Next Generation Programming

Several years ago I carpooled with a retired Air Force General who ran Cape Canaveral for many years before becoming the Rocket Scientist at XM.  We couldn't have been more polar opposites as he taught me about the Geo-Political ramifications of next gen warfare technology and I taught him who the Beatles were.  We got along famously.  There was one profound moment I recall when I asked him if there would ever be a vehicle capable of traveling faster than light.  He replied: "Maybe, but it will take someone who thinks COMPLETELY different and is unencumbered by previous thinking."  He went on to suggest that the reason the USA won the Space Race in the 60's was that Russian scientists were afraid to think differently whereas the US scientists were encouraged to,  and we were helped by the German scientists who were TOLD to in their previous war era German life.  In any case--that light speed thing stuck with me.

We aren't challenging physics or curing cancer,  BUT---imagine the progress we can make in OUR space if we took that approach.  You DO see it in technology---that's the culture that built Apple, Amazon, Google and other new giants.  Musicians do it,  thus all of the radical new sounds that developed in innovation fueled contemporary era.   For information ---gotta do it...in our world. Programming reinvention is about new sounds...new words...a new writing and production style...new topics...new attitude...new colors...new...everything---that make the old way look, feel and sound...old.   Thinking like a revolutionary film maker not a media pundit. The future needs to be the media equivalent of culture bending movies that change the paradigm.   Five  components  of this on the programming side:

1.  Stop talking about,  thinking about, or referencing the past or the competition---  other than in an evolutionary sense.  Maybe over a beer,  but not in our current mission. That clutters your head.  I doubt if iPod creators were waxing on about hi fi's.  Knowledge and experience is great---but only as a foundation --  the most creative jazz musicians know music theory...the most amazing molecular gastronomists have classic French training... some STAY with what they've learned.  The world changers keep understand that it's a foundation for new thinking, not a playbook

2.  Hire people who have the aptitude and instincts to radically re-think.  In my entire career,  I can think of maybe ten people who could do this, so its a challenge -- lots of smart people...not that many who are smart AND have forward focused imaginations...certainly not in media

3.  Teach!!!!  TEACH people.  Otherwise it's a disaster were you have a) a creative free for all without focus or b) no flight plan.  c) a 'plan" that won't happen by osmosis....it needs to be TAUGHT,  and that starts with liberation from what is assumed to be correct.

4.  Walk the walk.  Everybody talks about re-imagination...few walk it. When you hear the cliches  "content is king" or 'embrace technology'  RUN!  FAST!  Those are cliches that are snappy lines but enough already. 

Many media creation companies are  on autopilot.  Serving up slicker versions of the same ( the arms race on sets and graphics borders on amusing ) The culture from day one needs to celebrate new thinking rather than fear it, disable it or toil in an environment where it's not mission one.

Walt Disney...Stanley Kubrick,...Thomas Edison----  My goal is to have a news organization  join the ranks of their level of thinking....IN PROGRAMMING!   Lofty and unrealistic maybe, but a starting point

TECHNOLOGY LIVES BY RADICAL INNOVATION....WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PROGRAMMING IS ON THE SAME INNOVATION LEVEL AS THE TECHNOLOGY?