What if "Google stole the idea?"

“Actually, what if Google really stole the idea?” I thought to myself. Not many people dare to think that way and even if they do, I don’t think they’d dare to put it out in writing. This is more a rambling than a statement. Not that it might cause a catastrophic change either in the lives of Google or mine. But on a startling observation, Google did come out with this thought publicly in 2012, while a strikingly similar thought occurred to another person in a small class room in Bangalore back in 2009 (Obviously with a twist!). This occurrence could well be a case of an unbelievable telepathic coincidence. But on the other side, it could also be an idea that occurred much before, which was laughed at, rubbished and trashed due to lack of vision, and today it is hailed as one of mankind’s best invention. That day it was called “Spec-On 2112”; today it is called “Google Glasses.”

During the lost times, back in 2009, a bunch of students set to achieve their respective goals by pursuing an MBA under the name of a reputed university. The idea of that specialized course was a fabulous one. It had a solid vision of channelizing education into an unorganized sector such as media. The students were repeatedly reminded that they were going to be the next set of ‘Media professionals.’ A course that offered such promise, only flattered to deceive. We could see it crumbling down in front of our eyes. Management took a back seat, when politics took over. Politics took a back seat, when egotism took over. The syllabus still hadn’t gathered enough foundation, as they began to realize that this course wasn’t really prepared to take on the pace of development that the real world offered. It was a trying time for the management and also for a bunch of aspiring MBA students who took a leap of faith along with the team that founded this. There was ambiguity looming all over, as the minds of the students were constantly disturbed like the ‘Murky Hussain Sagar Lake’ (A reference often quoted by one of the many HOD’s who came and went). When it was getting increasingly difficult for students to find relevance behind concentrating on the lessons taught in the class, especially when the future of this course was uncertain, a spark of brilliance did occur.

The key subjects in this MBA had been split into 4 broad electives such as Broadcast, Films, Events and New & Interactive media. Back then, new & Interactive media was supposed to be the scariest off the lot for a few, as they believed that understanding technology needed a special mindset along with a scientific background. But luckily for us, the professor who taught that particular subject was a star in his own rights. He surely helped us beat the anxiety and uneasiness we had towards that particular subject and the course largely. His classes have always been thought provoking and exciting. He was definitely one of the best teachers we’ve had in that course. During one of his classes, he gave us our first real exercise. We had to come up with a business plan / Idea that could change technology for good. The presentation needed to be made, which will later be scrutinized by the professor and the entire class. At that point in time, each and everyone wanted to prove something to the management and garner the attention of our professor. The reason behind a strong sense of competition that swept the class away was that the winner was offered a staggering opportunity to make that idea come true though a venture capitalist. With an already flaccid course, this was our best opportunity to make a life out of nothing.

The laptops were perennially on, the keyboards were rhythmically thumped, hair-fall became a cause of concern, gruelling brainstorming sessions were held discussing insane ideas and a few even went to the extent of searching for “New business ideas” in Google. Many sat with their eyes tightly closed and their minds hardly open, hoping to land the ‘Million dollar idea’ as students wanted this to be their claim to fame.

Mr. Krishna, a student from that batch, a confused but a determined youngster, who was often difficult to read off the talk, was sitting coolly with a pencil nicely parked on his ear and a restless lollipop in his mouth. He had a look on his face as if he’s cracked the ‘Million dollar idea.’   But the smirk on his face clearly indicated that it was an idea which was either impractical or totally stupid. Whatever it was, it was clearly beyond him. To my surprise, he managed to whip up some curiosity between a few friends around him with that look. They asked him time and again and he kept denying it, to an extent that it frustrated the group around him. Not that he was going to come up with a world changing idea. Or was he?

Krishna, who generally keeps to himself, seemed to have really fallen in love with his idea, though he had absolutely no clue on how he was going to execute it. There were just 2 weeks before they could present the idea in front of the class. Krishna still had not put anything down on paper. He had absolutely no clue on how to go about that presentation. But for starters, he did secretly prepare a concept note of that idea and for the first time put a name to it – SPEC-ON 2112. The concept note that he sent to his very encouraging professor is as follows. (Also attached below that image, is another screenshot of the details when it was originally created, back in 2009!)

Concept note:

Details of the concept note:

He surely did have a knack of finding and writing the right anecdotes. The first time I read the lead up to his concept note, I thought it wasn’t a bad start at all, especially for a person who seemed to be a bit averse to technology. After a nicely set up start, he introduces his idea. It straight away sounded like something from the Star Wars. It sounded fancy, but it seemed impossible. How could a pair of spectacles be turned into a live simulating internet device?

With keeping all of us guessing, without any hesitation he sent a mail to our professor, stating that he had attached the concept note of “Spec-On 2112” and he was ready to discuss the prospects of that particular project. Here is the mail that he sent with a lot of optimism to his professor.

There seemed to be a sense of doubt, anticipation and excitement in the mail that he had sent. But he also carried a sense of disbelief throughout that journey. Probably that disbelief manifested itself, as Krishna never got a reply to that mail. The only 2 places that it might have got lost is either the professor’s inbox or his mind.

Being a Sagittarius by sign, Krishna generally had the tendency to move on, if certain things didn’t work out. But “SPEC-ON 2112” strangely had occupied his attention, time and mind. Not that he was a tech-geek, not that he wanted to make a career out of technology, not that he wanted to win the massive prize, but he just loved the idea. He pondered over it quiet vehemently.

He really started to wonder, and started posting questions. What if we could connect the ear, the eye and the mouth with a single device that could make life a much easier place to live? What if internet could walk along with us? What if we could load movies and watch them while we are lying down or sitting? What if are able to gather knowledge just by looking at it? What if this had become a reality? All of this simply sounded too good to be true.

This started really growing on Krishna, as he began discussing this thought to a few of his peers. A few chuckled, and the remaining lent their ears but not their minds. Krishna was either not speaking the right language or they probably didn’t share the same vision Krishna had shared. There were a few friends who really thought it was possible, and a few who took a sarcastic dig at him and his attempt. Here is one such conversation:

That friend of his might have missed a revolutionary idea during a casual discussion. But, by and large this is the kind of response he gathered before making the presentation. But he didn’t really let anything or anyone’s opinion affect him.

The day of presentation had arrived. Students were decked up in formals, and rehearsing their lines before the presentation. The ‘confident’ presenters decided to chill a bit, while the tensed lot were pacing up and down a small corridor. Students were called in one by one, and a lot of fun ideas emerged. Krishna was at his pensive best, not talking to anyone, trying to hide the tension behind a straight face. His opportunity came and he rose. Here is the presentation on which he built and spoke to his class. (Also attached below that image, is another screenshot of the details when it was originally created, back in 2009! Some more proof that the peripheral idea dates back to 2009)

Presentation:

Details of created presentation: 

He plugged his pen drive and took a deep breath. He spoke like he never spoke before. He detailed the idea so well that if I had money I would have surely invested. The idea was inspiring, but obviously needed much more detail in terms of the feasibility and production. He spoke about how it was going to improve the way humans looked at life. The entire class was taken aback a bit, including the professor. The strong and provoking presentation lasted for 15 minutes. At the end of it, Krishna finished his marathon talk on something he never believed, but left a stamp of belief on people who were listening to him.

There were a few students who looked at each other who almost burst into applause, just before my professor stood up. He stood up, looked at the class and then turned to Krishna. He said the following – “This is crap. This won’t work. Don’t waste your time.” He said that with so much disdain that my heart felt like the juicy watermelon that is mercilessly cut and squashed in “Fruit Ninja.” He just moved onto the next person, without a second glance. The professor seemed to be very disappointed. After the class, I think I recall the professor calling Krishna and telling him that “It’s ok to dream, but it’s not ok to hallucinate.” Krishna was beaten beyond words. For a lot, “SPEC-ON 2112” ended rather abruptly and rudely. Krishna did not end up getting the prize obviously.

Strangely, ever since that incident, Krishna began to develop an aversion to technology at a sub conscious level for a brief period. Nevertheless he was attached to his idea. As time passed by and technology started to grow beyond the progression a human mind could calculate, he thought he could make a comeback with that idea, as he never took it away from the back of his mind.

Exactly a year later, Krishna wrote to another proactive teacher who taught advanced levels of technology, in the hope that the new professor might see more sense and relevance to it given the scenario at that day. Krishna again shot a mail with the presentation with a few changes to his new professor. Krishna could feel the pinch of a taste he had got the last time he presented “SPEC-ON 2112” to a professor. He braved the hesitation from his subconscious, and sent the mail. Here is the mail he had sent in 2010 to his professor, for which he replied that he saw some feasibility issues of scaling it up and never got back to Krishna after that.

It was not a fairy tale ending for Krishna, as his idea never crossed the mailboxes of a few professors in his college. Though he had the vision, he did not have the know-how or any kind of support around him. Months went by and Krishna himself did not take it seriously beyond a point, but SPEC-ON 2112 still held a very imperative place in his life until Google came up with an announcement in 2012.

April 4, 2012: Google Announces “Project Glass”

This is the day it all begins. Google creates a Project Glass account on Google+ and shares its first public post that begins with this mission statement:

“We think technology should work for you — to be there when you need it and get out of your way when you don’t.”

While Google said this in their mission statement in 2012 of Google Glasses, Krishna said this in his mission statement back in 2009 of SPEC-ON 2112:

“To take technology as a pal and making it more personalized, as we live for the present and believe in the future. We have to “SEE” it to believe it... As the world is awaiting to see the future in its own eyes.”

The mission statement could be a kind of a coincidence, but there’s no coincidence that the ‘Krishna’ you’ve been reading about is me. Anirudh Krishna. The story that you’ve been reading all through is mine.  I was stunned. I was at a loss of words. I didn’t know how to react. I did not know whether to be happy that an idea I thought off a few years back is now a reality, or the fact that my once-upon-a-time rubbished idea is now a game changing idea from the world leaders Google. I spoke no more and decided to chuck my idea with so much hurry and disappointment. I realized that if I’d told the world that Google stole my idea, I’d either make a mockery out of myself or a hefty legal suit would dawn on me. You can call this a case of an unbelievable telepathic coincidence or an idea that came to the right person, at the right environment and at the right time. Or who knows, what if Google really stole my idea?