MAKING STUFF

There are so many complex systems out there made by us, that not many people understand the basics of. As Matt Ridley points out, no single person knows how to make a computer mouse: we all collaborate to design it, engineer it and even get the oil to make the plastic part of it. Understanding the basics of how things work lets you create your own complexity, and I realize more and more how important this is for innovation and original thinking. 

I discussed this issue with a friend the other day, coming to the conclusion that this could be one of the reasons even a lot of people feel depression nowadays - we don’t create stuff with our hand anymore, so there is no physical experience of accomplishment. All is on paper, stored in records through data. We don’t see a project being made, only by ourselves from beginning to end. 

Building things like this fox hole radio connects you to the nature of things - the true origin of creativity. Mine doesn’t work yet (have to trouble shoot a bit more) but when it does I will post it up. The journey is just as important.