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I had a billion dollar idea today...

by John Romaine
57 replies
Imagine being able to use an iphone, turn on the video functionality and point it at any object. It would then be able to recognize the object, provide every bit of information about it - then allow you to order it if you wish - immediately - all from your iphone.

Sound cool?

Now tell me its already been thought of or done
#billion #dollar #idea #today
  • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
    Originally Posted by ramone_johnny View Post

    Imagine being able to use an iphone, turn on the video functionality and point it at any object. It would then be able to recognize the object, provide every bit of information about it - then allow you to order it if you wish - immediately - all from your iphone.

    Sound cool?

    Now tell me its already been thought of or done
    they must be passing around the new years weed early in queensland this year. beam me up scotty
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    • Profile picture of the author craigc1980
      Hey you stole my idea. J/k Great idea though.

      That would be pretty neat.

      Hey i can give Apple a call and see if they would fund your idea. Then again they might just steal your idea

      Craig
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    • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
      Originally Posted by tryinhere View Post

      they must be passing around the new years weed early in queensland this year. beam me up scotty
      LOL ... baked ziti all over the keyboard, thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author pjCheviot
    Banned
    Take a look at this (and the date)

    SnapTell: Instant Product Lookup From The iPhone. You Want This.

    I think there's one which uses Amazon - can't find it at the moment.

    **EDIT Amazon bought them out! http://www.amazonstrategies.com/2009...abilities.html
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  • Profile picture of the author LetsGoViral
    That's been thought about at least 10 years ago. I think there is even a concept phone like the one you talked about. I don't see how that could be implemented in the nearest few years and I research future technologies a lot.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sumit Menon
    Well, if you can come up with something that can recognize objects with an iphone then I'm sure we can integrate it with Wikipedia and Ebay/Amazon.
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  • Profile picture of the author WD Mino
    HEHEHEHE way to go Johnny!!!

    Although I think the technology already exists viral^^ let me check brb Yup it is called snap tell explorer. guess your research is a little lacking.

    Anyhow Johnny That is an awesome thought maybe you should write a report on it
    -WD

    Edit*** oh sorry Pj I see you found the same thing LOL and amazon bought snap tell explorer already. heheheheee technology is so far advanced every time they talk of a new one it is obsolete as they speak because they have new stuff on the brink of release while they are promoting the "latest and greatest I learned that in computers"

    -WD
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Doggett
    It's already being done. Check out this TechCrunch article.

    50 Best Android Apps: GPS and Location Apps [#16 - 24] | Google Android Blog
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  • Profile picture of the author LetsGoViral
    It still doesn't recognize any object. It just tells of landmarks and streets. I thought that OP suggested to make a device that would tell you properties of any object. How could it technically scan weight, mass, dimensions (ok, that could be possible) and other properties? Not at the moment, my friends. But sometime in the future - definitely.
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  • Profile picture of the author WD Mino
    Viral what are you talking about man the app we are referring to can tell you the entire info of a dvd cd etc by pointing at it with said phone that is pretty close to what Johnny is talking about and obviously it is around the corner.
    -WD
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  • Profile picture of the author Profit-smart
    To integrate something like this, you would need a universal system for tagging objects.

    IF the billion dollar image recognition software needed to make this applicable ever became affordable for mass production, we would then get to watch as the "Format" wars started.

    Really, I dont see the incentive for this sort of thing. You see something you want to buy, you google it.

    Have we as a society really became so lazy that we consider *that* burdensome?



    We will likely see something like this in the next 40 years or so though. But it wont be "Image" recognition. Theres going to be microchips in EVERYTHING. Those will contain the applicable data.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
      Originally Posted by Profit-smart View Post

      Really, I dont see the incentive for this sort of thing. You see something you want to buy, you google it.
      I dont know about you, but unlike my mobile phone, I dont exactly carry a laptop or my desktop PC everywhere I go.
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      • Profile picture of the author Profit-smart
        Originally Posted by ramone_johnny View Post

        I dont know about you, but unlike my mobile phone, I dont exactly carry a laptop or my desktop PC everywhere I go.
        Can you remember things?

        I generally dont have *time* to shop when Im out and about (Unless Im shopping-and that defeats the purpose). If I see a DVD I like, I'm either at a store; or a friends house and I can borrow it.
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    • Profile picture of the author FredFarnes
      Originally Posted by Profit-smart View Post

      To integrate something like this, you would need a universal system for tagging objects.
      Not gonna happen until we invent bar-codes.
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    A lot of the baseline technology already exists with the US .mil in target recognition and acquisition technology for missles and UAVs. Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio, is a major research center in partnership with two local universities, Wright State University and University of Dayton through the UD Research Institute. The city of Dayton, Ohio, is becoming a pretty heavy UAV development center.

    I know peoples.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Well I just got off the phone to Apple and they think its a wonderful idea. Ill be sure to think of you all when I receive my $1,000,000,000 cheque.

    I think it should make for a good WSO.
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  • Profile picture of the author theemperor
    My friend has an Iphone with a barcode scanner. I saw the amount of effort and toil required to read and recognise one barcode. And it came up with "Product of Asda". (Asda = Our version of Walmart). So I think we are a way off.

    If I had an AI algorithm of the power to recognise anything I would not waste it on product recognition either.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
      Originally Posted by theemperor View Post

      If I had an AI algorithm of the power to recognise anything I would not waste it on product recognition either.
      Im curious - what would you use it for then?
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      • Profile picture of the author theemperor
        Originally Posted by ramone_johnny View Post

        Im curious - what would you use it for then?
        Depends what mood I am in, as there is an angel and a devil sitting on my left and right shoulders as we speak
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    • Profile picture of the author Brian Tayler
      Originally Posted by theemperor View Post

      My friend has an Iphone with a barcode scanner. I saw the amount of effort and toil required to read and recognise one barcode. And it came up with "Product of Asda". (Asda = Our version of Walmart). So I think we are a way off.

      If I had an AI algorithm of the power to recognise anything I would not waste it on product recognition either.
      Yeah I have this program on my 3GS and I love it.

      Red Laser - The First Accurate iPhone Barcode Scanner - Hits The App Store - iSmashPhone iPhone Blog
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  • Profile picture of the author pjCheviot
    Banned
    This is the one I was thinking of earlier . . .

    Amazon Mobile for iPhone review - PC Advisor
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    I wonder what would happen if you took an image of a glass of beer? Would it get the right brand?

    *edit - oh god this could go on in all sorts of directions!
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Actually I believe Albert Einstiens quote sums up my idea nicely

    "Imagination is more important than knowledge... "
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    • Profile picture of the author theemperor
      I agree ramone - after all who would have believed they'd put a man on the moon.
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      • Profile picture of the author Sean Kelly
        The technology already exists to recognise objects from images and display information about those recognised objects. It's called augmented reality.
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      • Profile picture of the author George Sepich
        Originally Posted by theemperor View Post

        I agree ramone - after all who would have believed they'd put a man on the moon.
        Wow, you really believe we went to the moon?
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        • Profile picture of the author theemperor
          Originally Posted by George Sepich View Post

          Wow, you really believe we went to the moon?
          Hmmm jury is still out with me
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      • Profile picture of the author digidoodles
        Originally Posted by theemperor View Post

        I agree ramone - after all who would have believed they'd put a man on the moon.
        Some people think they still haven't. (My husband being one of them... and my mom questions too.)
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  • Profile picture of the author Snap
    Do you mean augmented reality? Also if you have heard of technology called sixth sense developed by an smart Indian student which does lot of things more than what you have mentioned. Just google it.
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  • Profile picture of the author LetsGoViral
    Augmented reality is not really that elaborate. It only works on specific objects it can recognize but it can't really read information on its own. All it does is create a 3D overlay in correct dimensions really. But it's possible it will expand in the future.
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  • Profile picture of the author n8
    Wouldn't be suprised to see something like this in 2010.......... wow its 2010 already
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    • Profile picture of the author pjCheviot
      Banned
      Originally Posted by n8 View Post

      Wouldn't be suprised to see something like this in 2010.......... wow its 2010 already
      You're way ahead of us !!
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  • Profile picture of the author n00b
    I had a program like this, I think it was snaptell, for my iPhone and I could take a picture of any book, dvd, cd, game, software, etc. and it would give me all the info on it, reviews, prices from all the major retailers online and I could just click to order it. Sounds like that's what you're talking about. My husband loved it back when he did ebay to see how much stuff was selling for.
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    Google has already been working on this as well:

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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    Oh great.... I just took a picture of myself w/ my iphone, and it took me to a clickbank product on manboobs!
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    • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
      Originally Posted by garyv View Post

      Oh great.... I just took a picture of myself w/ my iphone, and it took me to a clickbank product on manboobs!
      Have no fear, just 2 more days till the new year. You are just a resolution away. BTW please pass that link along to me ... ouch.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gladiator
    Great Idea! Will you offer it as WSO LOL

    Check out this video
    http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ed/5231080.cms

    Andre
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Kohler
    I could imagine the major companies like Amazon, Ebay, WalMart jumping on this if it existed. You could also do a voice interactive application. However, I think people still need to choose the best buy. So the app would display multiple offers from different companies. With a cell though, it would take too long to scroll through the list, so I would vote to have Star Wars like holographic projections come out of the phone and display 3D projections that you could manipulate with your hands as Tony Stark did in "Iron Man"! That would definitely distract me all day.
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  • Profile picture of the author thescribe
    I think this is a great idea and we are probably a LOT closer to making it happen than most think....
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    What if they created a computer that you could step into. And then they actually had the objects in 3-D that you could hold and touch. And then organized them on shelves w/ the actual prices displayed?

    Oh wait... That's Walmart.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Originally Posted by ramone_johnny View Post

    Imagine being able to use an iphone, turn on the video functionality and point it at any object. It would then be able to recognize the object, provide every bit of information about it - then allow you to order it if you wish - immediately - all from your iphone.

    Sound cool?

    Now tell me its already been thought of or done
    It HAS been thought of! HECK, STAR TREK had it! Earlier scifi films and technology films had it. It is NOT a unique idea! If course, just REALLY recognizing it to that degree, us FAR more complicated than some seem to think. In star treck, it could supposedly even do an CAT type scan, scan for DNA, and even compare with information on a remote database.

    I WILL say that most devices dreamed up, that were like this, didn't use the communications device for vocal traffic(In star trek they had a COMMUNICATOR to act as a homing beacon, signal device, and transceiver. The Phasor was a stun device and could kill or disintegrate. The tricorder could scan, analyze, act as a GPS unit, scan for life, determine health and problems, etc.... The analysis was used to determine family relationships, and even what a mechanical system was and did. ), but then again, they did far more than you were probably thinking of.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      It HAS been thought of! HECK, STAR TREK had it! Earlier scifi films and technology films had it. It is NOT a unique idea! If course, just REALLY recognizing it to that degree, us FAR more complicated than some seem to think. In star treck, it could supposedly even do an CAT type scan, scan for DNA, and even compare with information on a remote database.
      I WILL say that most devices dreamed up, that were like this, didn't use the communications device for vocal traffic, but then again, they did far more than you were probably thinking of.

      Steve
      Gene Roddenberry believed that with the universal replicator, the unevolved capitalist throught processes would eventually become unnecessary because anyone could instantly have anything they wanted by recombination of base elements - thus eliminating the entire need for commerce activity and the effort to survive in such a system. He believed that the human race could never approach the collective focus necessary to explore space frontiers while still engaged in the primative activity of commerce.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by MichaelHiles View Post

        Gene Roddenberry believed that with the universal replicator, the unevolved capitalist throught processes would eventually become unnecessary because anyone could instantly have anything they wanted by recombination of base elements - thus eliminating the entire need for commerce activity and the effort to survive in such a system. He believed that the human race could never approach the collective focus necessary to explore space frontiers while still engaged in the primative activity of commerce.
        Star trek usually speaks of an ODD culture. They state FLAT OUT that there is NO money, NO starvation, etc.... That all pursuits are for the furtherment of knowledge, etc....

        They ALSO indicate something of a credit mechanism, and an academy only SOME go to that is almost elitest. Even the computer in the classroom of startrek TNG seems SIMPLE! It seems simple even by TODAY'S standards. You almost wish someone created a syllabus to see what was taught when.

        ALSO, many STEAL credit or LIE for it.

        They seem against one another, and the first and last serve to wipe one another out.

        Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
        Originally Posted by MichaelHiles View Post

        Gene Roddenberry believed that with the universal replicator, the unevolved capitalist throught processes would eventually become unnecessary because anyone could instantly have anything they wanted by recombination of base elements - thus eliminating the entire need for commerce activity and the effort to survive in such a system. He believed that the human race could never approach the collective focus necessary to explore space frontiers while still engaged in the primative activity of commerce.
        Man, how many of those Trek conferences have you attended? Well said!
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        • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
          Originally Posted by Marhelper View Post

          Man, how many of those Trek conferences have you attended? Well said!

          None. But I've read almost everything that socialist ever wrote.
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          • Profile picture of the author teddy67
            Nice try but that has already been thought of a long time ago. Right now there is even an app on the iphone that does that for music.
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by ramone_johnny View Post

    It would then be able to recognize the object, provide every bit of information about it - then allow you to order it if you wish - immediately - all from your iphone.
    You would get your arse sued into oblivion the first time some guy pointed it at a client's wife's earrings and the phone pulled up an escort service.

    I know just how it would happen, too. "Hey, Joe, check this out. This is so cool. Let's say I look at your wife's earrings, right? And I say, hey, I'd like to get some of those for my wife. So I just point my phone, and click the button, and..."
    EL PUTA ROJO
    Hispanic Hookers
    Habla Espanol!
    And then Joe gets mad and storms out and stops doing business with the guy, and the guy's business goes bankrupt because Joe goes to all the local business meetings and says "He called my wife a Mexican hooker!" and everyone likes Joe so they get all offended.
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    It's already been done. Sony put it out three years ago. It's called the TransmorgriPhone. Only instead of ordering an item, you point it at something and it immediately records the thing according to the finest details of its molecular structure.

    Then it attracts the very molecules necessary for the thing to be assembled right there in front of you, almost like the matter transfer device in Star Trek. Sort of gives new meaning to a long distance call. The TransmorgriPhone comes with explicit instructions that it's NEVER to be pointed at politicians or Jessica Simpson.

    The first offering of the TransmorgriPhone was to The Forbes 400 List. All those dudes and dudettes have them. That's how the rich get richer. The rumor is that Balloon Boy has one and his father is desperately trying to find out where he hid it...
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  • Profile picture of the author charto911
    I thought up an idea like that years ago and than snap tell has a similar thing going and power to the ivy league like grads. I would suggest talking to them about innovation but cant guarantee anything. Good Businesses TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT so don't worry about us stealing it.
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  • Profile picture of the author srhudson
    The new Droid phone allows you to take a photo of the barcode of a product and gives you a map to the nearest place that you can get it. Just one of many of the awesome features of the Droid. Far better than an iPhone in my opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kevin_Hutto
    Seems like it would be easiest with either barcodes or chips. Our dog has a chip in him that will identify him along with our contact info if he is ever lost...
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    • Profile picture of the author digidoodles
      Originally Posted by Kevin_Hutto View Post

      Seems like it would be easiest with either barcodes or chips. Our dog has a chip in him that will identify him along with our contact info if he is ever lost...
      I wish this were available for kids.

      I am being totally serious. Of course, if there were something like that for children... the ACLU, NCAA, NAFTA, NASA, NAACP, UAW, PCP, LCD, LSD, every acronym out there would have a lawsuit...
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Moore
    Sounds like an amazing idea. But who gets the commission? You or the phone company? lol

    On a more technical note: you must consider the control systems involved. Drawing on my engineering background, this would be an incredibly complicated visual recognition algorithm. We are still working cars that drive by themselves and obey all the traffic patterns.

    ...If you could manifest this idea into tangible form I would be aiming my phone at all sorts of things.
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