Know Idea

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

How to take a good photo

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Home energy consultant

Australians are being pressured financially as resources (water, oil) become more scarce and expensive.

Idea

A home energy consultant could give households a report, identifying where they could save resources: water consumption, electricty use, electricty suppliers, fuel use, fuel conversion for cars, solar energy, water tanks. The consultant would earn a fee and possibly kickbacks for referrals.

Problem

Households are unlikely to pay for such a service as they can work it out for themeselves. People will pay for an inspection when buying a house but only becase lots of money is riding on it. You would need to have quite a compelling argument to satisfy this. This kind of service is probably best supplied by "green" plumbers who specilise in water taks etc.

Maybe this kind of info could be provided on a website. eg. Electricity companies compared, the best water tanks, qualified installers, etc. You can still get the kickbacks but it is free for users.

Tags
idea
energy
green
website

Monday, September 12, 2005

20/20 hindsight for the risk averse

People make decisions today with future outcomes in mind. The risk averse will act conservatively and are likely up giving up more than they gain as they take on a defensive position. ie. they have not considered the opportuity cost of what they do.

Idea

This way of thinking can be possibly rectified by placing the person at some time in the future and asking them to image how they would feel at that point in time and then ask them to reconsider the opportunity cost. There is a chance that they will change their decsison based on this hindsight.

Example 1: Talented executive desides to forgo leisure time (friends, family, lovers, travel, fitness) for 15 years (25 -40) and accepts high wage. This may seem logical. Now ask them to put themselves in the 40 yo shoes and to consider if the loss of quality of life was worth the $x they have accuulated.

Example 2: Couple close to retirement has a reasonable amount saved and decide to work for another 5 years (63 - 68) to acrue more with the fear that they may hit hard times. Now ask them to put themselves in the shoes of the 68 year old. Maybe there are only a couple of productive years left in their lives. What value would then be put in the previous 5 productive years. Propbably a lot more than what was accrued. ie. The relative value of the enjoyment of the previous 5 years will be valued much higher.

Tags
idea
risk
hindsight

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Physical body production

Idea

A stage dance production called "Physical Body". The production aims to showcase the human body in all of it's exquisite physicality: control, strength, flexibility, sensuality, coordination. This is achieved by taking a multi-disciplined approach to performace by using a body builder, yoga practitioner, gymnast, stripper, dancer. There should be a good gender balance between the disciplines. Each of these disciplines can show off one or more of these aspects. The object is to get all walks of the audience to appreciate all that is being displayed. eg. why can't straight guys enjoy a male stripper, why can't yobs enjoy yoga, etc...

Detail

The show should maintain the purity of each of the disciplines lest the audience suspects the production of being to voyeristic. However, the disciplines should be mixed into an artistic vision which is culturally worthy and exciting/pleasing/exhilarating. Hopefully it would have broad appeal to the average person (men and women) or maybe it would just appeal to those who love the body. The mood is undoubtedly sensual and sensuality flows from the physical. This is similar to ancient Greek gymnasts. It is also a spectacle in the same way that private circuses have been for royalty.

Tags
idea
dance
production

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Parabolas in action

Railway lines lessen the quality of life for residents through noise pollution.

Idea

Railway lines to have better fences and sound reflecting parabolas to lessen noise pollution and improve life for residents. The deflectors can take the horizonatal noise and deflect it skyward.

Problem

This would be expensive but would have a net positive gain as the utility for succssive generations would outweigh cost/maintenance. The vibrations would not be diminished and perhaps this would defeat the idea.

Tags
idea
pollution