With my bug list narrowed to three complaints that I was most interested in and felt had the most potential, it was time to do some research. I started this stage of the process by asking:
What products or services currently exist in this market?
Who is using this product or service?
What is missing or lacking in the selection of existing products?
I started with Bug List item #6: Dining out for the gluten-intolerant.
Surprisingly, there are a large number of apps and websites designed to assist the gluten-intolerant when it comes to grocery shopping and dining out. Most are relatively recent developments, and the majority have received mediocre reviews at best. Here were just a few products and services that stood out from the others.
EZ Gluten. This is not an app or website, but rather portable test strips that diners can use to test foods and beverages for the presence of gluten. Downside: you have to keep purchasing test strips.
iEatOut and iCanEat OnThe Go apps. Gives diners advice for eating in ethnic restaurants (iEatOut) and fast food restaurants (OnTheGo). The benefits of these apps are that they do not require an internet connection, there are numerous restaurant menus in the database, and there is also advice for talking to your server or chef included to achieve the best possible experience. According to reviewers, the downsides are the speed of the app, the lack of up-to-date information, and the fact that cross-contamination issues have not been considered.
Allergen Menu. This app allows users to input multiple allergies (because celiacs are often sensitive to other ingredients) and the results are filtered based on the combination of allergies. This app only includes 85 chain restaurant menus however, there are no restaurant reviews, and users must subscribe (aka pay) yearly to receive updates.
GlutenFree Restaurant Cards from CeliacTravel.com app. These digital cards contain explanations of celiac disease and the associated restrictions that can be shown to a server or cook to better articulate a diner's needs. The cards are translated into numerous languages, so they are quite useful for international travel.
FindMe Gluten Free. This was, by far, the best solution of all the ones I evaluated. This app is free and lists restaurants and/or individual menu items that are gluten free. Although a relatively small number of users have rated this app, it is highly recommended for being user-friendly, for providing reviews, directions, and the ability to call the restaurant for reservations if using an iPhone or Android. The app also indicates if a particular place or item has been recommended by The Celiac Diva. Users can also recommend new restaurants, search by address or chain name, or use location services to find the nearest options. The main downside to this app is that it is only as good as the people who use it and contribute to the reviews. I'm not sure that I could develop this type of application in a way that is significantly better than FindMe Gluten Free.
Bug List item #7: Buying a car.
deCapo Software Car Negotiator app. Provides a step-by-step checklist of the entire car buying process from when to buy a car to the closing of a sale. This list seems to be relatively generic, but it does help provide some sense of organization and process for new buyers. The main feature of the app is a financial calculator that allows terms of the sale to be entered in order to calculate the "Out-the-door" price, the total lifetime cost of the vehicle, as well as the monthly payment. Lets users save various purchasing scenarios and take photos.
Edmunds app. Allows users to search for new and used cars, locate them at a particular dealer, get a price quote, read specs and safety and consumer ratings for the vehicle. Recent searches are automatically saved. iPhone users are able to search using multiple parameters to filter results. According to some reviewers, the app is designed for users who already have significant knowledge about cars rather than newbies. The latest version of the app has received very low ratings, seemingly because of usability.
CarSoup Car Shopping app. Allows users to search for new and used cars based on their location, as well as by make, model, price, year, color and other features. CarSoup also finds and lists cars for sale by individuals. Full screen photos, including interior shots, access to free CARFAX reports if available, information on local special and promotions, and the ability to share information make this an extensive car buying app. The app is relatively new and has few ratings.
Women's Automotive Solutions.com. This online service will actually help users choose a car, will handle the negotiation of both buying and selling/trading, and then delivers the new vehicle with keys and paperwork to be signed. Car buyers are independent business owners who basically buy-in to a franchise. The service charge is a flat fee, regardless of car price.
Bug List item #12: Lack of a flat surface when backpacking.
Smokeeater 908 Lightweight Cook Table. This small table appears to be little more than a flat piece of aluminum with one curved edge to allow it to fit snugly against a tree trunk, cord to anchor it to the tree, and a hiking pole to serve as a leg. Interesting setup, however the sheet of aluminum does not fold down to a smaller size, a hiking pole is required (I do not use hiking poles, I suppose a branch could work), and the curve of the aluminum could be a problem if only very large or very small tree trunks are available. That seems a bit of a stretch, but Norman says to assume every mishap will happen. :)
snow peak Ozen Solo Table. This aluminum alloy table seems to be a relatively good solution. There are minimal parts and setup required. The downsides are that 12oz is still a fairly significant amount of weight for an item that most wouldn't consider a necessity, and the table appears to have no other use or function beyond being a table top.
Aluminum slat tables. There seem to be no shortage of small aluminum tables created by assembling slats and small poles. While it is nice that these break down and nest (as seen in this YouTube video), the amount of assembly required and the weight (typically in the 20 and 30 oz range) do not make me want to spend the money or allow the backpack space and weight for these.
I do think there is room for innovation around this particular product. The key, in my opinion, will be creating a product that can be multi-functional and more than simply a table. Although many "purists" will likely not purchase any table simply because it isn't a necessity, creating a delightful product may encourage many backpackers to make a little extra space for a table.
Choosing between these three categories is a tough decision.
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