i think they would enhance creativity by providing avenues and new opportunities..

One creative function of the visual aspect of IT is simply that one can see what one is thinking, and thereby, potentially, modify, manipulate, share what one is thinking; in a sense, makes the abstract concrete in a convenient, straightforward manner.

I found the definition of creativity as 'the ability to produce something new through imaginative skill' I agree with you about the visual aspect of IT and it's importance, but the effect of those technologies in keeping us in an attentive mode during the day with much interruptions might also lead to a change in the way we think.

I have no data one way or the other, but would guess it depends on the individual - like graphic art, interactive technologies are also opening up whole new ways to be creative.

I'd also be willing to bet that when pen and paper were invented, the folks who'd grown up scribing in clay tablets lamented the loss of think time during carving, and meditative side of waiting for it to dry... ;)

@Naomi your second point is important, since it raises another question about the relation between Speed of doing things and Creativity

@Rami - very true! There are any number of well-known authors, for example, who continue to write their books using a pen rather than a word processor, because they prefer that pace of thinking as they write.

I totally disagree with this idea. I personally think that everything that stimulates interaction, fosters the cognitive abilities (or thinking skills if you prefer). Games are a very stimulating and creative activity, how an interactive game can make you lose your "thinking skills"?

I can support , however, the idea that those "interactive technologies" may change the way we produce or organize creative contents. We can discuss a lot about that, if this was your concern.

It would be helpful to improve the discussion, if you could detail what "thinking skills" you were talking about.

I am thinking about the things that are emphasized by interactive technologies; Interactivity, multitasking, quick response, and interruptions.

So, I think the question should be about studying the relation between each or those issues and creativity. I agree with you Andrea that interactivity can be good for creativity, but if we spend our time in an environment that is full of interactivity, interruptions, and multitasks, this may affect our ability to generate new creative ideas.

Internet in general, is described as information rich environment, but as the same time interruptions rich environment. when you are thinking about a specific topic and have interruption, there is - what Nicholas Carr call- a 'shifting cost' that our brain pays while changing attention between one subject and another.

Under this point of view I totally agree with you, but it shifts the question. The interruption doesn't come necessarily form an interactive device.

As I was anticipating, however, in a rich information environment, or better in an environment rich of stimulus, you may have more difficulties in focusing and deepening your thoughts, while a less deep but larger knowledge is facilitated.

I find this discussion really interesting and the comment of Naomi about some authors using pen and paper caught my attention. I'm not a famous author or a major thinker but, when I was writing my PhD thesis, I noticed that, for me, the most efficient way to get a first draft was to write it down with a pen an paper. Then, I type it, print it and work on it using the pen again.

However, I'm not old school with everything and I do use fairly modern and interactive technology in my work. I often multi task and bounce back and forth between data analysis with statistical softwares, web searches, reading a paper and chating about some specific issue. All these fast paced medium certainly influence my way of thinking and my creativity but, I'm not a slave of it either because, when I want to write things down or gather my thoughts, I get back to my pen and some paper and leave all (or most) potential distractions on the side. I found that to be my best 'creative balance' through which I try to get some added value out of modern interactive tools without losing whatever skills I already had before. I suppose everyone has to find what they can get from new technologies without feeling hijacked by them.

Not for me, for example the portability of tablets allows children and teachers to make use of various locations in the classroom enabling the creativity and collaboration of small groups of students. Additionally, the sophisticated user interface of tablets allows both individual interaction and often, mutual interaction, depending on the application at hand, between two or more children.

@Michail: yes, we can't underestimate the value of those technologies in education which includes emphasizing team work and positive interaction between students and teachers inside and outside school.

But lets think about the value of interaction VS the value of concentration, contemplation for researchers, employees, etc.

Technologies can be used to assist the creative process. This article explores how technology is used to help develop and commercialise innovations:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0923474811000403

Thanks. Giselle. We will make use the article to add to my reference for my weekly meeting with my group of seed technology scientists.

I presented a paper on this topic about 4 months ago. It was titled, "The Real Creativity Crisis." Yes, there are both benefits of the internet and digital technologies but I think the problems are greater and that creativity is often inhibited. I have 5-6 reasons for this (in the paper) but one big one is that networks and many online activities are directed at extrinsic concerns and these can get in the way of the autonomy and intrinsic interests that are involved in many creative activities. I can send my paper, I think, but I am new here so not sure how... And I hope to submit it for publication very soon as well.

@Mark, Thank you, I would be thankful if you can share your paper.