By Laura Sweeney
June 24, 2010
Rob Shoesmith, creator of iPhone application Problem Halved, has a message for others out there who dare to dream: “If you have a great idea and if you work hard enough YOU can make it happen!” Shoesmith works as a trash collector in Coventry, England and when he discovered an opportunity to make one of his ideas become a reality, he jumped on it.
It started when California company MEDL Mobile was accepting application ideas for the iPhone, eventually developing one of the submitted ideas for the Apple App Store. Shoesmith sent in about 30 different application ideas and his suggestion of Problem Halved was chosen from 50,000 other entries. Problem Halved, a social networking application which allows people around the world to submit a problem and/or solve a problem, rose to a high of No. 2 at the App Store.
“I was very surprised! Out of all my ideas sent in, Problem Halved was the least complex. Sometimes the best ideas are those that are the most simple,” says Shoesmith.
Corp!: What motivated you to create Problem Halved? Is it something that has always been an interest of yours?
Shoesmith: I know this may sound a bit cheesy, but I have always believed a problem shared is a problem halved. I love helping people, listening and giving advice to their problems. So I thought how about having the world to help solve your problem. I researched the AppStore and found nothing like it.
Corp!: How has your life changed since your idea was picked and the app was developed?
Shoesmith: It has been an amazing 12 months. I have been recognized in the street while emptying the dustbins, which was kind of surreal. The newspaper published my story on the front page, which was unbelievable. I am now working full-time on the bins and part-time for MEDL Mobile, helping other people like me get their stories out. Currently I’m trying to promote Problem Halved V2.0.
Corp!: This app is aimed to help people on a global level. What is the significance behind this idea of people throughout the world helping each other?
Shoesmith: There are so many conflicts and wars going on in the world, I wanted a way to help connect and help each other, no matter where in the world they are. The problems and advice given by people has been amazing and very humbling. The aim of Problem Halved was that if it could help one person solve a problem it would be a success!
Corp!: Do you have any advice for others who dream to have their own ideas be brought to life?
Shoesmith: If you have an idea don’t just sit there like I did for a good while. Act on it and make it happen. I firmly believe that if you work hard enough and think outside of the box things will come good for you! I think sometimes taking the nontraditional route can yield better results.
Corp!: With the recent release of the iPad, do you have any plans to expand the app to function on that device as well?
Shoesmith: Problem Halved 2.0 has been tested and works well on the iPad. iPhone game apps tend to look a bit fuzzy on the iPad, but text based apps like Problem Halved work fine.
Also, users can now post a problem and share it on Facebook. People on Facebook like talking so having the option for non-iPhone owners being able to help solve a problem was something I really wanted so it was open to more people.
Corp!: What have you enjoyed the most during this past year and throughout this process?
Shoesmith: I have enjoyed meeting and speaking to new people from all over the world. Number one has to be visiting Los Angeles and meeting Dave Swartz, the cofounder of the App Incubator and being able to thank him for believing in my ideas!
I will be forever grateful to him for giving me a chance and think of him as a good friend, and boss, who is always there to listen to my ideas no matter how good or bad they may be.
Rob Shoesmith can be reached at
rob@medlmobile.com.