Have you ever wondered what kind of reputation you might have online? More importantly, how do you measure it? A new start-up called the Whuffie Bank aims to try and codify that for you. The non-profit organisation is using the term coined by science fiction writer and columnist Cory Doctorow in his science-fiction novel Down and out in the Magic Kingdom to describe a currency reflecting your online reputation. The idea is that the better your online reputation, the more whuffie you have.

The Whuffie Bank aims to turn this theoretical currency into a real one, and is even exploring the idea of printing physical notes. Starting with the micro-blogging service Twitter but gradually extending out into other social networks such as Facebook, the Whuffie Bank will monitor your online activities and credit you with more whuffie, the more you positively affect other people's online lives.