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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.

Movie Maker’s Difficult Crowdsourcing Experiment

Aug-11-13 By IdeaConnection
Total Recall and Basic Instinct director Paul Verhoeven has been complaining that a crowdsourced script writing project he set up was a “headache”.

The Dutch filmmaker made his comments in an interview with the BBC about his latest film. It grew out of a script written collectively by the audience.

Open Innovation at Ford’s Silicon Valley Lab

Aug-08-13 By IdeaConnection
Ford’s Silicon Valley Lab is driving into the future with a crowdsourcing approach to the creation of groundbreaking apps and entertainment features for its vehicles.

The Silicon Valley Business Journal recently published a fascinating feature on Ford’s open source platform called Open XC - a main focus of the lab. The neat research tool has been designed to let third party developers create any number of innovative software programs.

Open XC plugs into a car via Bluetooth to access the tons of data produced by its electrical systems.

High Performance Facebook Fans Crowdsource Porsche Sports Car

Aug-06-13 By IdeaConnection
Prestige car maker Porsche has a reputation for being tuned into its social media audience, giving followers plenty of insights and information about its cars and greatly valuing their input.

As part of the "50 Years of the Porsche 911" anniversary festivities, and to celebrate reaching five million "likes” on Facebook, it looked to fans to help customize a one-off 911 Carrera 4S sports car. That car has now been built.

Open Innovation Combats Threat to New Zealand’s Kiwifruit Industry

Aug-04-13 By IdeaConnection
PSA (pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae) is a bacterial disease that affects kiwifruit species. It carries no risk to human or animal health but can result in the death of vine species and is a huge threat to New Zealand’s billion-dollar kiwifruit industry.

Kiwifruit Vine Health a New Zealand-based organization set up to deal with the problem is now turning to open innovation to find ways of managing and combating the disease.

PSA attacks the vines, not the kiwifruit and it’s spread by animals, humans, windborne pollen, orchard tools and vehicles.

No-Strings Cash Grants for Awesome Ideas

Jul-29-13 By IdeaConnection
The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) has just published a short film about the Awesome Foundation, an international network of philanthropists that provides no-strings attached cash to “awesome” ideas and projects.

Christina Xu, the Chancellor of the Institute on Higher Awesome Studies refers to Awesome as "a distributed network of guerrilla philanthropists."

Crowdsourcing Information for Disaster Relief Efforts

Jul-28-13 By IdeaConnection
Watch this illuminating TED talk to discover how crowdsourcing can aid disaster relief efforts. The talk was given by Qatar Foundation's Patrick Meier and concentrates on the role that social media platforms such as Twitter can play in disseminating accurate, real-time information during disaster scenarios.

Rolls Royce Launches Major Open Innovation Program

Jul-27-13 By IdeaConnection
Rolls Royce, the aerospace and power systems company has launched an open innovation program in India to find, buy and/or license technologies and techniques outside its usual fields of operation.

The India Open Innovation program (IOiN-RR) will also help Indian companies to leverage their skills, services and talents globally.

Embracing Open Innovation to Boost the Welsh Economy

Jul-26-13 By IdeaConnection
All eyes are on the government of Wales as it embarks on a brand new open innovation project that aims to forge collaborations between large and small companies and other partners. The overall intention is to increase innovation and give the Welsh economy a healthy boost.

Other towns, cities and countries will be watching to see what difference the project might make.