A Statement of Purpose

The struggle to think independently is one of the most worthwhile challenges we face. It pushes back against the forces of standardization, conformity, and passivity that pervade modern life. I often ask myself: am I truly thinking, or merely going through the motions? This question shapes how I engage with collaborators, students, and peers. I encourage them to resist imitation and regurgitation, aiming instead for the moments that surprise us—when we transcend familiar patterns and challenge the boundaries of our thinking.

This challenge has taken on new dimensions in the age of artificial intelligence. While these tools hold great potential, they also risk accelerating conformity, automating not only tasks but ways of thinking. If we allow AI to simply reinforce existing biases and patterns, we close off opportunities for genuine rethinking. However, as Doug Engelbart—the inventor of the computer mouse and visual display, as well as a pioneer in augmented intelligence—envisioned, technology can amplify rather than replace human thought. Engelbart’s vision emphasized tools that extend our capacities, enabling us to think more deeply, solve complex problems, and collaborate more effectively.

In this spirit, my project Another Human in the Loop explores how humans and AI can collaborate in ways that deepen creative processes. Rather than treating AI as a passive tool, I see it as an active participant that generates new possibilities. This work has reinforced the importance of fostering curiosity, imagination, and empathy alongside technical skills. It also requires asking critical questions: How can AI challenge us to think differently? How do we avoid being constrained by its biases? How do we maintain a spirit of play, wonder, and discovery in an age dominated by efficiency?

As Engelbart understood, the tools we use shape how we think, and meaningful learning must prepare us to shape our tools in turn. This requires creating environments where distinctions between teacher, student, artist, and researcher blur—where we think with one another, not for one another. Technology, in this context, becomes a catalyst for inquiry rather than a substitute for creativity.

At the heart of my practice is the belief that learning is a shared endeavor through which we become not only better thinkers but also more fully human: empathetic, adaptable, and imaginative. I encourage embracing the uncertainty of experimentation and the awkwardness of first steps, for these are the moments when true learning happens—when we surprise ourselves by creating something we never thought possible.

While AI and online tools offer powerful avenues for discovery, the most meaningful breakthroughs often occur in shared spaces of dialogue and collaboration. My role is to catalyze and coordinate these communities of experimenters—learners and creators willing to challenge assumptions and embrace new possibilities.

Together, we can reimagine what it means to learn, think, and create in the 21st century. By integrating Engelbart’s vision, we can move toward a model of learning that doesn’t merely adapt to technological change but actively shapes it—empowering us to use technology as a force for creativity, growth, and human connection.

Justin Lincoln  November 2024

Blog Post Title Two

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.