On Golden Ideas
Having received responses to my previous post entitled Golden Ideas and thought more on what service would be of value, how an effort to build the tools, which to start will include a Web interface, will be funded for both the up front and ongoing development costs, I have begun to solidify some of my concepts and get them out of my head and onto paper.
My previous post, as is the case with the majority of posts here, was the result of a 10 minute stream of conscious typing fury which in some cases did capture my thinking on the need for and creation of an idea/invention sharing community and in other cases, as with the patenting subject spun people’s understanding and responses in the wrong direction. To clarify my vision, the initial site I propose to build will by no means be centered around patenting. Rather, when community and activity on the site are at a level to provide a financial means to redirect funds back into the community and reward ideas/thinkers with support to bring their ideas to fruition would a patent, if applicable, come into the picture.
My intent is to build an environment of collaboration, brainstorming and interaction between communities of people across different domains or areas of expertise; a place where folks can throw an idea on the table to receive feedback or share their own perspective on another’s idea. At upwards of $8,000 to research and register a patent as Mickey pointed out in the comments of the previous post, a model supported entirely through patenting would be short-sided.
In the spirit of this project, I intend to share my thinking and experiences on it’s development as things progress. For now smallTransport will serve this need though I will most likely move over to a blog on the actual domain when I settle on the name and branding. So, as I mentioned I have begun to thoroughly consider and commit to documents who, what, and how the initial site will serve and when that is clear will form the brand of the venture. I have also started to knock on the doors of folks with whom I would like to collaborate on the project as I want the design process too to hold true to open sharing of information and talent.
On the subject of fund-raising, I continue to weigh my options though at this point in time feel that to pour significant financial resources into the project would necessitate rapid return of funds from the site which, I worry will detract from my mission. The site and service will most definitely start with a core set of interface functionality which will be public and then grow as needs, demands, and uses of the site dictate. In other words I envision the project’s growth as organic rather than designed 100% up front and dropped into the public domain. It is this approach which seems to yield most success these days and will benefit users as it will grow to meet their needs rather than attempt to model them.
And then you, dear reader and most likely designer come into the picture. Does this project resonate with you as something you would like to contribute to? Are your eyes, computing brain, or creativity such that you would bring value to the project? To bring this vision together and do so entirely on the volunteered passion, dedication, and efforts of the participants would be incredible. There is much to learn and I am ready to give it a shot. Are you?
Have you read this recent post on Mashable? It sounds very much like what you’re talking about.
Either way, I’d be happy to help out if necessary.
Matthew Pennell
most of everything just about has been invented the only way to make people and yourself money is to give out technology and the money will come it gives other people a chance to think harder.
micheal s yarbrough