I get The Point

Crowdsourcing is a nice concept, but it can be hard to practice. Because while the idea of getting people engaged and collaboration on a project is nice and good, it takes an effort to get to critical mass and actually make thing happen.

The new web service The Point has decided to do something about this. They have developed a service that lets you sign up to do stuff IF enough people decide to do the same - and you decide what that number should be. And that’s a concept, I like.

Actually I think it’s fantastic. Because not only does it allow for people to sign up and only be obliged to deliver when there’s enough of a crowd to get the positive workings of group pressure. It could also be used as a gauge for telling what’s on peoples mind. What’s bothering them at any particular point of time.

Even though I think the service is great, I don’t doubt that The Point still has some work to do before it gains traction. I visited the website the other day, and the number of people signing up for various causes and actually using the service didn’t impress me.

Maybe - just maybe - crowdsourcing is still a concept for hipsters? Maybe the real challenge for The Point is to take the message of this service and it’s usefulness out to regular people and get them to understand the power of it? I think I would do that. The service is definately worth some hype.

(Via Springwise)