simplicity, simplicity, simplicity
i have always wondered why thoreau repeated "simplicity" three times in his famous quote - uh - wouldn't it have been simpler to say it once? well, perhaps the answer has been found by john maeda
whose 5th law is "Simplicity and complexity need each other." i've always liked the quote, attributed to einstein, i think, "things should be as simple as they can be, but no more..."
simplicity is a concept people seem ambivalent about. a person can be derided as "too simple" - just as a work of art can be. yet, say, the improvisations of thelonious monk or miles davis are, at least on one level, far simpler than many yet few are as beautiful or profound. i think the world is becoming less impressed with technical complexity for its own sake and more impressed with stuff that gets the job done and is easy to use effectively...at least i am... we still want technology to do spectacular things; yet we want it easy to use. when a technology seems to do both - say, like the iPod, or google, the world falls in love with it...and no wonder. we've seen too many vcr's with a blinking clock cause no one can figure out how to set it.
the laws of simplicity is a fascinating book, equal parts technology book, a business book, a design book, cognitve psychology, art and a philosophy book... given i am interested in nearly all the above topics - and perhaps more importantly where these things meet - i found it fascinating...the book this most reminded me of is zen mind, beginner's mind maybe cause they are of similar dimensions - maybe because it's approach seems a bit zen-like...
entertaining, fun - yet very profound - and, in the spirit of simplicity, short! i guarantee i'll be reading this one over and over...part of a series...looking fwd to the next one...
the turf explored here is much of which i am interested in, these days... whether in the context of web development or education - both, i feel, could benefit from the old "less is more" approach...
i don't know if i have adequately described the book - well, i am quite sure i haven't - it must be read to be understood - so check out the website, then read the book...and think how to apply the principles to your work...
any thoughts?
whose 5th law is "Simplicity and complexity need each other." i've always liked the quote, attributed to einstein, i think, "things should be as simple as they can be, but no more..."
simplicity is a concept people seem ambivalent about. a person can be derided as "too simple" - just as a work of art can be. yet, say, the improvisations of thelonious monk or miles davis are, at least on one level, far simpler than many yet few are as beautiful or profound. i think the world is becoming less impressed with technical complexity for its own sake and more impressed with stuff that gets the job done and is easy to use effectively...at least i am... we still want technology to do spectacular things; yet we want it easy to use. when a technology seems to do both - say, like the iPod, or google, the world falls in love with it...and no wonder. we've seen too many vcr's with a blinking clock cause no one can figure out how to set it.
the laws of simplicity is a fascinating book, equal parts technology book, a business book, a design book, cognitve psychology, art and a philosophy book... given i am interested in nearly all the above topics - and perhaps more importantly where these things meet - i found it fascinating...the book this most reminded me of is zen mind, beginner's mind maybe cause they are of similar dimensions - maybe because it's approach seems a bit zen-like...
entertaining, fun - yet very profound - and, in the spirit of simplicity, short! i guarantee i'll be reading this one over and over...part of a series...looking fwd to the next one...
the turf explored here is much of which i am interested in, these days... whether in the context of web development or education - both, i feel, could benefit from the old "less is more" approach...
i don't know if i have adequately described the book - well, i am quite sure i haven't - it must be read to be understood - so check out the website, then read the book...and think how to apply the principles to your work...
any thoughts?
posted by Mike at 9:12 PM
1 Comments:
When science is able to answer the many mysteries that exist, then the harm that is being caused by religious beliefs will no longer be an impediment to our survival or progress.
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