Web 2.0 Ideas on user-provided information

Just read a blog about CityIn which is a Chinese social networking site that lets users identify the brands in which they are interested and then identifies content and relationships based on these selection. This reminds me of Tim O'Reily's speech at the SAP TechEd in Las Vegas in which he describes the importance of having user's create their content and add value to corporate data already present. I heard a podcast this morning about a new start up called SizeMeUp that attempts to deal with the fact that sizes often don't match between stores or brands - just because you wear a size 8 in one brand of jeans doesn't mean that you will be the same size in another brand. The service allows users to describe the various size of clothes that fit them (based on particular brands in their closet) and then uses this information when users shop. I found the idea intriguing in that the more users join and provide information, the better the data will be for all. As Tim suggested, users are more willing to provide information with the knowledge that they will benefit in some way.

The challenge for other Web 2.0 based services is finding the information that users can provide that has a value and fits the corporate environment. If you provide a product and users can provide information (comments, etc.) that may affect the product characteristics of an item whose design, manufacture process takes 8 months or longer, then users don't see the immediate payback and may be reluctant to provide information. Unless they might see how their information effects the design process. An idea: what about providing users the ability to follow their ideas in the corporate landscape - "your idea is now being examined by our marketing dept", etc.

Of course, collecting the sizes on pairs of pants is not the same as collecting information on a piece of industrial machinery. First of all, the number of users who finds this information relevant is - in comparison limited - and what sort of information should such users provide. How they use the tool, CAD drawings, etc. Pants sizes and brands are easy to collect and process. One idea could be based on the collection of data from machines they already have.