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Bootstrapping a New Technology?

Posted by kdawson on from the research-in-motion dept.

djk1024 writes "I've just filed for a patent on a new approach to motion capture that is simple, cheap, easy, accurate, and portable. It's RF-based, accurate to 1 mm, and simple enough that a sophisticated hobbyist could build one in a couple weekends from plans and standard electronics. So now what? I quit my job and have been working on this full-time for the past couple of years; now I'm out of money so can't continue development on my own. I'm also not an electrical or RF guy so I can't carry out my own independent development on the electronics. I'm quite frustrated at this point. I've been in the software development field for over 30 years and have gone through a large number of startups, but always just as the head techie, and always as part of a team. This doing it alone sucks. I would love some advice on how best to go forward."

9 of 360 comments (clear)

  1. OK, you've asked Slashdot... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Put Linux on it, fire up emacs and send a letter to Microsoft telling them to screw themselves.

    Yep, that ought to do it.

    1. Re:OK, you've asked Slashdot... by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 2, Funny

      Step 4: ???

    2. Re:OK, you've asked Slashdot... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Step 5: Prof^^^^^^^^^H Move back to Mom's Basement

    3. Re:OK, you've asked Slashdot... by pwizard2 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Step 4 is coming down with carpal tunnel syndrome from all the meta and control key usage involved in doing Step 2.

      --
      "It is a denial of justice not to stretch out a helping hand to the fallen; that is the common right of humanity."
  2. Patent by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... and simple enough that a sophisticated hobbyist could build one in a couple weekends from plans and standard electronics.

    If you hadn't patented it, that is. Instead, if a hobbyist tried to do that, you could sue him.

    Thanks.

  3. Re:Know the SCORE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, you don't understand. He's looking for a list of things not to do by asking techies, but now you've created a paradox. You fool!

  4. Re:Rondam's top ten Geek Business Myths by joocemann · · Score: 2, Funny

    Lol. A Ph.D DOES mean something. Get real.

  5. Re:Sell your patent by Zordak · · Score: 4, Funny

    No problem. Your check's in the mail. I postdated it for "the day after the GNU Hurd port of Duke Nukem Forever ships."

    --

    Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
  6. Re:Sell your patent by ibsteve2u · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...to hypothetically sell the patent, and the hypothetical buyer.

    If he'll take hypothetical money, I may be interested...hypothetically.

    --
    Orwell: "In a Time of Universal Deceit, telling the Truth is a Revolutionary Act"