Chronicle Inventory: Memento for Makers
An inventory management system that uses temporal tagging and visual cues to help hobbyists and small creators track materials and components, preventing duplicate purchases and lost ideas.
Inspired by the fragmented narrative of 'Memento' and the detailed technological descriptions in 'Technology Specifications,' Chronicle Inventory is a niche, low-cost inventory management system designed for individuals who engage in creative hobbies like 3D printing, crafting, electronics tinkering, or model building. Much like Leonard in 'Memento' relies on his instant tattoos and Polaroids to piece together his past, users of Chronicle Inventory will 'tag' their inventory items with chronological data and visual snapshots. The 'Technology Specifications' inspiration comes in the form of a simple, structured way to record details about each item: manufacturer, model number, purchase date, quantity, and crucially, a photo. The 'Nightfall' element subtly influences the system's focus on the potential for lost knowledge or redundant effort. Users can tag items with project ideas they are associated with, a 'last seen' location (e.g., 'in the blue bin'), and even a 'use-by' date for perishable materials. The system will have a simple web or mobile interface, potentially built on a free tier of cloud storage for photos and data. Its niche appeal lies in its focus on visual recall and temporal context, directly addressing the common problem of makers forgetting what they own, leading to wasted money and stalled projects. The earning potential comes from offering premium features like advanced search filters (e.g., 'show me all components purchased in the last 6 months that haven't been used'), collaborative inventory sharing for shared workshops, or integration with online marketplaces for bulk purchasing reminders.
Area: Inventory Management Systems
Method: Technology Specifications
Inspiration (Book): Nightfall - Isaac Asimov & Robert Silverberg
Inspiration (Film): Memento (2000) - Christopher Nolan