IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

A4 Paper Stories

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

1. Makeshift Measuring Tools (String, Body Parts, Story Sticks)

Users share humorous or practical low-tech alternatives like strings, hands, or "story sticks" for matching dimensions in carpentry.
"Personally I make sure to always carry around a string and some scissors" - sunrunner
"There's also the concept of a story stick" - saalweachter
"The span from my thumb to my pinky in a “measuring position” is 20 cm" - layer8

2. ISO A-Series Paper Advantages

Praise for sqrt(2) aspect ratio enabling perfect scaling/doubling, A0's 1m² area, and folding for measurements.
"the size of A0 can be uniquely determined from abstract constraints" - n4r9
"A0 = 1 meter square... a single sheet of standard A4 paper weighs 5 grams" - Fiveplus
"Enlarge or shrink by multiples of sqrt(2) and there's always a fitting paper size" - roelschroeven

3. US Letter vs. A4 Comparisons

Debate on US Letter's simplicity vs. A4's scaling; Americans adapt but note inconsistencies.
"it actually is easier for it to just be straight up 8.5 x 11 rather that a ratio that includes a square root" - clickety_clack
"the ratio is not consistent between sizes. So if I design a poster... I have to create a whole new design" - runarberg

4. Paper Weight Hacks (Postage, Scales)

A4's 5g weight (80gsm) simplifies postage math; extends to calibration.
"If I have a standard envelope (~5g) and 3 sheets of paper (15g), I know I'm at 20g total" - Fiveplus
"Paper's uniform mass per area makes it useful calibrating very tiny scales" - pvillano

🚀 Project Ideas

PaperCal AR Measure

Summary

  • Mobile AR app that uses phone camera to measure objects by placing a known-size paper sheet (A4/Letter) as reference, solving impromptu measurement needs without tools.
  • Core value: Accurate on-the-go measurements leveraging ubiquitous paper, with folding guides for sub-units.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Everyday users, travelers, DIYers without rulers
Core Feature Camera detection of paper edges, AR overlays for length/angles, folding calculator for derived sizes
Tech Stack ARKit (iOS)/ARCore (Android), OpenCV for edge detection, React Native
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Freemium with pro calibration tools

Notes

  • "Trying not to be too negative but this is quite a long blog post for what effectively just comes down to using a piece of paper to measure something" – digitizes the hack for precision.
  • HN woodworkers/DIYers would love printable folding guides; high viral potential via shares.

PaperScale Designer

Summary

  • Web tool for designers/print pros: auto-scales layouts between ISO A-series and US Letter/ANSI, preserving ratios/margins.
  • Core value: Fixes wonky scaling when doubling/halving docs across regions, no re-design needed.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Graphic designers, international teams, printers
Core Feature Drag-drop PDF/SVG import, one-click resize to matching sizes, preview/export
Tech Stack Canvas API, pdf-lib.js, Node.js backend
Difficulty Low
Monetization Revenue-ready: $9/mo pro tier

Notes

  • "if I design a poster, but want a couple of letter sized printouts... I have to create a whole new design" (runarberg); A4 scarcity in US (mitthrowaway2).
  • HN devs/printers frustrated by ratios; useful for software testing paper sizes.

PostageGram Calc

Summary

  • App/service estimating letter postage weight from paper count/GSM, envelope type; supports EU/US rates.
  • Core value: Quick integer math for shipping without scales, using A-series properties.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Remote workers, small sellers, international shippers
Core Feature Input sheets/GSM, auto-compute (e.g., 3x80gsm A4=15g), rate lookup by country
Tech Stack SvelteKit web/PWA, public postal APIs
Difficulty Low
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • "a single sheet of standard A4 paper weighs 5 grams... I'm at 20g total" (Fiveplus); EU thresholds at 20g/100g (tibordp).
  • Practical utility for HN indie hackers/shippers; discussion on metric elegance.

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