Navigating the Creative Present

Yesterday, I discussed some of my thoughts about how much I want to be involved in the remodel of our business website. I want to finish my discussion by returning to the creative possibilities. In the early years of computing, most creative applications required programming to enable someone to use the computer in a novel way, like writing a program that allows the computer to display and print letters and sentences so the computer can be used as a word processor. In that world, developing programming skills was necessary to implement and improve upon the capabilities of most of the computer applications and was part of the creative process.

This is similar to the situation in the early days of the automobile. Since they broke down and needed repair often then, drivers needed to be familiar with the mechanics of the engine and transmission system so that they could fix simple problems that arose when they drove. Driving skills weren't considered important because there were few autos on the road and the cars traveled at fairly slow speeds. Drivers needed to avoid buildings, trees, carriages and pedestrians which wasn't that difficult. However, keeping the car running was a major challenge and drivers wanted to be knowledgeable about how to repair the engine when it stopped working. In the present, automobile engines are sophisticated and complicated systems that require specially trained mechanics to keep them running efficiently and well. Few drivers are able to repair their car when it breaks down today. On the other hand, driving on highways, in congested traffic in cities and even navigating the suburban areas around a city require great skill now that cars can travel at high rates of speed for hours at a time. All drivers now are required to learn to drive before they are licensed to do so.

I see the change from my designing and building websites to learning to use them in new ways a similar transition. I want to help with the podcasts, newsletters, blogs and music downloads that will communicate with customers and friends in a more immediate and intimate way. I want to create music to share with our customers and friends as well. I want to help get the podcasts going and I know that I want to continue playing with the music. The website can be handled by people who are happy to do it and I can oversee its construction. That means I'll have time and energy for the recording, editing and creation of music, musical downloads, podcasts and newsletters as well as be able to learn the shopping cart and newsletter software for administration purposes. These are the skills won which I want to focus as I drive around the creative present.