IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

STFU

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Based on the Hacker News discussion, here are the five most prevalent themes of the opinions expressed:

1. Public Noise Pollution is a Pervasive Social Nuisance

There is a strong consensus that people playing audio aloud in public spaces (transport, cafes, hiking trails) are inconsiderate and create an unwelcome environment for others. This behavior is seen as a significant modern annoyance.

"I find it absurd that music in cafés and restaurants has become so loud that it’s hard to have conversations with the people on your table. Sound pollution is a real thing." — baxtr

2. Direct Confrontation is Seen as Ineffective or Dangerous

Many users expressed a reluctance to directly ask someone to lower their volume, citing social anxiety, fear of an aggressive reaction, or even physical violence. The app is born from this perceived necessity of avoidance.

"I have personally been threatened on multiple occasions because I asked someone to turn down (or turn off) their volume while watching videos on their phone in public." — anymouse123456

3. Using the App is Inherently Confrontational and Passive-Aggressive

A major critique is that using a "speech-jamming" app is more hostile, not less, than a polite request. It is described as passive-aggressive and is likely to escalate the situation rather than resolve it peacefully.

"Using an actively annoying option like this isn't going to help. This is more likely to induce a confrontation." — Aurornis

4. The Practice of Hiking with Bluetooth Speakers is Particularly Offensive

The discussion frequently pivoted to the specific behavior of using Bluetooth speakers on hiking trails. This was met with widespread disapproval, as it violates the quiet enjoyment of nature for others.

"I'm baffled by this too, but I think some people get accustomed to just having a soundtrack around them at all times, like they're living in a Hollywood movie." — lbrito

5. The Technical and Anecdotal Aspect of "Vibe-Coding"

The technical nature of the app itself, created with a single prompt to an AI, sparked its own sub-thread. This ranged from admiration for the simplicity of the solution to skepticism about the "vibe-coding" trend and the one-prompt nature of the project.

"straight up honest - originally called this 'make-it-stop' but then saw @TimDarcet also built similar and named it STFU. wayyyyy better name. so stole it. sorry not sorry." — omgJustTest (from the repo README)

🚀 Project Ideas

EchoShush

Summary

  • [An iOS app that creates a "socially intelligent" delayed audio feedback loop to politely discourage loud public phone calls and media consumption.]
  • [Core value proposition: Provides a non-confrontational, tech-based alternative to direct confrontation for addressing noise pollution.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience [Commuters (planes, trains, buses), office workers, people in quiet spaces (libraries, cafes).]
Core Feature [Selective audio jamming using a 200-300ms delay (DAF) via the microphone, triggered by specific decibel thresholds or a manual toggle.]
Tech Stack [Swift (iOS), Core Audio, simple ML for voice detection (optional).]
Difficulty [Medium]
Monetization [Revenue-ready: Freemium (basic delay) / Subscription for advanced modes (DAF, pitch shift).]

Notes

  • [Addresses the frustration voiced by vunderba ("I wanted to build this... to end an interminably long phone conversation") and QuantumNomad_ (who noted the 2-second delay in the article is likely ineffective). The 200-300ms range is the scientifically proven "jamming" window mentioned in the comments.]
  • [Potential for high engagement on Hacker News due to its blend of hardware hacks, psychology, and anti-social behavior mitigation.]

Public Speaker Tracker

Summary

  • [A location-based social app allowing users to anonymously tag and rate venues/restaurants based on noise levels and "speaker policy."]
  • [Core value proposition: Empowers users to choose quiet environments before entering, reducing noise-induced frustration.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience [Remote workers, families, anyone sensitive to noise pollution.]
Core Feature [User-generated noise heatmaps, "Quiet Rating" (1-5), and specific tags like "Hard Surfaces (Echo)," "Loud Music," or "Tolerates Speakerphone."]
Tech Stack [React Native/Flutter, Google Maps API, Firebase.]
Difficulty [Low]
Monetization [Hobby (crowdsourced data) or Revenue-ready: Affiliate links for quiet headphones/earplugs; B2B API for venue acoustic analysis.]

Notes

  • [Directly addresses the sentiment of baxtr regarding cafés being too loud to converse and jiehong's critique of poor sound design in public spaces like train stations.]
  • [Practical utility: Helps users find "third places" that aren't acoustic nightmares.]

VenueSound

Summary

  • [A tool for venue owners and architects to simulate and optimize acoustics before construction or renovation using simple room measurements.]
  • [Core value proposition: Solves the "architects don't care about sound" problem by providing actionable acoustic feedback.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience [Cafe owners, restaurant managers, architects, interior designers.]
Core Feature [AR-based room scanning to estimate reverberation time and predicted noise buildup; suggests treatment (absorption panels, layout changes).]
Tech Stack [Unity (for AR), Web Audio API for simulation, Python (backend for physics modeling).]
Difficulty [High]
Monetization [Revenue-ready: SaaS subscription for architects; one-time purchase for venue owners.]

Notes

  • [Tackles the root cause of noise pollution mentioned by jiehong (poor acoustic design in stations) and barbazoo (deliberate loudness in restaurants).]
  • [Niche but high-value market. HN users appreciate deep dives into specific technical problems like sound engineering.]

Hiker’s Audio

Summary

  • [A "smart" music player for hikers that uses bone conduction tech and proximity sensors to pause/silence audio when others are near.]
  • [Core value proposition: Allows solo hikers to enjoy music without disturbing wildlife or other hikers, resolving the "Bluetooth speaker on the trail" debate.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience [Solo hikers, trail runners, cyclists.]
Core Feature [Bone conduction interface (hardware or software integration with existing hardware like Shokz), proximity-based volume adjustment, auto-pause when speech is detected nearby.]
Tech Stack [iOS/Android (Audio focus management), Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Direct for proximity detection.]
Difficulty [Medium]
Monetization [Hobby (open-source app) OR Revenue-ready: Partnership with bone conduction headphone manufacturers.]

Notes

  • [Directly addresses the heated debate started by tra3 regarding hiking with Bluetooth speakers. runjake defended the practice for safety/bears, but kelnos and others found it selfish. This app offers a compromise.]
  • [Practical utility: Enhances safety and enjoyment without social friction.]

TransitMute

Summary

  • [A mobile app that listens for specific "nuisance" sounds (loud TV, TikTok videos, aggressive calls) and emits a counter-frequency or white noise in the user's earphones.]
  • [Core value proposition: Active noise cancellation for specific, intermittent social annoyances rather than constant environmental noise.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience [Commuters, open office workers, people with sensory sensitivity.]
Core Feature [On-device ML model trained to detect "media noise" (video playback) vs. conversation; applies targeted masking audio.]
Tech Stack [TensorFlow Lite (for on-device audio classification), Core Audio/AAudio, React Native UI.]
Difficulty [High]
Monetization [Revenue-ready: Premium subscription for advanced masking profiles (e.g., "Cafe Buzz," "Plane Engine").]

Notes

  • [Solves the annoyance described by socalgal2 (men watching sports on public transit) and michaelsshaw (airports).]
  • [HN users love "technical solutions to social problems" (e.g., xkcd 1499 cited in the thread).]

DAF Therapy

Summary

  • [A therapeutic tool for stuttering utilizing Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF) via in-ear audio, based on the same mechanics used to disrupt speech.]
  • [Core value proposition: Reframing the "speech jamming" technology from a disruptive prank to a legitimate speech therapy aid.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience [Individuals who stutter, speech pathologists, research institutions.]
Core Feature [Customizable delay (0ms-500ms) and pitch shifting, recording/playback functionality for progress tracking.]
Tech Stack [Swift/Kotlin, Audio Unit framework, GUI for delay/feedback tuning.]
Difficulty [Medium]
Monetization [Hobby (Research tool) OR Revenue-ready: Professional version for clinics; verified medical app store listing.]

Notes

  • [Cites the neuroscientific effect mentioned by neonmagenta ("oddly enough it helps with stuttering with a short enough interval") and ericwood.]
  • [Legitimizes the technology discussed in the thread, moving it from "prank" to "utility," which appeals to the constructive side of HN.]

Furbie Slayer

Summary

  • [An open-source "Universal Infrared Silencer" based on the Flipper Zero ecosystem, specifically targeting devices that disrupt quiet (e.g., toys, cheap gadgets).]
  • [Core value proposition: A hardware tool for parents/librarians to instantly quiet battery-operated annoyances without confrontation.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience [Parents, teachers, librarians, hardware hackers.]
Core Feature [Pre-programmed IR codes for common "noisy" children's toys and cheap electronics; easy-to-use physical form factor (like a keychain).]
Tech Stack [C++ (for Flipper Zero/microcontrollers), IR signal libraries, 3D printed case design.]
Difficulty [Low]
Monetization [Hobby (Open Source hardware files) OR Revenue-ready: Selling pre-flashed microcontroller kits.]

Notes

  • [Inspired by ErroneousBosh’s story about the "Furby sleep" command and cweagans’s nostalgia for TV-B-Gone.]
  • [Addresses the specific annoyance of "objectionable noise" from gadgets mentioned in the thread, providing a fun, hacker-friendly solution.]

Read Later