cjsmith: (Default)
cjsmith ([personal profile] cjsmith) wrote2005-09-15 12:45 pm

Inventor Night

Geek party idea: get a bunch of wacky creative people together, hand them a lot of scratch paper, and give them an inventor challenge. Instead of having a games night, you have an Inventor Night. At the end of it you wind up with six or seven designs for Self-Ironing Shirts, or a sturdy Homemade Pogo Stick Shoe, or an Inexpensive One-Use Emergency Insulin Refrigerator.

If you can snag some people with specialized domain knowledge that'd be handy. Otherwise keep a computer with a 'net connection nearby. Just saying "Oh, there would be some electronics to take care of that part" is nowhere near as effective as sketching the circuit or writing pseudo-microcode. Even better if, for the simpler challenges, there are some materials and guests can try some things. (Reality TV rights optional.)

Staying on-topic isn't strictly necessary. It's fun to start out with one challenge, but maybe everyone will get off-topic and you'll wind up with a Solar-Powered Hovercraft and an Automated Dice Roller. Who knows? :-)

[identity profile] perfect-autumn.livejournal.com 2005-09-15 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
That's a fabulous idea.... I love it.

At my old job we all had to build little house out of toothpicks at a salesmeeting in under an hour - it was a blast.

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2005-09-15 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Now I want somebody with some clue about hosting parties to host this thing! Ideally somewhere near me of course ;-)

Bwahahaaa! I bet that was a fun meeting!

[identity profile] perfect-autumn.livejournal.com 2005-09-16 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
If I were closer, I'd be all over it for you.... what an awesome party that would be.