Duo-Nation World Games

Psychological research indicates that groups overcome differences and understand each other best when collaborating on a "superordinate goal," which requires them to work together. (See contact hypothesis).

In an evolution of the Olympic Games, rosters for team sports might be comprised of members from two separate countries. They could be paired by lottery or a vote/selection in the United Nations. Collaborating teams/countries would be compelled to build international relationships, foster goodwill, and cooperative spirit by rooting for and assembling the same team.

CATEGORY: Geopolitical/Entertainment

IDEATION: Mar 3, 2004.

Soundtrack Jacket

The “Soundtrack Jacket” plays music that corresponds with your mood and biological signals. It can either play it outloud over built-in speakers or pump tunes into a headset.

It has a neural net training mode that senses your bio-metrics in response to musical inputs. This maps certain musical tempos, genres, timbres, instruments, etc. to heart rate, skin voltage, body temperature, chemical concentrations, etc. Then you can use the neural net to detect bio-metric patterns and play music that fits your mood. The songs could be selected from a playlist (perhaps from the music genome project - see www.pandora.com) or maybe even generated real-time from tracks and samples.



CATEGORY: Entertainment
IDEATION: 2005.

Urban Solar Thermal Power

Place a solar thermal collector on the highest building in a city. Then assemble a distributed array of mirrors on surrounding rooftops. With dual-axis tracking, the mirrors can direct sunlight to the central collector based on two signals: 1) a photosensor that follows the sun and 2) a periodic wireless signal from the collector.

Each distributed mirror is independently managed by a small photovoltaic-powered control system, so there are no wires to run, no infrastructure, no hassle. You simply lease a plot of roof space from your neighbors and grab the economies of scale offered by concentrated solar power. Apply solar-thermal technology at the collector to boil a working fluid and turn a turbine/generator.



CATEGORY: Energy/Business Idea
IDEATION: January 13, 2009.

Political Candidate Matching Quiz

Political Candidates and Voters could all take the same web-based, psychological test to compare their values and decision-making tendencies. This would greatly simplify research for the Voter by listing the degree to which they share points-of-view with the Candidates. Listings would run from the presidential candidates right on down to the obscure judges and officials that most people are never sure how to vote on! (Candidates reported could be customized by entering zip code).

With a well-designed test, the questions would be nuanced and subtle enough to draw out meaningful character tendencies without being simplistic and divisive. In my opinion, this would clarify the muddied brouhaha of our elections and better approach our national ideal of democracy.

CATEGORY: Political/Sociological
IDEATION: August 9, 2008.

Lunar Real Estate Auction

Apportion property on the moon to the nations depending on their size and population, and set up a market exchange so that countries and organizations can buy and sell the property. This availability of property and speculation would spur the expansion and settlement of the moon and outer space! Countries could choose to offer incentives in their territories like the Homestead Act in the early United States' westward expansion.

Simultaneously, the market would allow undeveloped countries to sell their stakes to gain much-needed funds in the short term.



CATEGORY: Geopolitical/Socioeconomic/Business Idea
IDEATION: June 1, 2007.

Saleboat Race...For The Cure

Coordinate a massive sailboat race with a philanthropic twist, in the style of "Race for the Cure" on land. Competitors would use their sailboat to deliver a payload of goods and supplies to impoverished people at the end of the race.

A fleet of thousands of boats would bring medical supplies, food, and more. The event could take place perhaps from Miami to Haiti, or from San Diego to Mexico.



CATEGORY: Philanthropy/Business Idea

IDEATION: Nov 18, 2008.

Automobile Bubble Canopy

Bubble-canopies on cars would let people see each other while driving, increasing the psychological accountability, the human interaction, and percieved responsibility of driving. This would likely decrease road rage. It would also eliminate blind spots.


CATEGORY: Transportation
IDEATION: 2001.

CO2 devouring algae - sink after eating

Genetically engineer an algae so that it grows quickly, gobbles up CO2, then dies and/or sinks under its own weight. Then it will fall to the bottom of the ocean and sequester the CO2 to prevent it from contributing to global warming.


CATEGORY: Science & Technology
IDEATION: Oct 24, 2008.