Check out our curated Weekly RoundUP of the breaking news and must-read thought leadership pieces on the crowd economy spotted by the Crowdsourcing Week team.
Crowdsourced models for Chinese lingerie startup
O2, a Chinese lingerie startup, has tapped crowdsourcing in order to find its underwear models. Find out how Daini Xu, the CEO of O2, has achieved something that no other global lingerie brand ever has.
All of O2’s models are users of O2’s app, which is an e-commerce platform for lingerie, sportswear, bathing suits, and other related products. There is no money involved, only the promise of free lingerie and being featured on O2’s app. For every three sets of lingerie photographed, models receive one set for free. O2 calls its models “lingerie experience masters.” “We wanted normal people, like office ladies and students,” says Ms. Xu. “Our [modeling] program is more about letting users experience [our lingerie], to let them wear something they’ve never worn before.”
Crowdsourced-based gas app launched in Australia
We are all in for cheaper gas prices, right? Well, if you are already living in Australia, then locating gas prices may not be a problem anymore. With Gasbuddy app finally launched, read how not only you can keep track of gas prices, but also win vouchers.
The GasBuddy model is based on crowdsourcing, with users observing prices for different grades of unleaded, diesel and LPG fuel at petrol stations Australia-wide and submitting them to the GasBuddy database. The database is then updated in real time and other users can confirm the prices or submit updates. The app also rewards the crowdsourcing efforts of users. Every time a user adds a price they gain points and, once they build up enough ‘deposits’, they can then enter the draw to win a $100 fuel voucher.
Eve’s new device completely crowdsourced
Finnish tech startup Eve is asking You to vote on its next device. Find out more here to see what the CEO, Karatsevidis Konstantinos is offering.
The 2-in-1 tablet is codenamed the “Pyramid Flipper,” says CEO and co-founder Karatsevidis Konstantinos. He says after they unveiled their first Windows 10 tablet, the Eve T1, they saw people responding on how they wish the product had certain features — and this applied to all sorts of devices from a range of manufacturers. So the company decided to let their next device be completely crowdsourced. You can register on Eve’s website, and once you do you’ll get access to the forums, where you can participate in polls on what specifications you want the device to be. And it’s essentially all about cutting out the middle man — for parts, the company directly shows what components are available and at what price points.
Crowdsourcing Musk’s Hyperloop
If Tesla and SpaceX became a reality, why not try bringing Hyperloop to life? Check out this Forbes article and learn more on how a small group of teams are working on the construction of a prototype for Hyperloop.
Loop’s initial goal was simply to submit a viable pod proposal for SpaceX design weekend, a precursor to this summer’s final competition. After more than 1,200 entries, SpaceX invited only 125 teams to present at design weekend at Texas A&M University this past January. Much to their surprise, rLoop was crowned “Best Non-Student Team”, and became just one of 30 teams invited to the final competition. “It was definitely a shock when SpaceX pronounced us winners of design week ,” admits Brent Lessard, an engineer from Toronto who serves as rLoop’s CEO.
Crowdfunding highlighted during NCEDA conference
According to John Skvarla, in the N.C. Economic Developers Association Mid-Winter Conference, more should be done to support small businesses, specifically the need of more crowdfunding. Here’s why.
Skvarla emphasized the need for more early-stage venture capital and crowdfunding for small businesses. “We can get it done,” Skvarla said. “We need crowdfunding, we need early-stage venture funding to attract businesses and great thinking, so (that) everybody has a chance to become the fastest runner.”
99designs with a new logo from crowdsourcing contest
99designs, a design crowdsourcing website, still managed to crowdsource its new logo. See it here… What do you think of 99designs logo redesign?
The new 99designs layout is much cleaner, with emphasis on the artist credited below each graphic displayed on the site. Even the 404 page showcases artwork by its community members. “The new word mark is clean and has an app treatment,” he describes. “Our position in the scheme of things is to be the canvas for everyone else. In our design contest we saw a great range of designs, but what we got to in the end we realized what was important was to continue to simplify who we are and what we stand for.”
EVE Online crowdsource science minigame
EVE Online update, Project Discovery, will add in a crowdsourcing science minigame. Read how, as gamers play the game, a compilation of the Human Protein Atlas will be collected.
EVE Online players can now while away their idle hours by helping advance medical science. By playing the game, players will assist in the compilation of the Human Protein Atlas, a Swedish project helping scientists understand protein function in human cells. All players need to do is recognise patterns and categorise images, working through the 13 million which have been uploaded to the MMO. Participation is open to players at all levels (systems are in place to prevent sabotage) and is entirely voluntary, but to incentivise the scheme, players will earn kredits for use in the Sisters of EVE loyalty points store. Learn more on the Project Discovery hub.
Photo credit: Digital Trends
There are many fantastic stories out there. What else caught your eye this week? Did you come across some breaking news or a good thought piece? Do share them with us…
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