Ask HN: Any interesting problems/ideas to tap into?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4114931

by joering2 • 14 years ago

6 10 14 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Dear HN: I've been recently let go from my work where 70% of time I used to program web apps (mostly HTML5, PHP, jQuery, MySQL, etc). Therefore I have plenty of free time on my hands and would like to keep my hobby (programming) going with some interesting ideas. Can you share/help?

edit: of course ideas that are doable for an average programmer :) and the only thing stopping you from doing those at your own is a lack of time.

WTPayne• 14 years ago

Better programming tools; particularly mutation-based fuzz-testing tools; code structure visualisation; statistical, nonlinear code quality metrics, structure-based code similarity metrics and similarity-based code search/suggestion; better linting & static analysis tools; refactoring tools that integrate with unit tests; continuous testing tools; better documentation for existing tools.

manglav2• 14 years ago

if you're looking for some freelance work, shoot me an email. I have several, pretty basic ideas I'd like to get off the ground, but no time. Why not have fun and get paid doing it?

joering23• 14 years ago

what is your email? - the email field on your HN profile is not accessible to others.

thanks.

manglav2• 14 years ago

my username at gmail. Look forward to hearing from you! and you do know a way to fix that?

jeffool2• 14 years ago

I went to school to program, but didn't stick with it, otherwise I've got a genuine problem I'd look more into. (If you're interested in mobile app development.)

I've long wondered why there isn't an app that turns cell phones into functional TTY machines for the deaf and hard of hearing. Like many of us, the deaf community has cell phones, but unlike many of us, they still need TTY machines for many functions. These tools are not cheap, being over $100. I see no reason the functionality can't be emulated cheaply, or for free, by smart phones.

Currently turning on TTY modes on a cell phone only enable hearing Baudot tones. An app should listen to the phone call, interpret the Baudot tones (at a paltry 45 baud at worse, but there are proprietary and alternative protocols[0]) into text on screen, and then transmit Baudot tones at the same rate when typed.

If you can figure it out (I'm sure there's a reason why it isn't done already,) then I'm sure you could charge a few bucks for it. Figure there's ~28M deaf people in the US? There's plenty with cell phones, especially younger people.

Such tech could also just receive Baudot and send voice (VCO; Voice Carry Over), and receive voice and send Baudot (HCO; Hearing Carry Over). It could even be used for cell to cell TTY calls, letting the deaf and hard of hearing communicate using minutes instead of texts or data.

[0]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_device_for_t...

joering23• 14 years ago

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3519

jeffool2• 14 years ago

Both iPhones and Androids can both be set into TTY mode. This allows you to use them with traditional TTY machines you still have to spend a hundred bucks on, and is generally a stationary unit in the home (though not always.). This doesn't let you use them as I'd described. This mode change would be used in conjunction with the suggested software.

My honest assumption is that there's a reason no one has made the app that replaces hundred dollar equipment... But I haven't found the reason yet.

nostromo• 14 years ago

http://www.reddit.com/r/SomebodyMakeThis can be a source of inspiration for fun side projects

joering23• 14 years ago

thanks, didn't know that. Unfortunately I don't find anything worth pursuing...

yashchandra• 14 years ago

check out http://www.ideaswatch.com

Ask HN: Any interesting problems/ideas to tap into?

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