Extending Open Innovation Platforms Into the Real World – Using Large Displays in Public Spaces

Abstract

This paper reports on a field test that explored how innovative ubiquitous user interfaces can extend virtual open innovation communities into real word settings. In this field test an IdeaMirrorTM, a wall-sized, interactive touch screen that displays innovation ideas and features a scale for idea evaluation was compared with a state-of-the-art IT-based open innovation platform. Applying method triangulation and combining multiple, independent data sources it can be shown that ideas exhibited on the IdeaMirror have been invoked and rated significantly more often than on the IT platform. However, the idea ratings performed on the IT platform show a significantly higher concurrence with an independent expert jury. Implications for the use of IdeaMirrors in practice as well as for future research are deducted. To our knowledge this is one of the first studies that empirically investigate the purpose of publicly shared large screen displays for idea evaluation and supporting new product development.