Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

A few recent and big life events have inspired/motivated me to be force for good in the world.  I have many ideas (I think everybody on this forum does), but one idea in particular has persisted stronger and longer than any of the others and it`s the one idea that were I to pass away without having achieved it would cause me the greatest regret. 

The idea is for a "drill/test processor" or what others may refer to as a "flashcard application".  You can see my application designs at http://www.blawblawblog.com/FlipSpecsQ3_06.doc.  I am hesitant to use the term flashcard application, because there is a pre-conceived notion out there about what a flashcard application is (and it falls terribly short of what I want to create).  I know that there are flashcard applications out there.  I used to have a link to a list of about 100 applications, but it is no longer available.  So I am familiar with applications that are out there.  There are a couple critical elements with the application I want to develop versus what is currently available. 

- The application will adhere to commonly recognized interface design standards (particularly Microsoft Office compatibility design guidelines).  Not sure why, but there seems to be an anti-MS bias in this software arena despite it being some of the most used and best recognized software in the world.  And MS even encourages you to model their Office interface (it helps their software sell more, plus when they take you over, it makes the transition easier).

- The application will model real world interface (among other things, a flash card that actually acts and behaves like a real flashcard).

- The application will exploit the advantages of the computer by allowing more than one response to be associated with a cue (ie. For this painting identify the artist, the period, the style, the value, etc. VS. For this painting identify the artist, for this painting identify the period, For this painting...).  It can greatly facilitate organization of the deck and tests as well.

- Other things as well (I`m trying to keep it brief - really)

I want the application available not just for the teachers and institutions (where most applications of this type are marketed to), but to students as well so they can use it to prepare for exams.  I have wrestled with whether to develop the application as a stand-alone application or as a Software as a Service (aka ASP or online) model.  I settled on a hybrid that I think does the most good and would work the best.  Develop the application as a free (-$) stand alone for students (so it can be used anywhere in the world by anyone) with a standardized file format that allows the files to be uploaded to an online service where institutions can deliver tests and exams and get reports for a reasonable hosting fee.

So my kimono is wide open and I stand in my full monty glory.  My problem is I am not a developer (I try, but I have to be realistic) and I have limited resources ($$) to commit to the endeavor.  I have already thrown the idea out to OpenOffice (an open source office suite) as a possible add-on to their suite, but it was met with an underwhelming response.  I imagine if I want it developed I am going to have to pay to get it don, at least initially.  Once it develops a following, getting a community of open source developers to continue the development might be easier, but it has a lot of inertia and it needs a large force to get it started.  It`s like I am pushing a locomotive and not getting anywhere and what I need is to jump on board and start stoking the engine.  Anybody have any ideas/suggestions/resources they can point me to on how to stoke the engine?

Condensed request:

Anybody know any good development resources that could help with this, or alternatively, anybody have any idea how much an application like this might cost (just the application, not the hosting site)?

Have you done some comparison research on this? I know I`ve seen a number of applications that allow you to put in your own customized notes, and it`ll turn those into "flash cards," for want of a better word.

There also are a number of applications that build tests, and I think include modules for study aids like this.

I guess the question in my mind is what differentiates your product? What will be your unique sales position (proposition, whatever...)---that "thing" that people will see in their mind and immediately think, "Oh! I should get THAT program."

I provided a couple of differentiators in the intial post:

- Adherence to a well recognized common interface standard.
- Interface that models real world.
- Advanced underlying architecture that provides more robust/intuitive/automated input and testing.

There are other differentiators.  The design specs that I linked to above has 78 pages of designs, details, screenshots and explanations.  Btw, to explain my screenshots - I`m competent enough with tools like Visual Studio to create mock-ups, but development skills are a bit beyond me, so don`t ask why I am not developing this myself.  I design, not develop.

If anyone feels that what I want to develop is already out there, feel free to provide a product name and if possible a link to a website where it is promoted, so I can take a look.  I have had others tell me that what I want to develop was already available but when we actually compared my specifications to the product they suggested it became clear that they were only minimally similar. 

I can compose letters and write documents in this free nifty utility called Notepad or thousands of other "word processors" (many of which are free), but I have Word, because it offers functionality that I consider important.  Similarly, there are dozens of "drill/test processors" available - some more advanced than others.  I want to take it to the next level and offer a product that in robustness, design and functionality could easily fit in the Office suite that people all over the world are already familiar with.  The applications I am familiar with fall short of that in some respect or another.

Additionally, I think my hybrid software business structure is unique - offering a stand-alone application for free through which drill and testing files can be composed and creating a hosting site through which those files can be hosted for test administration.  This allows students, regardless of economic means, anywhere in the world, to take advantage of the technology (even students without PCs can have flashcards printed out for them) while providing a software service through which institutions could realize a real benefit of efficiencies.

A couple things which might help me develop this are:

- a contact for someone/organization that can help me develop this
- a mentor that has contacts and experience in developing a software business
- and idea of how much an application of this nature might cost to develop

Have you tried elance.com for someone in the programming area? 

I guess I need to bite the bullet and do that.  My ideas are plentiful, but my resources are sparse.  I guess I wanted an idea of costs going into an elance type submission, but I guess I am under no obligation to accept any bids if they all come way over my budget and at least at that point, I should have an idea of what the costs are.  And since I plan to offer the application for free anyway, there really shouldn`t be any fear on my part of someone "stealing" the idea.  If they want to develop the idea at their cost, bully for them. My designs are well documented back to `93, so I don`t think they could preclude me from developing it myself if they were charging for it and I wanted to offer my own free version.  I`ll give them a shot.