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7. IdeaSpark*: the Cold Dog October 31, 2006

Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Food and Drink, IdeaSpark*.
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It looks like a regular hot dog cart. But instead of getting a hot dog in a bun, you get a cold dog of vanilla ice cream in a brownie (or cookie) bun. Instead of ketchup in the red bottle, you get chocolate sauce; instead of mustard, you get caramel. In the condiment tray, you don’t get onions and relish, you get nuts and sprinkles. And top the cold dog off with whipped cream, if you like.

Considerations: the cold dog will melt as you eat it. Possible solutions: (1) a smaller cold dog, so you eat it quicker and you don’t stuff your face; (2) one end of the brownie bun will be closed and rounded off, to catch the melted ice cream. So you have clean hands, and the last two bites will be a yummy, tiny brownie bowl of melted ice cream.

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6. Bright Idea: the Pizza Cone October 31, 2006

Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Food and Drink.
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Pizza coneSpeaking of cones, how is this for a Bright Idea: the Pizza Cone. This one is from the US company, Crispycones. It is based on the original pizza cone from the Italian company, Kono Pizza. Also, similar to India’s PizzaCorner.

I know I would have to buy one based on the novelty-factor alone. And as far as taste, it is hard to screw up pizza. Clearly, it is easy to hold. Downside: minimal broiled cheese. And is it like a a bowl of marinara soup?

I came across this at www.springwise.com.

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5. Bright Idea: the Water Cone October 30, 2006

Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Product.
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water cone Post #4 reminded me of something I read about in a magazine some time ago, the Water Cone. This invention turns salt/brackish water into potable water via solar condensation. Genius, and also altruistic. But, there seems to be a potential problem: it is cumbersome and hard to transport.

Possible improvement: make it foldable/collapsible, like a translucent umbrella, with pockets at the base to catch the condensed water.

4. Bright Idea: the Hippo Water Roller October 30, 2006

Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Product.
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Hippo Water Roller Now this is a Bright Idea: a cheap and efficient way to transport lots of water, instead of on heads or straining arms and shoulders (click here for the website). What makes this even more impressive is that it is not necessarily a lucrative idea, but moreso an altruistic one. It is clear that people who need to transport that much water aren’t going to be part of an affluent demographic (no weekly Evian delivery, here), so this invention probably won’t make the inventor a millionaire. But it may make him a Nobel Prize winner.

I originally found this idea on www.nickbaum.com.

3. Mashup of the week: Sweet Home Alabama and Country Grammar October 29, 2006

Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Audio.
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Mashup: great idea. Definition (from wikipedia): a musical genre of songs that consist entirely of parts of other songs.

To me, this an example of synergy (hit the play button):

[odeo=http://odeo.com/audio/687587/view]

Sweet Home Alabama, by Lynyrd Skynyrd, + Country Grammar, by Nelly.

If you want to open up a new window and listen to the mashup from there (so your surfing won’t interrupt the song), click here.

Go to Odeo.com for millions of free podcasts and audio files.

2. IdeaSpark*: ePhotoBooth October 29, 2006

Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in IdeaSpark*, Service.
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IdeaSpark*: this was just inspired by the Japanese Photo Sticker Booths (mentioned in the book, Unleashing the Ideavirus, and in post #1).

Photo Sticker Booth This is a similar version (let’s call it the ePhotoBooth), but for emailed postcards. At various tourist destinations, you go in the booth to get your picture taken, with the specific tourist attraction in the background (the real site, like the Disney Castle; not a fake backdrop, like in this picture). You then immediately send the epostcard to all your friends, via email and/or to their camera phone, for an instant “Thinking of you…Wish you were here” message. Sticker and prints can be produced from the booth, as well, for extra.

You can also add the postcard to your own collection of pictures online, on your personal ePhotoBooth page, of all the places you have been to (that were smart enough to have an ePhotoBooth present). For some people, finding and using the various booths near them, and adding to their collection, becomes a fun challenge/hobby in and of iteself, taking them to destinations they would never have visited otherwise.

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1. Unleashing the Ideavirus October 21, 2006

Posted by Matt Fleming, PsyD in Book.
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I am finally ready to write my inaugural post for Sparkbugg.com!

Unleashing the IdeavirusI just finished reading the book, Unleashing the Ideavirus, by Seth Godin, which was a quick and inspiring read. I particularly like his quote: “An idea that just sits there is worthless.” That quote exemplifies my primary motivation for starting Sparkbugg. I was tired of having ideas that just sat there, in my head or sketchbook. Now they can just sit here, in this blog. But hopefully, at the very least, you can join me and others in talking about any and all ideas.

My grandiose hope is that Sparkbugg, and any IdeaSpark* that is presented here (by me or anyother reader), may potentially become an Ideavirus. To quote Godin: “An idea that moves and grows and infects everyone it touches…that’s an ideavirus.”

My favorite Highlights from the rest of the book include… (more…)