“That’s why its brilliant. Coz it is so pathetically dim-witted.” -J.K Rowling.
I figured I hated science early on. How the gravitational forces work round the moon and the physics of trajectories. Nevertheless, I admired the moon, its an EMOTION in itself, and my trajectory of thoughts took me to the deepest secrets of the universe. That’s the only path I knew that could fly me beyond the speed of light, the path of creativity. Escaping sleep during hours of classes about chemicals and compounds when all my brain craved was dopamine. Struggling with integration equations when the only equation I knew was of art. Art=Creativity=Interest.
Hence, I pulled the classic old move. Procrastinate. Every day. Until I was held at gunpoint by time. A lazy, bored student looking for shortcuts. Do we expect a miracle?
One fine morning, as I lay in my bed reading Harry Potter, creativity finally decided to pay me a visit. Maybe my Hogwarts letter got lost in the mail, but I could create one for myself. Imagination never needed a permission slip. That’s how I started to learn potions and arithmancy and defense against the dark arts with Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Fast forward to now, I still learn compsci with them. I(the society) figured a degree would look good on my wall. As we very well understand the fate of the education system, like Umbridge in charge, it was time we upgraded our learning methods. I still wasn’t a big fan of science(though I respect it and well, there’s smarter people who I could leave the advancement of humans and technology to), but creativity made survival possible.
I walk the Hogwarts grounds and sit by the black lake to study. Passing semesters understanding how a microprocessor works like Dumbledore and arrays like neatly lined potion vials. Thank whoever invented metaphors, this made things a lot more interesting. Working on codes like solving an Agatha Christie mystery, understanding databases with Frodo and Gandalf, and of course living at the Burrow during breaks.
Certain aspects of the education system are proof that evolution takes coffee breaks. And like the Weasley twins, I don’t have much regard for rules. It’s sort of exciting, isn’t it? Breaking the rules?
So, I broke them. I denied to be turned into a bot, just memorizing stuff we know nothing about. I denied the “be serious, do as you are told” rule. I denied the “you won’t get those marks unless you use the method I taught”. I let my mind wander. And mind you, not all who wander are lost. Who could have imagined what just a sprinkle of creativity could do?
I never really liked to bow down to clocks or cages. Now I understood why the cages existed. Creativity was wonderous. It meant endless possibilities. That meant understanding the world better, outside of what they taught us. It meant understanding databases using 5th grade magical stories. I hadn’t done nothing extraordinary to be honest. Almost all successful people understand the importance of art and creativity.
Like Einstein himself had once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge; for knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.”
And like Picasso when he said “Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist.”
“Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses — especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else,” says Leonardo da Vinci.
The point is, science and creativity are basically cousins. The problem came when Umbridge took over the system. (If you still don’t get the reference, I suggest you read the harry potter series coz..hello? You are missing out on a whole world!) The current methods of learning felt like a symphony of doom conducted by a tone-deaf goblin to me. Hence, I upgraded em’ for myself.
Here’s a little sample of how I hacked the code of creativity-
Lets look at what some courses in a compsci degree, with a magical twist of course.
An Operating System is like Professor Dumbledore running Hogwarts(the computer). Without Dumbledore’s leadership, the entire castle would break into chaos.
The OS is that old and wise interface between us and the magical world of the computer. It manages which spell (application) is used or banned, how many students Hogwarts can take (storage and memory), and keeps the Floo Network (input/output devices) flowing smoothly.
Or manage which and how the portraits talk (audio/video processing), the OS makes sure everything in the castle works in perfect harmony — quietly powerful, like a true headmaster.
Now for internet of things-
The Internet of Things is like The Burrow. Every object in the house is magically connected to each other, and sends messages to each other via Floo network. All these objects are equipped with sensors, actuators, microcontrollers, etc. In short, equipped with magic.
Imagine, as you head out to fly your broomstick (equipped with weather sensors) sends a message through the Floo flames to your closet to throw out a coat for you, it might rain. Or your cauldron tells yourpantry that you’re low on lacewing flies. This is the real time communication. These objects talk and exchange data in real time, unlike Ron who processes everything 10 minutes late.
“Why keep such a brilliant yet pathetically dim-witted idea to myself?” I thought. Hence, this section of the blog is the survival mode of a degree. Not really interesting, for a person who ultimately just falls for art, but fair enough to survive.
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