SELFIE: How Tragedy Led to the Patent for Putting the Camera in the Cell Phone

by John Fulton

This is the story of how the idea for the camera phone came to life as a result of a tragedy. SELFIE is an up close, emotionally-charged, and true account of how the abduction of two sisters in a quiet corner of Spotsylvania, Virginia, inspired a CIA technologist to design what was hoped would become a deterrent against such crimes. It brings you in on the day the tragedy took place and shares the emotions brought on with each new discovery. I encountered a billionaire who becomes my first partner, a movie star spokesperson, many law enforcement and first responders, venture capitalists, and a world-class criminal mastermind bent on stealing the rights to it as I navigated the precarious path toward patenting and bringing to life an idea that, at the time, some weren't even sure people would want on their phone - a camera, GPS, and motion detection, capable of deciding for itself how to respond to certain emergencies. It was, for all intents and purposes, the beginning of a smartphone. And we, at the time, were unaware of where it would go. There simply was nothing to compare it to.

If you've ever wondered what it's like to have a billion-dollar idea and see it come to life, this book will give you a glimpse.

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2025