Is virtual coin the answer to email overload?

Could a virtual currency be the solution to your boss' overuse of email? A start-up called Seriosity thinks so. Don't worry, it's not coming to your regular email anytime in the near (or distant) future, this is an enterprise tool. Here's how it works:

The sender of an email attaches units of the virtual currency, called a Serio, to messages. The higher the importance, the more Serios you'd attach. The recipient keeps the Serios which were attached to the message, or chooses a value of Serios to return, depending on the perception of the messages importance. The idea being, since the Serio is a commodity, employees and superiors will be more conscious of the amount and frequency of email they send.

Sound complicated? Kinda. A more simple system might involve removing the fingers of co-workers who send too many useless communications. That'll teach 'em.

Tags: currency, email, email tools, EmailTools, news, virtual currency, VirtualCurrency