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Things You Thought You Invented

139 replies

StayGoldenPonyGirl · 13/04/2023 18:18

I invented Nihilism when I was 8 or 9. My parents told me to shut up talking nonsense. I remember reading about it as a teenager in Reader's Digest and thinking someone had ripped my ideas off - I came up with that by myself years back😆

I also invented the sanitary towel around 5 or 6- my mum just used tampons so i didn't know what pads were. I overheard her moaning about getting stains on her knickers so I made a wad of loo roll with improvised sticky back plastic (looped black electrical tape) and presented it to her. Her and her friends found it hilarious...I was most disgruntled.

I had the idea for the kindle too as a kid in a cold house who wanted to read but keep hands snuggly and warm. But mine was wall mounted and you would blink to turn pages so I still might take that one to Dragon's Den.

Have you ever sworn you've invented something that already exists?

OP posts:
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 14/04/2023 15:35

I invented fizzy orange by mixing orange juice and lemonade. Apparently it's a st Clements but I know it was my idea first 🤣

x2boys · 14/04/2023 16:58

Dontlistitonfacebook · 14/04/2023 13:54

@x2boys this is described in the short story "The Machine Stops", published in 1909!

The Machine Stops https://g.co/kgs/hhn2Nm

😮😮

Roundaboot · 14/04/2023 17:11

My mum invented travel coffee cups. In the early 1980s when she had three toddlers, she used to put her coffee on one of our Tommee Tippee sippy cups so she could drink it while driving. It was quite revolutionary at time - drinking coffee on the go, imagine!

x2boys · 14/04/2023 17:14

My grandma invented hoodies ,she knitteed me and my sister a jumper with a hood,,each in the early 80,s i loved my jumperhood,as i used to call it!

Agitatethebumcrack · 14/04/2023 17:27

@x2boys DM knitted us these in the 70’s from a pattern that she bought, so someone else invented them before then I’m afraid.

zurala · 14/04/2023 18:31

I invented Amazon decades ago! I had the idea for a business where you could phone up and order whatever you wanted and it would be brought to your door within hours. This was before the internet existed. I never did anything with it. I could have been rich!

Justleaveitblankthen · 14/04/2023 20:07

StayGoldenPonyGirl · 14/04/2023 11:58

Yeah, it needs some work - maybe a prolonged wink, left to turn back, right to turn over....or maybe it just rolls steadily and you adjust it to your reading speed. It must already exist for people with additional needs etc. but this would be marketed at lazy articles who can't be arsed holding something or turning pages.

Show quote history

Stephen Hawking used screen technology that operated with his eye movement pattern.

Borntobeamum · 14/04/2023 20:18

1987 Britax car seat - the pale blue and white stripes one.
I bought 3 metres of webbing and threaded it through to make handles.

I was stopped everywhere asking where id got this car seat!!

Not long after, all 1st stage car seats had an integrated handle. But I was first.

DorritLittle · 14/04/2023 20:19

The Hoppa Poppa craze circa ‘86. I was defo the first.

starfishmummy · 15/04/2023 09:03

blobby10 · 14/04/2023 11:04

I invented Rightmove! It was around 1998 and I was trudging around estate agents getting details and thought it would be a great idea if there was one central point where all the EA could send the details of houses so buyers could just go to one place. H even pitched the idea to a business manager for new business development but neither of us had the tech know how to proceed with the idea. Two years later Rightmove appeared on the scene and I'm sure the business development guy stole my idea Grin😀

Sorry. Back in the 80s I did a computer programming course and one of my projects was the "Hunt-a-Home" Estate agency programme. Where you could put in various searches on your database.

Theimpossiblegirl · 15/04/2023 09:17

When DD was a toddler I used to ask for a cup of froth when buying a latte. I'm pretty sure I invented the babyccino.

Pamandherpampams · 15/04/2023 09:22

Elisheva · 13/04/2023 18:57

I invented money. I was shopping for a birthday present and talking to a friend about how great it would be if you could buy a gift voucher that would be accepted anywhere 🤦‍♀️

😂love this 👏👏

Imtoooldforallthis · 15/04/2023 09:30

I've just invented filler in rectangular tubs so you can actually get your filler knife in.

golddustwomen · 15/04/2023 09:30

Does anyone remember the subway advert where the giant jalapeño said 'hot hot' in a distinct voice? I am convinced I started that Grin I used to say 'hot hot' in that exact voice ALL the time. Then one day I was watching tv and I saw that advert and the giant jalapeño used my exact voice to say 'hot hot' I even had friends and family mention it to me in the following weeks. I am 100% convinced someone from subway advertising heard me say it and stole it Grin

inappropriateraspberry · 15/04/2023 09:37

I had a great idea of food and video/dvd delivery combined. Just before everything went digital and now we can just stream it. It would have been great back in the day though! Then just drop the film back in a day or so, a la Blockbusters.
How nice to order a pizza and Dirty Dancing to be delivered together!

Throwncrumbs · 15/04/2023 09:40

BarbaraofSeville · 14/04/2023 10:42

Friend and I invented a 'washing up machine' when we were in primary school.

We did not know about the existence of dishwashers, but the design as I remember it was more like the X-ray scanners you see at airports, a conveyor belt where you put dirty pots in at one end and clean ones came out the other.

Neither of us had ever been to an airport in those days, and I don't even know if they X-rayed people's bags in the early 1980s anyway.

You invented a hotel dishwasher, back in 77 I worked in a hotel kitchen that had a dishwasher exactly like you describe!

Allthingsbrightandbeautifulx · 15/04/2023 09:55

CaloriesShmalories · 13/04/2023 20:16

I invented post it notes.

Only joking.

I actually thought I’d invented birth control for rats instead of poisoning them. Had a proper excited feeling about it until I googled and found it’s already a thing!

😂

Slitheringheights · 15/04/2023 10:00

I invented the ring pool for juice cans. I remember when I was about 8, playing with a friend, she asked what it was on top of a can. I made up the name ring pool. Or so I thought. Lol I’m still convinced to this day I named the top of a can of juice. That was 43 years ago lol

Allthingsbrightandbeautifulx · 15/04/2023 10:00

I invented and made the waist and bra extenders about 20 years ago. Started off as just a bobble looped through button hole then around button, but then made some with different attachments and for the bra I used an old bra cut it up and stitched ends back together. Only used them when bloated due to period and in the winter lol. Made some for friends as well. Now they’re sold everywhere ☹️

Thursday5pmisginoclock · 15/04/2023 10:11

When estate agents started having websites I said why don’t they all advertise on the same site. And someone got there quicker (probably already) with Rightmove and Zoopla

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 15/04/2023 10:16

Spottymushroom · 13/04/2023 18:59

Christmas Eve boxes.

20 years ago when mine were little I used to wrap up a basket that contained new pyjamas, a video, Christmas mugs and some sweets.

I did it to keep them occupied whilst I finished getting things done and it curved a bit of their excitement

So it's your fault! 😡

UrsulaBelle · 15/04/2023 10:21

Slitheringheights · 15/04/2023 10:00

I invented the ring pool for juice cans. I remember when I was about 8, playing with a friend, she asked what it was on top of a can. I made up the name ring pool. Or so I thought. Lol I’m still convinced to this day I named the top of a can of juice. That was 43 years ago lol

Isn’t that a ring pull? 😉

WillowintheUK · 15/04/2023 10:29

x2boys · 14/04/2023 10:47

I watched a very old tommorows world on you tube,they had a casseste thing in the car with a load of programmed in routes so you could get the directions to where you wanted to go,also a bit like a rubbish sat nav🤣

Show quote history

I didn’t personally invent anything, but back around 1989/90 or so we were going to the South of France. I contacted the AA and they very kindly sent me a printout of the directions from our front door to the gite we were staying in, including the stop at a hotel before the ferry and in (I think) Dijon, all for the princely sum of £15.

Another shout out for The Machine Stops. Fascinating little story.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 15/04/2023 10:31

iPhones. Well, smartphones.

Back in about 1994 when those "personal organise devices" started coming out, the gradually mobile phones, mp3 players, Sat navs, digital cameras etc I said I wasn't having anything until it was all in one device, and I could scan a barcode in my wrist to pay for things.

Ta Dah!!!

Steve Jobs (RIP) owes me one.

Slitheringheights · 15/04/2023 10:33

UrsulaBelle · Today 10:21
yes I meant ring pull 🙄

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