Open Brainstorms

It would also be nice to have a way to be able to add discussion topics to a brainstorm which is separate to the ideas i.e. 'Add Comment'

A visual representation of the ideas and the connections would be a great way of viewing a partcular 'brainstorm' in progress. Using something like mind maps to represent ideas.

Adding creative techniques and other stimulation could also enhance brainstorms. Random word techniques to allow participants to try and combine the random word with the brainstorming topic/goal.

Live brainstorming works really well when people interact and get engaged. It is much harder to foster that same feeling of engagement and interaction on an online forum. Live chat rooms will work really well, combining that with some principles from computer game design could make for a very engaging experience.

Teen Alert Cell Phone that is connecting to the police, hospital and fire department.

Teen Alert Cell Phone

step one: brainstorming is NOT linear

Wear a funny hat.

Break down the complexity of the issue in a hierarchy using phrases like 'why' to go up and 'whats stopping' us to do down. As you get to the bottom of the tree the solutions you need will become obvious. Brains like complexity especially 'smart talk trap' (Professor Robert Sutton – Stanford University). Don't be seduced by smart talkers!

Write down everything you are assuming. The easier ones will flow off the tongue but the underlying assumptionswil take some uncovering. Pick a key assumption and reverse it to see the effect on your challenge.

Rewrite the problem statement at least 10 times because perception is flawed. Change the verbs and nouns and flip the words around.

Step away from the question for a moment to let your mind recharge and reload ideas and return to power them out.

Use a few ideas here and there to model good ideas that match the question, they can even be existing ideas.

Give more background to the question in the space provided, this will help people understand the desired outcome for doing the brainstorm.

Create a question that is open enough that many idea alternatives are possible.

Seek a diversity of individuals to submit ideas.

Focus on process, your individual process for generating a high quanity and quality of ideas, and the brainstorm process as a whole that encourages different people.

Create a mindmap of ideas relating to the topic or question and add them online in a more developed way.

When brainstorming online, organize your thoughts and ideas into a logical sequence and present them in that way.

Accept the same idea from multiple people, this still has value, it tells you it could be important.

Look around your environment for ideas.

Brainstorm from your laptop in a place that is creative and energizing for you...I'm doing this now from my favorite coffee shop.

Practice brainstorming tools to help you generate ideas, like SCAMPER.

Try to synthesize a couple of ideas into a further developed concept.

Try to synthesize previous ideas into a theme to brainstorm from.

Call a friend for ideas.

Drink some coffee while brainstorming!

Put some motivating music on in the background while brainstorming (see ideas of songs to try in the most ideated brainstorm on this site).

Submitting a far out idea is fun and motivating and can encourage creativity.

Risk by submitting a pretty far out idea...do this intentionally as a part of the process.

If an idea is off topic though accept it because the focus is on the process.

Follow traditional brainstorm rule of staying focused on the question and topic.

Google for insights while brainstorming.

Quantity is needed first to be able to unleash the power of building and extending, so add a number of ideas first even if they may be existing.

Follow traditional brainstorm rule of building and extending ideas presented earlier in the brainstorm.

Take one of the good ideas you select to the next level.

Click on the "good idea" button for good ideas.

Follow traditional brainstorm rule of not judging ideas.

Allow people to click a link that shows them an example of a quality brainstorm while they are brainstorming, this will give them a model.

Show a previous great brainstorm example on the homepage.

Set a goal to involve at least 8 people in the brainstorm.

During a live brainstorm it is exciting to see other ideas being added alongside yours, this motivates for better brainstorming.

Set an actual structured time for people to log in and brainstorm live.

When creating a brainstorm invite others to join.

Understand that a concept can be broken down into smaller ideas and these ideas can be mixed and matched...so the parts have value.

Set an individual goal to create 20 ideas (like I'm doing here).

Follow the traditional brainstorming rule of going for a high quantity of ideas.

The person that creates the brainstorm starts it off with at least 5 ideas to model this.

Multiple individuals submit multiple ideas.

Each individual submits multiple ideas.

Brainstorming is different than Q&A it is about multiple ideas instead of a single answer.