History: The iTrend and it's origins date back to 2005
The original iTrend was first released by Dr. Richard Gaines then published as a translated indicator by MetaQuotes Russia.
There wasn't anything special about it, it's core consisted of two vintage, built-in platform indicators:
- Bulls & Bears indicator
- Bollinger Bands
Scriptor released his own version in 2007 which was exactly the same code but displayed Lines instead of (Histogram) Bars.
Mrtools, Mladen & Igorad's groundbreaking work created one of the best trend trading indicators of all time
In a time not too long ago, Igorad began investigating this code and started work on his own strategy using the original indicator as a base for his wild idea.
The most interesting part of this indicator's past was that Igorad's idea was to use an even more advanced iTrend, in an aim to help him recover from previous trading losses.
His system was called the "BrainTrading" strategy and his new concept no longer used the standard (built-in) MT4 indicators, but advanced versions of the Bollinger Bands & Bulls Bears Power from Mrtools and Mladen.
In BrainTrading we want to trade together with the people. If people go short so we go short.
We do not want to complicate our life and because of that we like simple indicators and this simple Brainwashing system.
We want to make small deposit to the broker because we can regulate the filter in this system (we can regulate the filter to filter the false signals using iTrend indicator which = Bears Power + Bulls Power + Bollinger Bands + current price). We want to trade together with majority of the traders.
But... the iTrend had to be plotted & calculated "manually" each week
The concept was there, but the coding was absent. Each week, the BrainTraders manually calculated the iTrend's "max" line for the M15, M30, H1 etc. charts in order to visualize it's "max" level (the second dotted line that's used to signal an entry) which was now the most important part of the indicator.
Mrtools automates the iTrend's "max" line
Mrtools from Forex-TSD saw great potential in the iTrend and began painstakingly working on it by looking at the code, tweaking and adjusting it's inputs so it could possibly run automatically, without the need for a trader or a coder to manually estimate it's max line every week.
Mrtools reworked the entire code and forwarded his finished version to Mladen who then optimized, and even added his own finishing touches to it.
Within an hour, Mladen had sent back an optimized code that provided:
- A confirmed, fully automated iTrend max level line without the need to manually calculate it.
- A dynamically moving "max" line which would self-adjust according to previous bars and when pierced by the iTrend's histogram, would guide traders into unquestionable trends.
From Igorad, Mrtools and Mladen's work, their code went on to be the legendary iTrend we use today, which is still based off the Bulls Bears & Bollinger Bands but now, a completely different indicator.
With the work of three special coders, traders no longer need to manually calculate or update it each week. We are simply spoilt with the ability to just drag and drop it onto our charts using our mouse. But for those who wonder, the indicator is quietly calculating and working in the background, making sure it creates the best trading decisions for you.
Below are the very first iTrend indicators in case any one wants to have a poke around or experiment with.
Links and additional references
- For the iTrend indicator used in the first screenshot above, please see: iTrend with colored histogram by Mrtools
- For more reading, please see our review of the modern day iTrend in our Top 10 indicators list
Below is the original iTrend which was translated by Metaquotes.
