IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Too Much Color

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Theme 1 –Competitive JND Scores

Users are treating the game as a score‑battle, posting their own JND numbers and daring others to beat them.

“What's My JND? 0.0089” – cratermoon
“0.0032 apparently” – footydude
“I got a 0.0035” – rXwubXUGAm

Theme 2 – Display Quality & Settings Matter

Many commenters note that monitor fidelity, brightness, and even screen cleanliness drastically affect results.

“That mostly depends on the quality of your screen.” – Jensson
“Same score here on my MBP with an absolutely filthy screen. Reckon I could top the leaderboard if I cleaned it.” – drcongo
“I'm on a Vivo X300 pro in a dim room, max brightness” – esperent

Theme 3 – Underlying Science: JND & Tetrachromacy

The discussion drifts into the theory behind the metric, questioning human perception limits and the rarity of tetrachromats.

“The magic number to remember is the ‘Just Noticeable Difference’ (JND). For dE00, JND is around 2.0.” – snarkconjecture
“Is that so? Our color perception is weird. It's one dimension split in three overlapping sectors.” – tgv
“And the eye cones not are sharp filter, they overlap ranges with mid‑low sensibility.” – Zardoz84 (citing Wikipedia)

🚀 Project Ideas

Generating project ideas…

JND Analyzer Chrome Extension

Summary

  • A Chrome extension that enhances the “What’s My JND?” game with automatic screen calibration, real‑time JND scoring, and a personal score history.
  • Gives users precise feedback on their monitor’s colour accuracy and a built‑in leaderboard to track improvements.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Web users interested in colour perception, gamers, designers
Core Feature Real‑time JND scoring with dynamic calibration tips and saved score history
Tech Stack Chrome Extension (Manifest V3), JavaScript/HTML/CSS, localStorage, optional backend API
Difficulty Low
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN commenters repeatedly ask for a better display and ways to “beat” the score; the extension directly addresses that need.
  • Enables a community leaderboard, encouraging repeat play and discussion.

ColorBlindJND Tracker

Summary

  • A web application that lets users test JND with colour‑blind‑optimized palettes and provides personalized insights and monitor‑setting recommendations.
  • Makes the JND test accessible and informative for colour‑blind users while offering actionable feedback.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Colour‑blind individuals, accessibility advocates, designers
Core Feature Multiple colour‑blind filters, score tracking, recommendations for monitor settings
Tech Stack React, Tailwind CSS, Firebase Auth, Firestore
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Freemium (basic tracking free, premium analytics $5/mo)

Notes

  • Users who are colour‑blind and report scores like “0.0084” want better display and understanding; the app serves that need.
  • Provides a community space for sharing scores and tips, fostering ongoing engagement.

JND Challenge API & Leaderboard Service

Summary

  • A lightweight REST API and front‑end challenge site where participants submit their best JND scores, view real‑time leaderboards, and compete across device categories.
  • Turns the JND test into a shareable, competitive activity with scalable scoring infrastructure.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Gamers, developers, colour‑science enthusiasts
Core Feature Score submission, real‑time leaderboard, categorization by monitor/device type
Tech Stack Node.js with Express, PostgreSQL, Docker deployment
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: Subscription $10/mo for API access + $2 per thousand score submissions

Notes

  • HN discussions express a desire to “beat” scores; a public leaderboard satisfies that drive.
  • The API can be embedded in other tools (e.g., monitor calibration apps), enabling cross‑product opportunities.

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