One of the problems in doing research by taking a sample of the population is that the people who have time to show up for a test just to earn $7 tend to be a sub-sample of the real population and may have higher or lower incidences of whatever it is you're looking for.

The revolving door human trap traps 1 out of every 100 people that come through the door in a neat glass enclosure where you may test and then release them into the wild. (perhaps with some extra money in their pocket to sooth the bewilderment)

Better research starts with better samples!
-- futurebird, Jul 13 2001

elevator human sampler http://www.engadget...in-group-customers/
Brought to you by Apple's New York flagship store. [jutta, May 30 2006]

The revolving door bears strong similarities to the tumble-drier. Perhaps they practise on socks until they grow up.
-- angel, Jul 13 2001


don't diferent types of people use revolving doors more often? what would hapen if a kid decided to keep going round and round? would there be a way out if you were in a hurry or would that upset the randomness?
-- RobertKidney, Jul 13 2001


Unfortunately biased towards colder urban places where revolving doors are common. For a more universal gateway, consider a toilet stall (or local equivalent), which exist practically everywhere.
-- rmutt, Jul 13 2001


Plus, you may rid the world of a few annoying people for a few minutes! Every little bit counts.
-- filterX, Dec 01 2002


Yup, there are still biases in all these systems.

How about using nano-tech? A virus that infects the whole population, and selects one in a million at random, alerts you to their location via radio, and makes them freeze on the spot at the sound of your voice.

Only problem i can see if you get infected yourself, and are never allowed to talk again...
-- sadie, Dec 02 2002


[sadie] Muahaha! You have discovered my plan!
-- DesertFox, May 30 2006


People would complain about civil liberties.

How about

a) sedation (poision darts?) b) transportation to a secret location c) interrogation d) administration of a drug that erases all short-term memory+sedation e) re-release of the sedated indivudual on the same spot they were captured, where they would wake up with a slight hangover.
-- kinemojo, May 30 2006


"complain about civil liberties & wake up with a slight hangover. "

I can do that at home.
-- normzone, May 30 2006


civil liberties complaints? since when was that a problem?
-- epicproblem, May 30 2006


The revolving door will land you a biased set of the population that visits downtown banks and expensive hotels. You're likely to find the president of a homeowner's association that drives a Cadillac Escalade.

The toilet will land you drunken college students and average Joe's who aren't particular about using public restrooms. You'll also get people who have to pee a lot, such as old men. You'll end up with a lot of bums.

Even the time of day makes all the difference.

It's very hard to get a good statistical sample, but never stop trying.
-- kevinthenerd, May 30 2006



random, halfbakery