IdeaConnection Innovation
BLOG

Crowdsourcing Sight for the Visually Impaired

Aug-31-13 By IdeaConnection
A novel smartphone app is using the power of the crowd to help visually impaired individuals learn about what their immediate environment looks like.

MySmartEye connects people with vision conditions to volunteers who use their sight to describe what can be seen.

On Being an Open Innovation Problem Solver with IdeaConnection

Aug-30-13 By IdeaConnection
Whether through technology scouting, R&D problem solving teams or prior art citation searches, IdeaConnection’s problem solvers are coming up with world-class solutions that are helping companies  tackle some of their thorniest issues, innovate and get ahead of the game.

We carry out interviews with our top solvers and find out what motivates these creative brains - and it's not just the financial rewards. Here is a snapshot of some of the things they have been saying:

 

Big Business Dissatisfaction with Internal R&D

Aug-29-13 By IdeaConnection
In an article entitled ‘Big Business Outsources Innovation to Start-ups’ Crain’s New York Business focuses on an increasing tendency of large companies to outsource their R&D to smaller and nimbler players. The principle reason is the failure of in-house R&D teams to deliver.

According to the article, this new practice is increasingly driving the biggest venture capital deals in New York City. Firms have become frustrated that the returns from internal R&D have not been as high or as cutting edge as expected.

Become a Virtual Mountain Rescuer with Open Innovation

Aug-28-13 By IdeaConnection
Here’s a neat crowdsourcing initiative that could save lives.  The aeroSee project lets anyone in the world help search and rescue missions by analyzing live feeds coming from drone-mounted cameras.

You can become a virtual mountain rescuer from your armchair.

Open Innovation Contest for Environmentally Friendly Shower

Aug-26-13 By IdeaConnection
Inspiration can strike anywhere – in the bath, on the bus, over the park and under the shower. Next time you’re in your favorite creative spot, especially if it’s beneath a powerful spray of water, see if you can come up with a new design for a more sustainable shower.

Unilever has launched a global open innovation contest for the next generation of showers that have a minimal impact on the planet and on our wallets.

Apps Contest to Change the World

Aug-22-13 By IdeaConnection
If you’re young, inventive, creative and have a brain the size of a planet then consider turning your talents and smarts to help improve the world.

The InnoApps Challenge is a four-month pan-European contest for young developers to create Windows Phone app to help others.

Crowdsourcing Strategies that Governments Use

Aug-20-13 By IdeaConnection
In cafes, bars, restaurants and living rooms in towns and cities all over the world we bemoan the political classes and systems of governments.  We blame them for many of the difficulties that befall society.

Whether or not they are to blame or how much is hugely debatable, but one thing is clear as the Government Executive magazine points out in a recent article – more than ever before the public are involving themselves in local, regional and federal government.

Thanks to open innovation and crowdsourcing, citizens are having their say and providing novel solutions to improve our lot.

Open Innovation Best Practices: A New Report

Aug-18-13 By IdeaConnection
Wondering how to make the best use of open innovation to drive your company forward? Concerned you may not be maximizing the paradigm's potential? Then, check out this new report Open Innovation: Enhancing Idea Generation Through Collaboration.

The paper has identified 11 open innovation best practices based on research into how leading companies are tapping external sources of expertise.

Crowdsource Computer Game Targets Killer Disease

Aug-14-13 By IdeaConnection
Gamers can now join in the fight against ash dieback, a killer fungal disease currently threatening the UK’s woodlands.

Fraxinus is a Facebook puzzle game where users solve onscreen combinations. This will help scientists decode genetic structures to learn more about the fungus and stop it in its tracks.

U.S. Navy and Open Innovation for Disaster Response

Aug-13-13 By IdeaConnection
The U.S. Navy has signed a deal with software company Modus Operandi Inc., for the provision of a new crowdsourcing analysis system.

The software will help emergency response teams during disasters and social unrest.