WhyNot.net - Problem Solving and Idea Exchange

There’s a book called Why Not? Which takes an every day approach to solving problems of any size. It’s written by Professors Nalebuf and Ayers both of whom hail from Yale. Now the book has spawned a web site dubbed WhyNot, in line with the book of course. The site functions as an idea exchange. As a member you can pitch ideas and get feedback from the community. Here’s an example taken from the book: Why not market DVDs that give parents the option to show the PG-13 or airplane version of an R movie? The book offers four problem solving techniques premised on four questions, e.g. What Would Croesus Do? and Where Else Would It Work?. Site members are encouraged to take up these tools and apply them to things they encounter in every day life. Ideas are categorized by type, e.g. computers or culture, as well as date, i.e. most recent and recent hits. Besides coming up with ideas, users can play the Why Not? game, read related articles, and even get a list of suggested readings.

“How to Use Everyday Ingenuity to Solve Problems Big and Small”

Here’s a site that’s practical in real life too, which is something of a rarity. Based on the bestselling book, it encourages everyday people to think outside the box and come up with great ideas. The appeal is in the scope it covers—ideas can be as simple as pre-washed lettuce, or they can be even more groundbreaking.

The site layout is unattractive. WhyNot could implement more social features and update its look. Are ideas here protected in any way? Will they add a search bar?