What happens when you give people a really tough creative task? Do all the creative ideas that are produced resemble each other? this could be because there is only a finitie number of possibilities. Or, it could be that the algorithms, techniques and habits of creative people have a cerain similarity which produces a similar result. I am going to try this out with the task that is set below.
TASK
Take two similar coins. These are ordinanr coins. They do not have a hole in the middle and are circular in shape.
You are asked to design FIVE gamesusing only these coins. There are the following specifications:
- Two person games.
- No other equipment is allowed, other than the person's hands.
- The games must be repeatable and enjpyable each time they are played.
- There is no one winning strategy which would allow a player always to win if that player knew that strategy.
The five games must be different from each other.
I suspect this to be rather a tough task. It is a challenge to your creativity. Send your suggestions to me at edwdebono@msn.com, subject 'Two Coins'. You retain full rights to your ideas - but beware that others may have identical ideas.
Edward de Bono
24th May 1998
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