A Lay-off Leads to a Bright Idea
Prabha Mattappally found herself in a difficult situation after being laid off from her job. Seeking solace and advice from friends, she ended up sitting at a dimly lit restaurant with a group of girlfriends. As they struggled to read the menu, some even borrowing reading glasses, Mattappally had a realization. There had to be a better way for people to read small text in poorly lit places without the need for additional reading aids.
Creating a Solution for Dimly Lit Menus
Motivated by her experience at the restaurant, Mattappally embarked on a mission to find a solution. She searched for mobile phone apps that could aid in reading text in dark places or magnifying small print, only to find that there wasn’t a simple solution available. Undeterred, she decided to create one herself.
With the help of tech support and designers from India, Vietnam, and Pakistan, Mattappally delved into the process of creating a mobile app that would address her specific problem. The goal was to make it easy for users to read menus in dimly lit restaurants, as well as any other small print they might encounter without their reading glasses.
The Birth of Menu Reader: A Simple App for Small Text
Months of hard work and collaboration with international designers culminated in the creation of the Menu Reader app. The app utilizes a phone’s camera to view text and offers various features to enhance readability. Users can adjust the brightness of the screen, use the phone’s flashlight for additional light, and even magnify the text for better visibility.
Mattappally’s app not only solves the problem of reading menus in dark places but has also proven useful in other scenarios. For instance, she has been using it to read ingredient lists at the grocery store and even left her reading glasses at home thanks to the app. The versatility and convenience of Menu Reader have made it a valuable tool for many.
Launching a Solution: Menu Reader Hits the App Store
After over two months of development, Prabha Mattappally’s Menu Reader app was officially launched on Apple’s App Store. Its availability on the Android app store is slated for later this month. Seeing her idea come to life and being accessible to users was a surreal experience for Mattappally.
The app is available for a one-time fee of $2.99, which may not make it a significant source of income for Mattappally. Nevertheless, the process of creating the app has proven beneficial in other ways.
From Job Loss to Entrepreneurship: Prabha Mattappally’s Journey
For Prabha Mattappally, creating the Menu Reader app has been more than just a solution to a specific problem. It has nurtured her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. With the app’s launch, she has gained valuable confidence and a new mindset. Despite uncertainty about her next venture, she is determined to continue challenging herself and pursuing opportunities that keep her happy and fulfilled.
Menu Reader is just the beginning of Mattappally’s journey as a tech entrepreneur. She looks forward to exploring new ways to leverage her creativity and entrepreneurial skills to make a positive impact.
Analyst comment
Positive news: Prabha Mattappally creates the Menu Reader app, solving the problem of reading small text in dimly lit places. The app’s versatility and convenience make it a valuable tool for many. Market impact: The launch of the app is expected to gain traction and attract users, potentially leading to more innovations and opportunities for Mattappally in the tech entrepreneurship industry.
