Lateral thinking was invented by Edward DeBono in 1967 to describe a way of thinking that involves looking at problems in unconventional ways and from different perspectives, rather than just using traditional linear logic. DeBono defined lateral thinking as deliberately searching for alternatives and changing concepts and perceptions, rather than just trying harder to solve a problem using the same approach. He described tools and processes of lateral thinking that are designed to help the brain move across patterns and escape local optima to find more global solutions by provoking new ways of thinking about a problem.