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I'm not really sure if this idea is original or not. I have had the idea for probably a couple of years, but as I have fallen out of my interest in IT, I have realized that I will probably never implement the idea myself. So I might as well share it for what it's worth! Not asking for anyone else to implement the idea for me, I'm just bored and want to share.

Lots of people have great ideas, ideas that would do great things if they were made known. Too often, however, the people with these ideas do not have an avenue through which their ideas can become known. Hence, why not create a website that gives good ideas some exposure?

Users would be able to submit their ideas on the website, where other users would then view the idea and rate it up or down. Some sort of ranking system would exist to handle ideas as they are voted up or down. As the best ideas made their way to the top, they would be displayed somewhere on the website, in a place visible to all users of the website. If the organization operating the website were significant enough, it may have the connections necessary to convey the top ideas to other organizations that may be able to turn the ideas into something, such as engineering businesses/firms, research institutions, political organizations, etc.

I am thinking a system of points would be necessary to make this idea work. Any user wishing to submit an idea would need to spend, say, 10 points in order to do so. In order to earn the points necessary to submit ideas, users would rate other ideas. This would ensure that all ideas get a fair chance at being voted upon.

This idea could be turned into a business opportunity, too. Participating users could sign an electronic non-disclosure agreement before participating, and company operating the website would file the top ideas for patents. Later, the company would sell the rights to said patents for money, and pay out a royalty to the individuals originating the ideas thence patented. However, this particular bit of my idea sort of goes against the "free idea sharing" nature of the rest of my idea.

What do you think of the ideas here? Perhaps something like this already exists?

That's called crowdsourcing. It's a terrible idea, because ideas are a dime a dozen. They're not nearly as useful as you imagine. Your idea is stupid, unless you manage to implement it and make it work, then it's cool. I'm not going to do it, because I don't believe in it and nobody else who does believe it is qualified to implement your idea the way you would.

Thanks. Well, maybe I can agree with you on the last main paragraph I wrote, about the patents and such. But the first part of the idea, which would get the top ideas delivered to organizations that can do something with them (no money would be paid to anyone by anyone, just free idea sharing), is better.

There are lots of websites like this already.

Ope, forgot to reply here yesterday. Thanks for posting those links -- I figured something of the nature indeed existed beforehand. Good to know about them.