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Posts in January 2012
Chesbrough’s Open Innovation Policies for Europe
Jan-29-12 By IdeaConnectionOpen innovation gurus Henry Chesbrough and Wim Vanhaverbeke have released a report that provides fresh insights on open innovation and public policies in Europe.
It was commissioned by the Science Business Innovation Board, and was presented at the European Commission's Innovation Convention in December.
The Crowdsource Be With You
Jan-28-12 By IdeaConnectionA long time ago in a galaxy not too far from here a movie called Star Wars first hit the cinema screens and changed Hollywood forever.
Since those heady days of the late 1970s there have been countless versions, digital updates and special editions of all six Star Wars movies that have kept the franchise alive.
But the Empire has seen nothing like the latest incarnation, a recently released crowdsourced version that has taken the Internet by storm.
How Crowdsourcing Helped People with Wikipedia Withdrawal Symptoms
Jan-27-12 By IdeaConnectionWhen Wikipedia closed down its sites for 24 hours in protest against US piracy laws, it left millions of people without access to their favourite online encyclopedia.
However, help was at hand as the crowd rushed in to fill the information void. The Washington Post in collaboration with other media organizations including NPR and the UK’s Guardian newspaper provided an imaginative one-day crowdsourcing solution to help those seeking answers to questions.
Scientists Turn to Crowdfunding to Pay for Scientific Research
Jan-25-12 By IdeaConnectionIf you’re a frustrated scientist who’s having a tough time securing financial support for your research through normal channels, the journal Nature has some useful information and advice for you.
With conventional funding sources drying up a new scientific method has emerged; persuading members of the general public to donate small amounts of money instead of applying for grants.
Hyper Local Crowdfunding Platform
Jan-24-12 By IdeaConnectionThere are hundreds of crowdfunding initiatives, websites and projects asking people to pool their financial resources for a particular idea, product or service. Trendspotting website Springwise is highlighting an innovative new crowdfunding platform that takes a hyper-local approach by featuring one business a week and asking the neighbourhood and local community to support it.
Crowdsourced Motivation
Jan-22-12 By IdeaConnectionSo how well are your New Year’s resolutions holding up? Still popping into the gym five times week? Haven’t touched a cigarette since New Year’s eve? Or did you crumble at the first hurdle and are now back to your old ways?
If you ever find it difficult to stick to a plan or goal that you have set for yourself (whether it’s a resolution or another objective at any time of year) why not let the crowd act as a motivator?
TV Viewer Finds Planet in Crowdsourcing Space Hunt
Jan-18-12 By IdeaConnectionBBC news is reporting that a UK TV viewer has spotted an unknown world beyond our solar system following a public planet hunting push initiated on a BBC programme.
Chris Holmes, an amateur astronomer from Peterborough detected the planet after logging onto the crowdsourcing website Planethunters.org and by looking through time-lapsed images of stars.
Crowdsource Hunt for Planets in 48 Hours
Jan-17-12 By IdeaConnectionVenture into deep space from the comfort of your computer with the latest space-themed crowdsource initiative. Members of the public are being asked by the Planethunters website to hunt for planets that could support life.
The site has been up and running for more than a year but to tie in with a BBC series of programmes volunteers are being asked to classify 500,000 targets within the next 48 hours.
Citizen Journalist Website Receives Prestigious Award
Jan-15-12 By IdeaConnectionCongratulations to non-profit organisation Ushahidi for winning the 2012 “Anvil of Freedom” award from Denver University’s Estlow Center for Journalism and New Media.
Since 2007 the citizen-powered website has allowed users to crowdsource information about humanitarian crises to enable individuals and journalists to find out what is going on during emergency situations and to help humanitarian organizations to respond quickly.
Star Trek Inspiration for Latest X Prize Contest
Jan-13-12 By IdeaConnectionThe X Prize Foundation is at it again, firing up imaginations to inspire someone to create a world-beating technological advance.
This time round the call has gone out for the creation of a Star Trek-like medical "tricorder". Whoever succeeds will be able to swell their bank account by $10 million.