Technology is often thought of as being digital, electronic, and wired. The organized structure of our interactions, whether online or in-person can be described as a technology as well. Early researchers in education recognized that technologies were ways of knowing and communicating. Technologies can therefore include investigation systems such as statistics and calculus; education technologies can include books, chalk boards, as well as digital tables and computers; and communication technologies can include the internet as well as structured conversations.
Ways to enhance the creativity and understanding of the individual mind through interaction with others have long been recognized. Socratic discussion is well understood to develop the understanding and logical capabilities of the mind. In the field of creativity, the general concept of brainstorming is a common means for engaging others in idea development. Formalized structures of brainstorming allow improvement of the process, beyond a wide open and ineffective model.
Similarly, in-person conversational structures have been developed to host "conversations that matter". These in-person techniques include the World Cafe, Pro-Action Cafe, and Open Space. Each are described as "technologies", and are ways of structuring conversations for community and idea development. These are effective in terms of communication and in developing communities of interest. How these are effective in idea development and creativity requires more research; application of these specifically in-person technologies to a digital environment is rare, but offers promise.
Most of the brainstorming creativity methods rely on personal and concurrent interaction, and as such, brainstorming sessions are generally in the same location at the same time. Because of the need for high-bandwidth, high fidelity and synchronous connection between individuals, digital communication is often not as effective.
An additional model for idea development in a collaborative manner is called the "Idea Relay". Here, individuals bring challenges to a group, and through a written set of structured questions, each individual generates and comments on other ideas in sequence. A summative discussion of the various ideas after the written sequence clarifies ideas and issues.
This linear yet creative problem solving model of the Idea Relay may be an opportunity for the digital communications area. It offers promise as it relies less the group discussion as it is flexibly structured through the process except for the final discussion. (In other words, written comments can be recorded asynchronously.)
There are challenges with asynchronous as well as synchronous communications methods, whether in person or online. In person creativity efforts usually help ensure greater engagement of the participants and better results. How these in-person methods can help inform digital communications technologies. Additionally, building on the concepts of the World Cafe, brainstorming, and Idea Relay could lead to their own, uniquely online means of community development.