Sometimes isolation is useful in being fully relaxed, self-aware, and contemplating in your life. Sometimes isolation helps self-fulfillment and innovation.
The effect of isolation from society varies according to individuals, some are suitable for meditation of reflection and innovation, but sometimes some noise eliminates some harmful reflections for too much isolation
I agree with Prof. Houdas. Sometimes, serene atmosphere from isolation into the woods have been helpful to my research ideas and many of my creative artistic pieces. Yet, there were times when I listened to really noisy music to feel okay when I felt tired or stressed with the activities in this life.
There are individual and collective creativity techniques. Some author prefers the individual (Check list, Attribute Listing, Lateral Thinking...), but some authors believes in collective techniques (Brainstorming, Synectic, Focus Groups, Six Hats...).
That the study of isolation as a positive force is new, it is difficult to speak in precise scientific terms on this subject: most likely, these things vary from person to person. But researchers recommend isolation whenever possible, the important thing is to be away from social interaction and looking inwards.
As far as my perception goes, we can decide whether isolation is useful or harmful based on its purpose. Nowadays lot of countries are working in isolation for inventing destructive equipments which is used for war purposes.
Is isolation (isolation from society) useful or harmful to innovation.?
Personally I think it depends on numerous factors e.g. :
The person's personality e.g. some people more creative when s/he is alone as s/he needs to comb through, analyze & synthesize all his ideas etc. whereas some people need socialization, interaction, seeing something to receive the inspiration to innovate etc. Also a person with risk taking personalty might be more creative etc.
Season of the person - e.g. when a person being isolated for a while needs to engage / socialize with others to be more innovative. Also a person's attributes change from time to time e.g. when a person becomes more matured, experienced, or at self-actualization stage of life etc. might be more innovative.
Condition / Surrounding Influence - regardless isolation or not, different surrounded conditions of the person might influence his / her creativity e.g. soothing music, ambient lights / temperature, availability of books, Internet resources etc.
there is no univocal answer, becaus you need to consider the personality dimension. To certain kind of personality, isolation is highly beneficial, as in solitude people find solutions to problems, inner peace, enlightenment and ways to be more creative. This same kind of personality, being surrounded by many people, tires and stresses.
Other kind of personality longs for intense interaction, and for innovativeness they need extrinsic stimuli coming from other people, thereofre, isolation is a nighmare to them.
There is a personality trait that best captures what I have said: preference for solitude (Burger, 1995).
Plus voluntary solitude has numerous positive effects, while involuntary solitude can indeed be harmful.
If you are interested in the topic, I would suggest you to check my latest research item that is just about that:
Conference Paper Not So Social Networks: Does Solitude Make Us Creative?
There are two approaches: individual or group techniques for generating new ideas. Most of the authors stated that group techniques are more adequate for initiating creativity. But sometimes individual techniques produce excellent results.