I've had an idea for an app - what next?

ThePrettyDamned

Today, a problem happened and I thought of, what I felt, was a genius solution. I have told my family about it and they all agree - so I'm currently learning code, although it was more web page stuff. I'm going to pick more app-like stuff from now on and try my hand at making a basic app for android or ios that solves this problem. 

I've looked, and it doesn't already exist. 

Bar keeping it relatively to myself, how do I go about protecting it? I don't use ios, but I feel this is the better platform for it initially so will that throw up any problems?

Apologies for vagueness, I will never forget "The Best Camera" and how instagram essentially nailed the market while chase jarvis was arguing over some poorly drawn up contracts...  

olafgarten

I think the best way is to find a good developer and get a good NDA written up. 

olafgarten

Also, I have some experience in app development so if you don't mind giving vague details I can give some advice 

joneve

@solar might be able to help. His company, Dabapps, specialise in Web and App Developments I believe. 

Ben8010

Well I hope you get it sorted - the suspense of not knowing what it is is killing me!

olafgarten

Just remembered that as of 2008 the UK IPO reversed their decision and grant software patents for inventions. 

Drew_TNBD

Abandon it because you'll make no money. Perish in a pit of booze and depression.

Nexxxxttttt!!!

ThePrettyDamned

Drew_TNBD said:

Abandon it because you'll make no money. Perish in a pit of booze and depression.

Nexxxxttttt!!!

Booze and depression was so last year, drew.  

Without getting into specifics, it could be something that simply becomes a tool of healthcare industries. I'm actually surprised it doesn't exist. It may not make me millions or anything really... But I actually think it might be worth looking at. 

57Deluxe

an App that determines the future of NEXT??

Ravenous

ThePrettyDamned said:

Without getting into specifics, it could be something that simply becomes a tool of healthcare industries. I'm actually surprised it doesn't exist.

First job - establish that it doesn't exist. Have you done any discreet searching?

You might like to see if you can find any app developers with experience in that field. (I personally aren't a businessman so can't advise.)

ThePrettyDamned

Ravenous said:

ThePrettyDamned said:

Without getting into specifics, it could be something that simply becomes a tool of healthcare industries. I'm actually surprised it doesn't exist.

First job - establish that it doesn't exist. Have you done any discreet searching?

You might like to see if you can find any app developers with experience in that field. (I personally aren't a businessman so can't advise.)

I've done a cursory search online and on the android and ios app stores and can't find anything that does what I have in mind. I'll have a proper, longer look over coffee later (another day handing out cvs!) to try my best to make sure. 

littlethoughts

Is it a "does this lump look suspicious?" camera app? basically an instagram for growths...

ThePrettyDamned

littlethoughts said:y

Is it a "does this lump look suspicious?" camera app? basically an instagram for growths...

Fuck, you got me! 

No, it's not. But it does relate to the medical industry and it is a huge area. The more I think about it the more it seems a good idea, but I've already found a few issues that would need to be overcome. 

PolarityMan

ThePrettyDamned said:

Drew_TNBD said:

Abandon it because you'll make no money. Perish in a pit of booze and depression.

Nexxxxttttt!!!

Booze and depression was so last year, drew.  

Without getting into specifics, it could be something that simply becomes a tool of healthcare industries. I'm actually surprised it doesn't exist. It may not make me millions or anything really... But I actually think it might be worth looking at. 

If it requires dealing with the abomination that is HL7 I would just give up  

PolarityMan

By the way my serious advice is that ideas are dime a dozen and a good idea isn't even always a criteria for success. If you are really invested in the idea at a personal level then be prepared to put the effort in to execute well (and if you cant develop yourself be prepared to pay a reasonable developer to do it, no one good is going to work for shared royalties on an idea anymore). If its just a get rich quick day dream then its not worth pursuing.

ThePrettyDamned

PolarityMan said:

ThePrettyDamned said:

Drew_TNBD said:

Abandon it because you'll make no money. Perish in a pit of booze and depression.

Nexxxxttttt!!!

Booze and depression was so last year, drew.  

Without getting into specifics, it could be something that simply becomes a tool of healthcare industries. I'm actually surprised it doesn't exist. It may not make me millions or anything really... But I actually think it might be worth looking at. 

If it requires dealing with the abomination that is HL7 I would just give up  

Lol! Maybe. I'm not sure what the implications would be tbh, I could do with an expert to run it by but experts probably charge for their time which leaves me here, handing out my cv trying to get a job. 

 

The main complication would be integrating it with preexisting systems (which are different trust-to-trust, which is beyond fucking stupid). 

So that probably writes it off before it's even begun. 

PolarityMan

Well certainly sounds like it would use HL7 then!

mellowsun

ThePrettyDamned said:

littlethoughts said:y

Is it a "does this lump look suspicious?" camera app? basically an instagram for growths...

Fuck, you got me! 

No, it's not. But it does relate to the medical industry and it is a huge area. The more I think about it the more it seems a good idea, but I've already found a few issues that would need to be overcome. 

If it's anything to do with the medical industry, then it's probably already being developed (full disclosure: I work in this field), so you'll need to be quick

PolarityMan

Not to further piss on your chips but in many territories the regulations/ licensing for software that carries healthcare data might be pretty insurmountable for a small vendor too.

Maybe you could approach an established player in the space to partner with.

ThePrettyDamned

PolarityMan said:

Well certainly sounds like it would use HL7 then!

Definitely, no doubt about that. But it's a relatively simple idea. 

They'd probably make it the most complicated project ever... Fffffuuuuuu-

mellowsun

Also there's no money in an app itself, you would need to make it a gateway to a service.

Building the app would be the easy part, building the back-end service would probably take a lot of resources.