Connected anew
Mixing up wi-fi to make gps and tagging of real life, Navizon is the brainchild of Cyril Houri. Since gps is not always available in downtown areas - and there are more smart phones than gps portable units in peoples pockets, it makes sense to slowly and gradually build up alternative location mapping and "super size" it with community based tagging of relevant locations such as restaurants and offices.A nice term Wired also used was "freemium" - the basic service is free for all (like flickr and skype), but there is a premium option (more upload and storage and calls outside the network, respectively) for those that really enjoy the service or just want to support it. The service is good in and of itself, but for a modest fee you get even more. And if the scale is large enough, the company delivering the service can get a solid revenue stream from small payments.
But if you only have a "one off" idea to test out, the ransom model might be worth a shot. Think of it as Paypal support in revers. Rather than having people donate if they like the show / story / blog as a lot of podcaster and others do, set a price and a limit for donations up front for releasing the content in the first place. Of course, it helps if you actually have a track record and some dedicated fans willing to play along. And it should be a feasible amount considering your input and effort. Don't shoot for a million dollars for you short story...
Connecting to disconnect
If you want to get off the net and away from the computer for a while - then the Instructables might be a good "half way house". Featured in the Rave Awards and on Lifehacker among others, the site offers up instructions for DIY projects ranging from weird to bizarre - or how about a 3d scanner based off a laser pointer and a wine glass?And if you want to dig out that old chemistry set, but live in the US and want to avoid being detained on suspicion of either making drugs or wmd, you might want to head on over to the Society for Amateur Scientists [wikip]. They have a magazine online offering up projects and information for the tinkerer in all of us.
Stuck for ideas? Need to think up something for the sci-fi story without going totally overboard? Well, some of the concepts from the "Simplicity" campaign [flash] by Philips might fit the bill. Personal fave and the reason for going beyond the Wired inset? "In Touch – an interactive touch-sensitive display as an alternative to voice mails and family messages stuck on the fridge."
...and the sun is with us partially behind the clouds - and in 'real time' after the end of daylight savings today ...
