multitool innovation forum?

[Raukodur]

If you want to keep something secret, don't put it on the internet

Well this is the point, such a forum will do nothing other than create a place for people to post threads they ALREADY do in other forums.

If I had a good idea for a commercially viable multitool which would likely make someone very rich, I won't be posting it online 

True, if you wish to pursue it yourself or let someone you know do it.

But what if you have no interest in pursuing it yourself? Or what if the idea, as you have thought of it, is not viable, an needs further development and input?
If I have such an idea, I post it in the general forum, where it has some discussion, but relatively quickly disappears onto page 2 and beyond.

[gregozedobe]

I can't see any way of having a forum for discussion that won't expose the ideas to possible IP theft.  Whatever criteria you use must still allow others to see the idea/s so they can comment and contribute, otherwise there is no point in having the forum.

It is up to the individuals whether to expose their ideas via an "open" forum or keep them hidden.  If someone wants to have a limited discussion they can do it via PMs or emails.

I vote for a forum open to anybody signed in (not guests), perhaps with "(NB no IP protection)" as part of the forum title, as I agree that very few people read stickies, even ones as pointed as "Read this before posting".  The only reason to exclude guests is to encourage people to join MT0.

If anyone has an idea that they believe is worth money to them then they can simply not post about it (as is the current case).  But others may enjoy the intellectual challange of coming up with a (somewhat) original idea and then incorporating suggestions from others (or solving some not-so-obvious problems they didn't foresee in their original design that others have pointed out). 

They may even recruit people willing to help with construction of prototypes, and certainly there would be no shortage of testers and evaluators  .

[Syph007]

If you want to think of it as a brainstorming post or something, that makes more sense.  But we do that now in the mod forum.  If you post an idea there and ask how you could actually do it, you will get answers and suggestions from myself and the other mod minded folks.

One thing I would really find interesting... Grant alluded too about 'coincidences' in suggested concepts on the site, and real ones introduced by companies... how about a thread about all of those over the years, I can only remember one off hand and I'd love to read about the other 'coincidences' 

[Raukodur]

If you want to think of it as a brainstorming post or something, that makes more sense.  But we do that now in the mod forum.  If you post an idea there and ask how you could actually do it, you will get answers and suggestions from myself and the other mod minded folks.

One thing I would really find interesting... Grant alluded too about 'coincidences' in suggested concepts on the site, and real ones introduced by companies... how about a thread about all of those over the years, I can only remember one off hand and I'd love to read about the other 'coincidences' 

There would a difference between this forum and the modding forum. This is not so much about being able to make the tool in question, as thinking about ideas for radically different tools, and whether they would work, and discussions about their design and functions.

Sure, in the same way that these threads currently come to the general forum more often than not, they could be put into the modding forum. But in the same way (to a lesser degree) that these threads disappear after a short while beneath the threads for which those forums were made, the same would happen in the modding forum.

[Raukodur]

Any other thoughts about this?

[Raukodur]

Bump.

[Raukodur]

bump.

[nuphoria]

Looks like it's mostly run it's course

[Raukodur]

Looks like it's mostly run it's course

So Def, is that a 'no' on the new forum? Just so I can stop pushing for it, if I know it's not going to happen.

I really do think it would be quite an interesting forum.

[Grant Lamontagne]

To be honest I'm not sure I see a need for it.  If we have the discussion, we can make space for it.  It doesn't work so well the other way around.

Perhaps we could rename the Mod Squad into the Development Forum or similar and include new tool designs alongside mod ideas?

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[Raukodur]

What I would say is that sometimes when you have a space, that space gets filled, and that is not a bad thing.

Currently these threads are dotted around the entire forums, if someone has an idea it can go in the general forum, but if its similar or related to what we currently see from the major manufacturers, it may well go into their individual forums, or maybe in the one-piece tool or rescue tool forums. And of course the mod squad.

And in those forums, these threads get buried, especially in the busier forums, since the normal business of those forums is what people generally visit them for and post about.

So I do think a specific forum would enable and enhance innovative ideas, since they would have a place to reside and congregate, and not effectively disappear after a day or so.

[Metropolicity]

Maybe we can call it the Multi think tank.

[Syph007]

I think it would be about as used at the MT.o chat.

What I would do is post this type of topic in the mod section. It's the most appropriate area, and will be buried the slowest if thats a big concern to you.  I still don't see the end goal here though.  If you don't want to develop the idea into product, then what is the collaboration for? And if you do want to develop into product, doing it publicly isn't a good idea. 

I've already helped a number of people on this site develop ideas, and helped with making dxf files, or advice on machining, finishing, and a number of other techniques. But it would not have been appropriate to post all of that publicly since they are making prototypes to develop into product.

So, again I dont see the point, and if you want to post publicly, tuck it in the mod forum.

[Gareth]

I'm just not convinced we have all that many innovation threads that aren't also mod threads.   I'm not dismissing it out of hand, I'm just not sure I see the need either.

[Raukodur]

Ok, so maybe the best way forward then is to modify the mod forum to incorporate these sorts of threads.

The name and description of the forum would need altering so it is more obvious that is the place to post/find such threads.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm good with that. I'm at work on a terrible job that is getting worse by the minute so if I don't answer right away its nothing personal!

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

[enki_ck]

Ok, so maybe the best way forward then is to modify the mod forum to incorporate these sorts of threads.

The name and description of the forum would need altering so it is more obvious that is the place to post/find such threads.

I'm strongly against any name change. That forum is for displaying mods, searching help for mods, and an occasional idea on a innovation that could be made. Some of which actually do get made so it's also a mod. 99% of the forum are actual mods. Not innovational ideas  We can add that to the description but I wouldn't change the name of it.

[Syph007]

Ok, so maybe the best way forward then is to modify the mod forum to incorporate these sorts of threads.

The name and description of the forum would need altering so it is more obvious that is the place to post/find such threads.

I'm strongly against any name change. That forum is for displaying mods, searching help for mods, and an occasional idea on a innovation that could be made. Some of which actually do get made so it's also a mod. 99% of the forum are actual mods. Not innovational ideas  We can add that to the description but I wouldn't change the name of it.

+1000000 The mod squad is a great name!

Everything is just great they way it is, dont break it!  I even get people in other forums posting links to mine, and others work there.  I have noticed users signing up over here just to participate, and it's a growing and wonderful sub forum now.

[nuphoria]

^ I agree with that

[AimlessWanderer]

I also think the mod squad should stop as it is. It allows for the in-depth builds and mods that Syph, Metro, Steve and others have done as well as the "lego" builds that me and others have done, and well as the two minutes with a Dremel improvements. In and of itself it's a very rich forum for inspiration, and is fine just the way it is.

My own personal concern is that not enough people are flying the flag for this innovation section, and that to try and make a feature of it would either be a damp squib if done alone, or would detract from other great aspects of these forums. I'm not saying that this is a bad idea, just that there isn't enough collective passion for it right now, and that Raukodur might get lonely in there on his own 

[Metropolicity]

I also think the mod squad should stop as it is. It allows for the in-depth builds and mods that Syph, Metro, Steve and others have done as well as the "lego" builds that me and others have done, and well as the two minutes with a Dremel improvements. In and of itself it's a very rich forum for inspiration, and is fine just the way it is.

My own personal concern is that not enough people are flying the flag for this innovation section, and that to try and make a feature of it would either be a damp squib if done alone, or would detract from other great aspects of these forums. I'm not saying that this is a bad idea, just that there isn't enough collective passion for it right now, and that Raukodur might get lonely in there on his own 

I am not sure what you mean by "stop as it is", do you mean leave it alone or abolish it? I am pretty sure you mean the former and not the later. Maybe a sub-sub forum in the mod squad? Even if it is a party of one or two, its still a soapbox someone can stand on.

Also, I am a super proud member of the Mod Squad and whatever happens, I am sticking to the name!

Metro OUT!

[nuphoria]

The English for "stop as is it" would translate as "leave it alone" for you

[Grumpy]

+1

[AimlessWanderer]

The English for "stop as is it" would translate as "leave it alone" for you

  Didn't realise that was a colloquialism 

The Mod Squad is perfectly fine just the way it is IMO

[AHB]

The English for "stop as is it" would translate as "leave it alone" for you

  Didn't realise that was a colloquialism 

The Mod Squad is perfectly fine just the way it is IMO

Gotta agree with you Al..

[Gareth]

The Mod Squad is an institution, you can't play with that name!    However the tag line currently reads:

Can't find the tool you want or need? Make one! The Do It Yourself Tool Mod Forum for the Do It Yourself-er!

It could easily be changed to reflect the innovation aspect I think.

[AimlessWanderer]

The Mod Squad is an institution, you can't play with that name!    However the tag line currently reads:

Can't find the tool you want or need? Make one! The Do It Yourself Tool Mod Forum for the Do It Yourself-er!

It could easily be changed to reflect the innovation aspect I think.

That's probably the best compromise so far I reckon 

[nuphoria]

Look at us all playing nicely together

[derekmac]

Look at us all playing nicely together

Oh we can't have that! I think we should change everything!!

Nah, I think it's fine just the way it is.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[livan]

I can not understand the latest posts. My translator can not tell what a deal. Can be a few sentences in a very simple construction, without irony, hints, and other complications.