Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M1385

Liquid Networks

Liquid Networks
CreatemediumInnovation Methods
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

An environment that is neither too rigid (solid, hindering connection) nor too chaotic (gaseous, unable to take shape). In such an environment, ideas can flow freely, collide, and recombine, like the coffeehouses of the 18th century or various gatherings in Silicon Valley.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Building the soil for innovation. If you want to be more creative, don't just focus on the problem; instead, place yourself in a 'liquid network' to increase the probability of collision with heterogeneous ideas.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

A network structure with high fluidity and low cohesion: nodes are loosely connected, easily recombined, with frequent cross-boundary collisions, like a liquid that is not fixed, conducive to accidental combinations and innovation, but also difficult to precipitate long-term structures.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    cio.comhttps://www.cio.com/article/291157/how-liquid-networks-can-lead-to-the-next-great-idea.htmlZH · Explicit
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