'Inkblots' is a small Windows application to help spark creativity in the classroom or at home. Created by Marshal Anderson who also wrote MusicBox 2, MathsBook PLUS, Stig of the Dump, textThing MFL (and more), 'InkBlots' creates random 'blots' and scribbles, just like this animation. What emerging shapes and patterns can you see? Does it remind you of anything - or anyone?

Download it now (Windows only)

You can get 'Ink Blots' here - go on, it's FREE - and we won't ask for your email address or track you in any way, promise. Just double-click to install (it doesn't run as a web app, but needs installing to your PC), then double-click the 'InkBlots' icon on your desktop. You'll see two options. Click MAKE BLOTS to get started or BLOTS ON THE WEB to visit Marshal's own website where a screenshot shows what each tool does (switch between black and white ink, set lines of symmetry and add random backgrounds, etc). There's also a creativity video and a link to another creativity tool.

If displayed on a whiteboard, 'InkBlots' could help learners come up with ideas for all sorts of art, poetry, drama... especially at that time of day when you hit a "But we don't know what to write about/draw/paint etc", and you really want a cold beer or a hot cappuccino... Just run 'InkBlots' and ask them to talk about and use the emerging pictures as inspiration for what you really want them to do...

'InkBlots' taps into some areas of learning that maybe don't get the time they should, particularly in schools. Like much of Topologika's software, it presents no right or wrong answers, but asks children to think and guess, and to interpret what they see in a very free fashion (we're all 'children of the 60s' here at Topologika). Most important of all, there won't be a test about it later!

Marshal says there's more of this new sort of thing on the way... And we'll soon be uploading some of our 'oldies but goodies', titles like Peter Killworth's maths adventure 'GiantKiller' and Tom Tuite's 'Tax and Please'. So watch this space!