Innovation Incubator

Hmm..

A few of these are more like starting points for concepts we could use. All of the ideas are Web-based, I think.. some are for brand new pages while others would be additions to existing sites. Some of these are probably taken, egads!

1) Community wiki over a Google Map platform

This is my favorite idea, one that multiple people will probably bring up. A tool like this one could provide background information, news stories or statistics for buildings, streets, or other map items. It could also filter auto wreck statistics, pinpoint crime, or just be a tool for the “What the heck is that building?” question. We’ve talked about this one substantially, and I really love it – it’d be an easy-to-use one-stop application for reporters, community members or anybody with itching curiosity about a city. It would also heighten community awareness and act as a tool for township newcomers.

2) Mad libs for the citizen journalist

The typical “news story” has a few key characteristics: the lead, the nut graph, and the body. However, the average-Joe-gone-amateur-reporter doesn’t have the expertise in constructing the prototypical story like the trained journalist can. So, a code maybe could be written to assist in creating a community-oriented story. The “citizen journalist” fills in the who, what, when, where and why to a story. The code creates a simple lede. Details, quotes and information fill the body of the story. The article could then be uploaded to a wiki, where any user could edit it to further clarify, add information or simply rearrange the story. It’d be a tool to get the real important stuff in a story right to the top, and then allow the user to edit from there.

3) Comment-driven news sites

Often, comments left by users at the end of an online news story prove more interesting than the story itself. This also creates user interaction, interest, involvement and can highlight controversy in a community. A comment-driven Web site could prove more useful to community members than the news site itself. By sorting stories primarily based on discussion and highlighting discussion over the article itself, community members could be more interested in a story – why it’s important, how it affects them and why they should care. The page could actually be in a blog format, with users posting feedback and linking to the story, followed by comments from other users.

4) Video-oriented comments on news sites

Similar to a comment-driven news site – in fact, it could be implemented in a comment-driven site or used on an as-is news site. Instead of users simply leaving comments, users would be able to post video responses (similar to the YouTube video response). An image of a person adds character, credibility and an image to the person with something to say. It would also add personality and show the passion a person has in response to a story INSTEAD OF USING CAPITAL LETTERS TO TALK LOUD. So, it’s a simple idea to give more voice to users.

5) News ticker for those too lazy to look online

A big element of news is how the reader receives the “package” – it’s the reason why newspapers are still sticking around with decent readership. It’s also the reason why news sites can be so difficult to navigate. So, a desktop ticker would be an easy, efficient way for people to get the news that they want by signing up for specific topics or types of stories. Google news could be an easy streaming feed, or it could be for any news Web site the reader wants. It’d be an easier way to communicate news directly rather than having to prompt the user to come to a news Web page.

6) News background site for those hesitant to jump in

Here’s a prime example: I asked my girlfriend if she was familiar with the Rose trial that ended about a month ago – she said she wasn’t, although I know that she’s seen the headlines. When I told her the background on the trial, her interest was sparked. In this case, a Web site with information about this Rose character who burned down an apartment complex and killed a few people would have come in handy. So many people are reluctant to begin reading the news because there is so much going on. If the background information could be summarized simply on a site, more people may want to begin to keep up with the times in a community.

7) Why not a news application for Facebook?

This is almost self-explanatory. Facebook is growing so quickly that it makes sense to put news somewhere on the main page if the user wants. What better way to spread important community information from a specific source?

It wouldn’t even need to be Facebook-driven. Simply getting a social network to discuss news topics would be enough. Or, a social network of news junkies asking other news junkies about topics they may be interested in. This would add depth and interest to topics and make them more relevant.

8) Category-driven news aggregate

This seems like a simple idea. Everything on the Internet is unorganized as-is, so there should be an aggregate that puts together news and Web sites. The site could filter all of the links into categories so viewers can browse as they see fit.

9) Stumble Community

A stumble upon for a community could link to news that other readers give good ratings, or it could link to community Web sites that people are interested in. Whatever it links to, it could sort your interests by category and use a rating system to direct Web traffic.

10) Compare and contrast the daily feeds

This may make a better addition to an already-existent Web site – being able to compare and contrast different news networks by having the top headlines placed side-by-side. Personally, I’ve always viewed the best way to get the whole truth in news is by getting it from a variety of sources, so this would be a good way to see the Times’ main points versus the Washington Post’s, or even Fox News. What fun!