Yup, I’m gonna go there. Two ideas, one I already discussed and as I couldn’t find it I might want to re-discuss and the second one I came up with seeing something last night. That second one is the first one I discuss. It will give developers for Android, iOS and HarmonyNext the option to spread their wings and make a few millions. You see, I am not much of a programmer, I was on databases, but I left that game decades ago. So I can sit on the idea, or give you programmer lot a nice setting of millions and that is the stage where you merely charge one dollar for the app per sold installation. Wouldn’t it be nice to get a few million by being adhering to the need of others?
So as I was watching some walkthrough video of the Carrefour in Dubai, It hit me that the people at vacations and business travel have needs, they need stuff, but at times you need to keep your mind in the game and that is where you come in. Consider that you are shopping for razorblades, sparkling water, fruit juice and perhaps piece of meat as you are in a place where there is a kitchen. So what to get? Well this is where your mobile comes in. As you place the camera on the item, it will scan the sticker on the camera, the text is seen (it is already possible to do this), but the setting that is not done is that the local price is set to your local currency so you will see what everything costs. As I see it, you will have your local currency, say Australian dollars and the price we see is 6.99 (which would be Dirham in Dubai), the app will tell you that this is A$ 2.92, so now you know. And as I see it, there is a setting page which can give you the two currencies and at that point the scanner will give you the transfer almost immediately, not head scratching on what it might be, you will see immediately. As far as I can tell Android doesn’t have it, so likely the other two don’t either. And you are merely catering to the millions of tourists the world have. The calculations of two currencies are out there already and you merely need to get the connection working and million of tourists will be grateful. All these people ready to hand over a dollar for your hard work and they will be there in the millions. You might want to make it $2, but I reckon not much higher. You see, when the price goes up too much people will hesitate. From the $1 idea of it being a great deal to the $3 when people start considering ‘do I really need this’ and that is the path you want to avoid. Also the coming in after you don’t get the vibe ‘I can do this cheaper’ and before you know it, you are in a digital armistice race and you don’t want that.
A simple app that apparently no one sees and people need it. Consider any tourist that has been in a shop. They all thought “What does that cost in my currency?” I have had it and if you have been on vacation you did too. Even if it is as simple as the price of Beer/Wine.
See if you can make it work and have a nice day making the next app people need on their mobiles.
In September 2024 I wrote ‘Your (starting) fame on timing’ (at https://lawlordtobe.com/2024/09/05/your-starting-fame-on-timing/) where I gave the readers a similar idea for time. You see, what people forget is that when they travel, or have international contacts they need to be in touch with people outside their time zone and there the issue is seen when you don’t have direct view of these timezones. A simple app (or faceplate) optionally using the widget on the phone to set those times to the watch. I reckon that those who need it might also pay a dollar for that idea, especially if it synchs mobile settings. The idea is in that story, so have fun with that. It is merely a giveaway as I don’t have the setting to do it myself. Oh, and feel free if you make over 10 million, to ‘donate’ up to 20%, a mere request not a demand. As I have no grounds of demanding anything. I put this on my blog, as such it becomes freeware.
Two ideas, optionally making you an instant millionaire. Who doesn’t want that? You gotta start at some point and it might as well be here.
Have a great day all.
Lawrence van Rijn - Law Lord to be 