Out of the basements in Ontario, Canada, Otavo is an interesting idea which launched earlier today. Think of it as Yahoo! Answers with a unique blend of social bookmarking. "The Intention Engine" is what they call themselves and I think that's the best phrase to describe them.
Users can post their intentions as 'quests' and others can fullful these intentions (or add to the 'quests' and make them their own) by using a bookmarklet or using the site's interface. Current examples of 'quests' include questions like "What are the best Web 2.0 blogs?," "Where do I find beautiful desktops?" and "Where can I find hapiness?". It's almost like users ask questions and others answer it not by giving straight 'try this, this, this and this' answers, but social bookmarking the sites into the questions. Have a few tens of people answer the question, and surely, the quest is fulfilled, the questioner has his answers.
I think this is a capable, interesting and effectual idea, and certainly a unique one. Surely, it has potential. But do I imagine this to be the next Yahoo! Answers for online stuff? No. While some of the uses are general and broad of this site, I imagine the presence of a very geeky audience (just like digg), and I don't think this is necessarily a plus for any service chasing after the general and broad audience.
