Organize a system for radio and TV programming
in which the consumer is given options as to
which generalized products and services they
would be interested in hearing about during
commercial breaks. Advertisers could then
access their target markets better and
advertising would be less of a nuisance for
listeners and viewers.
Install a temporary yet fully functioning fast
food restaurant such as McDonalds or KFC in a
remote, inhospitable location - the Hindu Kush,
a glacier in central Greenland or the Saharah
Desert, for example. As there would be no
custom, the installation would be a work of art.
Create a stove that senses when food is about
to burn or boil over and alerts the user. The
alert would kick in before the smoke alarm
activates or the pan creates a mess on the stove top.
Create a service where grocery and department
stores build web interfaces to their inventory
databases so that customers can search to see
if a store has an item in stock before they
leave home to department stores.
Launch an Short Message Service(SMS) based
service to help people shop for dinner in
supermarkets. By texting a main ingredient -
'lamb' or 'salmon' for example - they would
receive back a shopping list and instructions
to prepare a simple, tasty meal which could
include starter, dessert, main course and wine.
Provide free wipes for fresh fruit in
supermarkets for customers to remove the waxy
sheen and pesticide residues.
Manufacture toothpaste that changes color when
the teeth are properly clean.
Allow an email system which, before the mail
is actually sent, indicates whether the
recipient is available to pick up their email
or whether an out of office auto reply will be
bounced back.
Introduce a system where economy class airline
passengers can pre-select their meals using
colored overhead lights - green for chicken,
red for beef, for example. Flight attendants
can serve the meals without having to repeat
what's on the menu at every row.
Manufacture a standard roof tile with embedded
solar cells. These could be interlocked so
that a roof could become a giant solar panel.
Create a dating service where shy guys can hire
a woman to go on a date or spend the day with
in order to practice and build confidence with
being with women. The woman would act like a
real date and would make constructive
criticism at the end of the night.
Attach a bottle opener to the cardboard boxes
and plastic crates that beer is sold in. Beers
could then be opened at once without searching
for an opener, or using keys or teeth.
Place utility meters in a high profile place on
the outside wall of buildings to show people
how much electricity they are consuming. When
the information is public, householders might
make more or an effort to consume less.
Introduce a 'guitar pit' at rock gigs where fans
can bring their own guitars, plug in to amps
and play along with the band.
Develop a small electronic parrot with voice
recognition that repeats back words in a
different language. These could be bought for
children as toys and would encourage them to
become bi-lingual.
Install Speed ATMs which only allow cash
withdrawal. The ATMs would be in busy areas
and users will not be able to check balances,
order statements or pay bills, nor will the
machine will not issue receipts. There will
also be a time limit during which users must
enter their PIN and select the amount of cash
they need.
Add a record button to iTunes so that while
listening to internet radio, users can press
record and instantly save any audio directly
to the playlist.
Develop a portable alarm that is based on a GPS
receiver rather than a clock. It could be set
to ring when it reaches a particular location.
People traveling on public transport could
snooze with confidence, knowing that they will
be woken at their destination.
Place a brake light on the front of vehicles so
that incoming traffic or pedestrians can tell
when a car is slowing down.
Launch an ethical credit card that rewards
green purchases or donations to charities with
extended periods of interest free credit on
the card owner's account.
