I Thought Of It First. But They Already Had It.
Posted on June 12th, 2012
Do you ever get a call on your smartphone that you can’t return right away? Let’s say you’re in a meeting and your Mom calls. Of course you want to take the call but it would be rude. And you don’t want to let your Mom wait and wonder why you’re not calling her back.
Well I have too. And after it happened a few times, I started thinking of solutions. After all, I figured if it happens to me it must happen to others as well. Before long I came up with the idea of creating an iPhone app to solve this problem. My plan was for it to look something like the sketch you see here:
When the phone rang, you’d simply press a button and select between preset messages that you could automatically text back or send as a voicemail message.
I checked the app-verse and couldn’t find anything like my idea available. So I interviewed some iPhone and Android app developers and finally selected a programmer to work on the project, code-named SMS Back. I accepted the payment terms, initiated the project, and started researching the world of app marketing to make sure I could sell my idea. Oh yeah, I also pestered the developer to get the programming done already.
Well wouldn’t you know it, today our IT guy sent me a release about Apple’s new iOS6 operating system and its big selling point is…my idea! Here’s how they put it:
“iOS 6 adds new calling features to your iPhone. Now when you decline an incoming call, you can instantly reply with a text message or set a callback reminder.”
Here’s how it looks:
Of course, Apple didn’t get the idea from me – my app wasn’t far enough along for anyone else to know about it and Apple doesn’t usually lurk around my office looking for new ideas anyway. But as one of my friends pointed out, “at least you’re thinking like Apple.”
Instead, the whole exercise reminds me of the movie Nightshift. Remember when Michael Keaton’s character, Billy Blazejowski, was telling Henry Winkler’s character what a brilliant guy he was? Billy Blaze was so smart he’d even invented Post-It® Notes. As he said: “I thought of it first, but they already had them.”
That’s the problem with good ideas based on available technology and specific consumer demands. They tend to hit different people at the same time. It’s why historians argue over who invented the automobile, Daimler or Peugeot. It’s why other inventors claimed Tesla’s and Marconi’s patents were actually theirs – the ideas were assembled in an ecosystem ripe for that specific innovation and multiple innovators were working on them at the same time.
Needless to say I’m disappointed that I’m not going to become an app magnate but I am looking forward to adding this functionality to my iPhone. And while I’m not going to earn a commission from Apple’s latest innovation, at least I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing I thought of it first. Even though they already had it.
20 thoughts on “I Thought Of It First. But They Already Had It.”
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By Bruce Turkel
Great stuff, Bruce. And PS (Feed tuna mayonnaise.)
That’s the one, John!
Bruce,
Why don’t you push it on the Android market?
boy do I know that feeling, Bruce!
Great idea Bruce. I’m almost positive I thought of velcro first. Darn!
I’m laughing out loud – I invented the system used in SunPass except it was so long ago, I have the car, with the bar code at the bottom, running across a grid that scanned it. I thought of that idea very shortly after supermarkets started scanning and I was stuck at backup for the Whitestone bridge in NY. Yep – I thought of it first but didn’t act on it. My daughter used to say that good ideas floated in the air and that if you saw one and didn’t do anything about it, it would just keep floating and someone would get it. She was about 12 years old at the time, and by golly, I think she was right.
What about an app for Android phones…?
Your daughter is so right, JoAnna. I often think the good ideas are like butterflies. Beautiful and fragile and if we don’t cherish them they just flitter away.
Actually I did it. My app prostate aerobics is the first of its kind now available on iPhone & Android.
I know the feeling. I invented paying for gas at the pump… at least 12 years before it happened!
My last two droid phones have done the exact same thing without having to download an app. When you ignore a call, it give you a pop up of preset responses to send via text message. I’ve been using this feature for over two years and it is very helpful.
No matter what, I laud you for your originality and visionary ability to see the need! Consider this a confirmation–and a new story to tell to your audiences!
Beautiful! Some of my best thoughts, I read on Closed captions when watching the News Channels right after it comes to me.
You’re an ad man, you know no matter how unique you think a headline or campaign is, there’s something out there just like it, or was, or will be. Your idea is great and a lot of older iPhone users and other smart phonies would eat it up
So true. It happens to me all the time too. I hope your next idea is the big one!! I loved Night Shift. I think the best part (there are sooo many good parts)…what about this part-”What if you mix the mayonnaise in the can, WITH the tunafish? Or… hold it! Chuck! I got it! Take LIVE tuna fish, and FEED ‘em mayonnaise! Oh this is great.
[speaks into tape recorder]
Bill: Call Starkist!”.
Thanks Bob, for intro’ing me to Bruce.
Sounds like you’ve seen the movie recently, Adam!
Could use on the blackberry that I continue to use for some unknown reason
I can’t remember which one of your posts was perfect for this comment, so im posting it here. The Final Jeopardy question last night (7/10/2012), in the category “Entrepreneurs” was:
In 1989 he said “You can’t just ask customers what they want…by the time you get it built, they’ll want something new.”
I felt really smart for a second because i got the right answer and the champion didn’t. She answered ‘Bill Gates’. If she read your blog she too would’ve gotten it right.
Of course, it was Steve Jobs.
Thanks for the analogy, good reminder