Hello,
about 10-15 years ago a brainstorming software Idegen++ from CAC-
Research
was available (see a description below). The company don't exist
anymore and
I tried for quite some time to get a copy on ebay but with no luck.
Did someone
know how to get one (with german or engl interface)? Thank you very
much!
G=FCnter
##########
What is IDEGEN++ ?The IDEGEN++ program is both a working tool and a
course in creative problem solving. It is used as a tool to generate
solution ideas for action problems, such as:
Main idea of a device or machine.
Any design detail of it.
Main idea of a method, service or action of any type.
Any detail to above.
Any organizational or personnel problem.
Any hobby problem, comparable to the above.
Any personal or family problems.
In general, any problem of the type "what to do". The user should
possess a reasonably good knowledge of the problem situation and of
the technical, organizational or theoretical solution possibilities
applicable to it. The program then helps the user process this
knowledge more efficiently, more creatively. The program can also be
used in group work, and the program itself suggests this form of work
in certain situations.
The IDEGEN++ program is an expert in the creative problem solving
process; and can be used across a wide variety of applications.
Who can benefit from using IDEGEN++?For a person without training in
creative problem-solving, IDEGEN++ is a great personal teacher and
trainer available at any moment. When used on real problems, it mixes
advice, experiences and short theory lectures in an efficient,
practical way.
For a person who already knows some creative problem-solving methods:
IDEGEN++ offers a collection of tools found through 30 years of
practical experience and research in creative problem solution
methods.
IDEGEN++ acts as a systematic helper, letting users to concentrate
mental powers on the problem itself, not on what to do next during the
idea generating session.
Creativity research indicates "quantity yields quality", and that an
idea session bears more fruit when prolonged long beyond the finding
of the first feasible idea. IDEGEN++ acts as a systematic catalyst
that puts the quantity principle into practice. Finding a new idea is
such an exhilarating experience that the tendency to start developing
it, without looking for still better ideas happens frequently.
Furthermore, IDEGEN++ coaches the user to continue beyond the
immediate gratification of the first idea.
>From the point of view of computer use, IDEGEN++ has been made as
simple to use as possible. The goal has been to free the user from
having to think about how to use the computer, allowing greatly more
capacity to concentrate on the problem. During an IDEGEN++ session the
user should only enter short, sketchy notes: All editing and refining
of the notes should be done after the IDEGEN++ session, using a
separate word processing program already familiar to the user.
What kind of problems can IDEGEN++ solve?IDEGEN++ is primarily for
solving action type of problems such as "What to do? How to do it?
What can be done?, etc." The two other problem types are:
Analysis problems, of the type "What is the truth?"
Value problems,such as: "Which one is best?" Although IDEGEN++ is
not directly applicable to analysis or value problems, it has been
successful in finding new approaches on how to handle them.
IDEGEN++ can be used for large and small problems, and both
technical and non-technical applications. The experience shows that
the problem solving tools in IDEGEN++ are also effective in non-
technical problem areas. The reason is that people tend to handle non-
technical problems in in a more emotional, illogical way. By using
IDEGEN++ to sort through problems, many people have found clear
solutions that were previously clouded by emotions or irrational
thinking.
Can your problems be solved by using IDEGEN++?The tools and methods
included in IDEGEN++ are very successful in the hands of a person who
wants to achieve results and is willing to do mental work.
The program recommends a session time between half an hour and two
hours. In fact, the program gently chides you if you finish the
session in less than 15 minutes. The same happen if you bypass over
some phases of the session too quickly which the program considers to
be worth a more serious effort.
If the problem is im****tant, two hours for finding a good basic idea
is actually a very short time. A good working style is to alternate
between intensive idea-finding sessions and other types of activity.
You may want to find more information, or just let the problem
incubate in your mind. Your subconscious mind is a wonderful helper in
the problem-solving process. The creative mind only works, however, if
it has material to work with, and a certain pressure. IDEGEN++
sessions and collecting information are useful in making this
excellent helper work better.
Typically a good way to proceed is to take the problem areas one by
one and use a different day to focus on each area.You would dedicate
your subconsious mind to one of the problem areas at a time. In order
to make it work, you allow your subconscious mind to dwell on that
problem area for one day and then put the arising thoughts/ideas into
IDEGEN++ idea pad. After each problem area has been addressed, a full
IDEGEN++ session can be used to process and sift through all the new
information.
This method is similar to parallel processing on computers; you
continue day-to-day activities while allowing the problem solving to
occur in the background. Then this background process is tapped into
and recorded using IDEGEN++ on a regular basis.
The problem-solving methods used in IDEGEN++ are fairly well described
in the user-friendly program. You might, however, be interested in
additional information. It is intended to be read after you have some
experience of the program with real problems.
How to use IDEGEN++ to improve your practical creativity.The creative
problem-solving process is the most im****tant mental process in our
modern, rapidly changing world. Creativity is required for im****tant
inventions, and also a very large amount of practical creativity is
needed in daily life. Small daily problems are not very im****tant
individually, but combined their mass is enormous. The experiments
leading to the innovation of the transistor were designed basically by
using the same mental processes that you could use if you designed a
better way to handle incoming mail at your home. In both cases the
mental process is to combine previously known elements in new ways -
new to the person who is doing the thinking.
Creative problem-solving is much more than just idea finding.Other
phases of the creative problem-solving process, not only idea finding,
are appreciated. Successful creative problem-solving in an
organization requires, for instance, that people are able and willing
to accept ideas from one another, and help these ideas to grow into
mature solutions. If an organization learns to handle this process
well, the benefits are great. Not only does the profitability or
productivity of the organization improve, but studies have shown that
members=E2 morale and owner****p of their work improves when they
actively participate in the direction of an organization.
Here's an experiment that utilizes just one detail of the modern know-
how of creative problem-solving. Take the "three plus points and one
how to" method suggested in the evaluation phase of IDEGEN++ program,
and try to use it as often as possible both in your work environment
and in your family. When your wife, child or colleague suggests
something to you, do not give your immediate reaction, but first find
the three plus points of the idea. If you do not find three of them,
find at least one more than what you found easily. If you think that
the idea is not fully usable as such, give your feedback in the
constructive "how to...." form. Example: During a company's quarterly
budget meeting, the CEO states that each department must trim their
expenses five per cent in the next quarter to meet projected profit
margins. While your initial reaction is to defend the sales department
budget as "uncuttable," you decide to use the three plus points and
one "how to" method on your notepad. This is what you might write:
1) Cutting purchases may lead to less wastefulness of resources rather
than "doing without."
2) Cutbacks on travel and entertainment expenses could increase
productivity and reduce stress, as employees will be "on the job" more
or at home relaxing more.
3) Employees may value what they have rather than what they want to
have if they know that every department is aharing in the budget
cuts.
How to trim expenses without adversely affecting employee morale?
Have a staff meeting where principles of discipline, teamwork,
achievement and long-term goals are emphasized over material
incentives of perks or awards.
Modern knowledge about the creative problem-solving process includes a
large number of working methods. The idea finding methods have a
central position in this know-how; their existence means that ideas
can be generated when needed. Without these methods we would be
totally dependent on luck, and the process would be seen in a
completely different way. The idea finding methods are, however, not
the only ones forming the modern creative problem-solving process.
There are methods that help you to find op****tunities, evaluate
alternatives, find and accept information, etc.
Feedback about IDEGEN++IDEGEN++ of CAC-Research Oy was the winner of
the "Golden Softies Innovation Award" at CeBIT'93 out of 480
participants from 20 countries. The Jury, consisting of senior
European IT directors, was unanimous in selecting IDEGEN++ as the
winner. It was regarded to expand the use of computer to a new area -
aiding human creativity. IDEGEN++ has also attracted the attention of
many other top executives and leaders, including the Prime Minister of
Finland and CEOs of the world leading companies. IDEGEN++ received the
prestigious "Finnish Engineering Award" in 1994.
Currently IDEGEN++ is used mainly in the highest management, but it is
quickly spreading to all parts of the organizations, where innovations
are needed. As a general application software it is widely used all
over the world in different industries and government organizations by
individuals and groups, who want tools for finding creative solutions
and for learning creativity methods.
IDEGEN++ is available in English, French, German, Dutch, Finnish,
Swedish, Norwegian and Dannish.
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