it is to become an innovative reality!

• Remove an assumption.

(Cars don't have wheels)
• Look from a different viewpoint.

(The worm's eye view of a manufacturing plant)
• Add a random thought.

(The picture on the wall shows clowns; what if polymers wore face paint?)

Lateral thinking is often a two-step process. Once we are out of the pattern of our familiar thinking, we need more creative thinking before we are solidly launched down a new path. Additional provocations may be useful but other thinking tools should also be explored:

• Step back to underlying concepts and build new examples.

(Wheels smooth out the roadway; a smooth roadway could support cars on a cushion of air.)
• Piggyback one thought on another.

(Materials could move around a plant on air sleds if the air were supplied by wormholes in the floor.)