Ask HN: What should I do with a grand idea?

I have an idea that I think I invented. I wonder if I can make something of it.

Implementing it would involve some research, and quite large-scale transport engineering. It would also be likely to encounter political opposition in some places, but it would be environmentally clean, and I think it would be wildly popular.

This would be a long-term thing; I'm retired, I'm not up for trying to kick it off, let alone see it through.

I don't know if there is prior art.

How should I proceed?

5 comments

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PaulHoule 4y ago ↗

They probably have this book or something like it at your public library

https://store.nolo.com/products/patent-it-yourself-pat.html

otherwise buy a copy. Reading that will help you understand the possibility and process of getting a patent.

denton-scratch 4y ago ↗

Thanks for that tip; obviously I was wondering about patents.

But I would like to see the idea implemented. For that to happen, somebody would have to pick it up and run with it. Like, somebody would have to pitch it to transport authorities; but I'm no salesman.

Also, the idea is fairly complex; it would probably involve lots of patents. It would be better for the idea to die in my brain, than for me to get a score of patents, none of which is ever implemented. That would be a waste of my time and trouble.

The contents of that book mention NDAs, which I hadn't really thought about; I could discuss these ideas with some suitable company under the terms of an NDA, I guess. Next problem is: how to find a "suitable company" to talk to.

Thanks again; I didn't know there were books on how to do a DIY patent.

mikewarot 4y ago ↗

If you don't care about patenting/profiting off of it, Write up an article about it, and answer all the questions people ask. Try to start a community interested in making it happen.

1ibsq 4y ago ↗

I have not looked into your account to see what you say and do, but generally speaking, there needs to be something that people (especially those who have the power to help you) take you (and your idea) seriously. Because as of right now, you're saying: I have a great idea, but I can't tell you.

Edit: It's not up to me to judge or anything - and that's far from what I wanted to do, but from what you said until now, this is likely to be how you're being perceived.

toast0 4y ago ↗

If you care about your idea being implemented and don't care about your idea being credited to you, the best way is to have someone steal your idea and run with it.

For smaller projects, you can make a kickstarter video and promote that, and wait until knock offs happen, then shutdown the kickstarter and refund the backers. For a large scale transport idea, that's unlikely to work. It can be hard to attract attention to big ideas, but some ways are works of fiction, appearing like a crackpot, building a giant model in the desert (might be the same as item 2), running a fairly successful upstart car company and tweeting anything that comes to mind, etc.