2. I need a HN recommendation system that uses machine learning algorithms to learn about my likes/dislikes(upvotes), find other users who have similar likes and show me a custom list of posts based on that.
3. Use HN Search API to find all articles/comments submitted on HN for a particular search keyword (e.g., "machine learning") and present it to me in a way that let me easily browse the information and sort it on basis of points, date, relevance etc. In short, if I need to find learning materials on HN for a given subject, I should be able to do that.
4. Develop a complete REST API for HN. I don't know any way other than scrapping to do it.
The best suggestion I have for you is get curious. Seriously, think about the things you do, and how you could make them better. Pick something that YOU are passionate about, something that would make a difference to you if it existed.
One thing's for certain, startups often die. You can't argue with it, so you might as well do one thing right; work on something you love.
If you love the pursuit, then you're on the right track.
So you see, no one here can hand you an idea. Only you can find what you are looking for.
-- OK, does anyone find it ironic the post is by 'zeusthegreat'?
I keep trying to start a discussion about how horrible and inefficient the "small data" handling is (Excel, Power Point and the like) and how to fix it. But this more often than not ends up in nothing as I see most of the interest evolves around more consumer and facebook oriented stuff.
My take is that something innovative must emerge to deal with the pain that MS Office is (especially, again, the data handling part).
there are a lot of people who are currently building something else, don't have the time, skills, connections, knowledge, whatever to make every idea happen. but they probably still want a solution to their problem/idea, so they are quite happy if someone else builds it. on the other hand, there are people like you who want to build something but don't have an idea.
make a site that connects the two.