So, I just got back from my little mini-tour jaunt up to the East Coast, thus I’ve been a bit quiet on the First Follower Project front.
For those of you who aren’t sure what the First Follower project is: basically a savvy guy named Derek Sivers wrote a blog post and subsequently gave a TED talk on what it means to be the first follower of a movement.
Taking it a step further, a different smart fella named Andrew Dubber decided to be Derek’s first follower and started a movement of his own. His plan was to come up with a new idea every day for 30 days. Anyone can ignore, discuss or take his ideas and implement them as they see fit.
Yet another intelligent guy named Andrew Wicklander decided to take the idea a step further and said that he would implement one of Andrew Dubber’s 30 ideas by May 1st, 2010. Andrew Wicklander put a call out for people to be a part of this movement and blog about the project at least once a week during the whole process. That’s where I come in.
I’ve been a bit lax with my input since I’ve been on the road, but I intend to remedy right now. Andrew Dubber has put out eight ideas thus far and there has been a little discussion on each.
Idea 1
Synopsis: It would be a computer program that detects when multiple keys are pressed at once (as when a baby mashes the keyboard) and immediately puts the computer to sleep with a baby-placating screensaver.
My Cent and a Half: Seems like a good enough idea, but I don’t have kids so it doesn’t really resonate with me. A commenter named Mike Masnick also pointed out that there is already a cat version so it would be a quick tweak to add a screen saver, I would think.
Idea 2
Synopsis: Dubber is essentially proposing Google Alerts for the radio. You would enter whatever it is you are interested in and the program would alert you when it is mentioned in a radio program.
My Cent and a Half: Radio? That's the thing my great-grandpa used to listen to The Shadow on, right?
Man, I'm funny. But seriously, I know radio is still an important medium and this would be extra helpful if it could also be applied to podcasts. Yet this still doesn't resonate with me at all. I don't use regular Google Alerts or anything like it right now though, so maybe I'm not the target market. Or maybe I'm just underutilizing available tools and therefore not recognizing the potential in new tools?
Idea 3
Synopsis: This idea is for a romantic comedy movie script. The protagonist creates a reality show around an average person taking the whole "famous for being famous" thing to its most literal extreme. And then of course they fall in love and yada, yada, yada.
My Cent and a Half: This general direction is more up my alley but I'm not moved by the specific idea. With a good script you can make almost anything entertaining, but this seems like it’s been done.
Idea 4
Synopsis: Mr. Dubber here proposes the idea of splitting radio programs/ podcasts into their sections (news, interviews, weather, reviews, etc.) and then re-packaging them to one's liking.
My Cent and a Half: This one seems like a stretch. I think I understand what he's going for here, but I just don't see the need for it. Plus, by the time you figure out your "modcast" package, the news cycle has passed you by.
Idea 5
Synopsis: This idea centers around a blank 30-day template to use for motivational and goal-achieving purposes.
My Cent and a Half: My original reaction to this idea was that it seemed like a good motivational tool and that it would be easily implementable. But it seems more like something for individuals though than for a large scale roll-out. However, the excitement it has generated amongst my fellow followers and our first follower leader (or... 2nd first follower... um... yeah) Andrew Wicklander has made me rethink.
This idea has struck such a chord with AW that he is committing himself to a 30-day project to learn the technical skills necessary to implement this idea without calling in others for help.
Already this has become more about the spirit of the 30-day goal than the blank calendar idea. I'm not sure where I'm going to go with it on my end yet, but I'll certainly be brainstorming here over the coming days and weeks.
Idea 6
Synopsis: SpringCleanr would be a computer program that helps keep your hard drive organized and clutter-free by regularly (upon a customizable schedule) prompting you to "Keep It", "Chuck It", "Archive It" or "Action It".
My Cent and a Half: Seems like the most “product” like of all thus far. I haven’t the first clue how to build such a program and it seems like my hard drive organization issues aren’t as complex as Dubber’s, but it’s a good idea. Having such a program be extremely customizable would be key here.
Idea 7
Synopsis: This is an idea for a mobile device application that will provide gallery/artist information for graffiti artist.
My Cent and a Half: I'm probably the least interested in this idea than any of the others thus far. Graffiti art is definitely impressive in its best execution, but I am just not sure there is a need for such an app. Perhaps it's simply that I don't wonder about it that much, so I'm projecting. It also seems like there are too many snags in finding and providing the information.
Idea 8
Synopsis: This would be a business card with a bar code that would provide all of your relevant and editable information.
My Cent and a Half: Can we just save material and just send the person a text or an email on the spot?
I like reviewing each idea individually like this because it lays it all out. Hopefully I'll do so more often so that I don't do 8 ideas at once every time. What do you guys think?
