The New York Times's online portal, NYTimes.com , has found a unique way to develop new products for the website, and source ideas for innovations on the site. They've launched an interactive website called beta620 , encouraging people to come up with ideas to help in developing the ‘world's largest' news website.

Readers can leave their ideas under the Suggestions tab and the ones that seem applicable will be turned into experimental projects and uploaded on beta620 to test. Each project will be featured on the site, on a dedicated page with a description given by the creator. Readers can then log in and comment on the project ideas.

Not all projects will be implemented on the main site but NYTimes is looking to find out their users' preferences. The idea is to give readers a chance to be a part of the process and help in developing the site. It will help them discuss ideas with readers on a one-to-one basis and in turn help in enhancing the site.

While you're checking out the inventive site, do have a look at one of the projects that made it to the site, the Skimmer .

As always, do share your thoughts on the initiative in the comments below.

- Prerna Arora