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135 results found
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Community Centers 
There could be more public community centers in America that people could visit just to exist with other people. These community centers could be open 24/7 to accomodate people of all sleep schedules. Especially as we become more dependent on technology, and spend most of our time sitting in front of a screen, why do we have to sit isolated in our own homes to do it?In college, I spent most of my time in such wifi enabled common areas, and quite enjoyed it. The most similar thing we have to that right now that I see are coffee shops. these are nice, but it is a requirement to buy a drink in order to sit there, and seating is usually limited. There are also public libraries, but they tend to be dirty, and talking isn't allowed. Obviously, a big challenge would be in keeping the place from being decimated by random miscreants, and keeping it open even though it doesn't offer a product or service. Perhaps the supervisors could charge a small admittance fee, and could be free to remove from the premises any people who destroy the property.Reward: A more connected community. 
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PHOTOSYNTHESIZING ROOFING MATERIAL
This is my wildest idea and would probably require giant strides in technology but here goes:Did you ever notice how much cooler it is under a tree than under any other sort of roof or covering? My theory is that this is because conventional roof coverings absorb and then radiate heat/energy downward producing a space that while it may be shaded, is not much cooler than the surrounding area. Trees on the other hand are absorbing the energy and using it for photosynthesis. Since the energy is being used and directed to the nourishment of the tree, heat does not radiate downward and it produces a much cooler space beneath.My idea would be to produce a roofing material that is embedded or covered with photosynthesizing material. The material would absorb the sunlight/energy and produce sugars or perhaps even electricity that could be collected or used elsewhere, thereby removing the energy and preventing it from radiating down to the area below the roof.I see this as a possible covering for homes, businesses, permanent patio covers in homes or parks, etc. When used in buildings it should dramatically reduce cooling costs and, if it is possible to convert the output to electricity, it could even offset some of the cost of installation.Reward: Installation of the material on my house and any future homes I move to.
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Primary School Climbing Frame
Children in primary school typically want to climb on the roof. Usually this is a dreadful crime, but must it be?What about a low, single-story primary school with a roof garden/ playground accessed by ladders, rope ladders, fireman's poles and slides that all lead down into classrooms, the playground, or a central courtyard? There could be wobbly rope bridges from one classroom to another, jungle swings across the courtyard, and whatever else the architect's imagination can dream up?Reward: The pleasure of seeing it built and enjoyed.
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Green Energy from the rise and fall of tides
Background: Every object that floats in tidal areas (harbours, the sea, etc.) moves up and down with the tides. The energy that is required to lift the object and the energy disipated as the object descends is all wasted. (Imagine the energy required to lift a relatively small 2000 tonne barge.)Practical Application 1: This energy can be harvested by connecting the object to a harbour wall or seabed. The relative movement between the fixed harbour wall etc. and moving object can be made to pressurise hydraulic fluid, this can operate an hydraulic 'wobble pump' which turns a generator.Practical Application 2: In its simplest form this electrical energy would be cyclical, in line with 'still' high and low tides. In this simple form the energy could be sold to a national grid.Practical Application 3: There are approx. 1500 harbours around UK. Most of them have underutilised harbour walls (built prior to the shrinking of our fishing industry). The oil industry alone discards many barges as 'unseaworthy' and sells them for scrap. A 'nodding donkey(s)' based on a harbour wall, one arm attached to a rising and falling barge and the other to a hydraulic piston(s) would produce the pressurised fluid necessary.Practical Notes:
- Most forms of 'green' energy are complex and expensive. This one is DIY in its basic form and should provide money from selling power to the grid (in UK).
- The floating body should be relatively wide and long (not deep draught). Hence the 'barge' suggestion.
- To stabalise the electrical output - generator output could be passed to the windings of a bank of alternator/flywheels. Ideally, these would be rotating in a vacuum and suspended by magnetism (giving zero mechanical friction).Reward: That if this idea is put to use and developed, that process in no way limits other users from using and developing this idea.
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World Academy
I want to see an international orphanage/boarding/university established that will take in thousands of poverty-stricken children from around the world and educate and provide for them with the best the world has to offer. Upon graduation from the university, these children will be equipped to return to their native lands and use their skills for the greatest possible good of their peoples.
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