Perpetual Innovation

Category: genius of crowds

  • Scenarios Now and the Genius (hidden) within Crowd via ScenarioPlans.com

    On a sister site, there is a discussion by DelphiMan about the state of scenario planning today, and some new research on ways to squeeze out the genius among laypeople crowds: Scenarios Now and the Genius (hidden) within Crowd,
    Check it out here on ScenarioPlans.com (or DelphiPlan.com).
    First, a McKinsey study showed that CEOs really wished that they had done more scenario planning after the great recession. Before, really. But, now with almost 10 years in the rear-view mirror, it seems likely the idea of such vigilant planning for a flexible future has waned.
    In the meanwhile, the genius of  crowds can still be used very effectively using a Delphi Method approach to capture the expertise of experts (or informed people).
    A very interesting new study used a crowd of laypeople. Even when the crowd is, on average, misinformed, it is possible to identify those people who are really informed and correctly assess the truth.
    This reminds me, but in reverse, of a Lee Iacocca story when he was at Ford (prior to the turn-around at Chrysler). They surveyed people in upscale communities to see if they would like to buy the new Ford sports kind of car being developed including a convertible version. The answer was, unequivocally, NO!.  Lee sent his team back into the suburbs to ask again. But this time the question was two part: “Would you buy this car?” NO. Would your neighbor buy this car?” Absolutely YES!
    The Ford Mustang took the market by stampede!….

    “We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.” 
    Lee Iacocca … from BrainyQuote.com 

  • The Refractive Thinker Brain Teaser Game App by Dr. Cheryl Lentz — Kickstarter

    The Refractive Thinker Brain Teaser Game App by Dr. Cheryl Lentz — Kickstarter

    Interesting game idea. Having fun while you learn…

    Or just having fun, that can be okay too!:-)

    I think it would be cool to create RT Teasers for each volume of the Refractive thinker books. (maybe starting with the next one). I could see Profs using it with articles and books that students were (supposed) to read. Have a little fun with it. This isn’t really a question, just a comment.

    I hope this project makes the goal, ’cause I can’t wait to see it.

    ‘via Blog this’

  • BioLite BaseCamp Stove | Turn Fire into Electricity by BioLite — Kickstarter

    BioLite BaseCamp Stove | Turn Fire into Electricity by BioLite — Kickstarter:

    I love it. But only 62 hours to get in on the KickStarter offer. They are at twice goal with $800k+ and 3,000 backers.

    Yes, it was DARK in Miami, when Hurricane Andrew came through South Miami/Homestead on August 24, 1992. Well, afterwards really. It would be weeks before most of us would get power. So bar-b-q grilling was the norm. That was not quite as much fun after a week or two without baths and without air conditioning. Little or no ice and warm drinks. Muggy and humid.

    You did want to cook, obviously, but all the heat from the grill was the last thing we needed.

    But a really cool cooking stove popped up in New York. A tiny stove the burned wood (or charcoal) and produced focused head for cooking. No need to cook the cook too.

    This technology works wonders in countries where there is little or no electricity, and wood is often scarce, and the smoke from open cooking causes some of the world’s worst health issues (probably only exceeded by water/sanitation).

    You gotta see how far the technology has come. This is a BIG stove, relatively, that generates electricity (USB power) and has battery. It has an internal fan, to fan the fire so it can produce some serious heat possibilities — especially given the ability to focus the flame.

    This version comes with an LED light so you can see what’s cooking at night.

    As they say, this is the first version of the BaseCamp that is crowd designed. When you jump in on the crowd funding at KickStarter (BaseCamp) you will get a free carrying case.

    You also get the warm-fuzzy feeling of knowing that this technology will save millions and millions of lives in energy starved countries.

    All very very cool.

    Keywords: Crowdsourcing, crowdfunding, genius of crowds, kickstarter, invention, sustainability, renewable energy, health,
    ‘via Blog this’

  • Top 10 Crowdfunding Sites For Fundraising – Forbes

    Top 10 Crowdfunding Sites For Fundraising – Forbes:

    So you wanna get funding?

    The first and fastest way, always, is to go to friends and family. They know you after all, and in spite of that, they may — just may — be willing and able to invest.

    The next best way is to look around the channels of distribution for your product. They are the companies that will understand and appreciate your product/service fastest. Plus they might be able to profit from your addition/expansion in the market. Of course, they may also be in a position to cut you out of the idea entirely… This one of the many reasons for having strong IP (patent) protection.

    Loans from your friendly neighborhood bank might be possible, but usually they require a personal guarantee (of the house and kids), sooooo if you could get a second loan (HLOC) on the house, that would typically be the direct way to fund.

    Credit cards! Not so good an idea, maybe for some working capital.

    If all these fail, you might move on to crowd funding… Or even is some of the other funding approaches works… Crowd funding usually brings with it a degree of advertising and promotion of your concept. That’s good and bad. Now people know about your idea so they can consider investing. But now people know about your idea, so they can steal your idea, maybe. This one of the many reasons for having strong IP (patent) protection. But, I repeat myself, repeatedly.

    Either way, when you go to the crowds, you will definitely get feedback on your idea and how investable it may be.

    So, check out this cool article from Forbes and see what you think about going to the crowds (in the clouds) for (some) funding!?

    Here is a quick summary of the various ways to fund a business and funding methods/types.

    ‘via Blog this’

  • NetAppVoice: Crowdsourcing: Great For Your Business (A Handy Primer) – Forbes

    NetAppVoice: Crowdsourcing: Great For Your Business (A Handy Primer) – Forbes:

    Here’s a quick overview of Crowd sourcing… and the genius of crowds.

    ‘via Blog this’