Hacker News Reader

Remember accessibility. The avatars are already quite small. I'd suggest something obvious like you could highlight yourself green or wear a green hat if you want to talk. You don't need to imitate real life - leverage the fact that you can manifest obvious queues in the digital world. If only we could make instantly make ourselves bright green in the real world when we want to meet people (sometimes people use wristbands or necklaces to do this IRL)!

View on HN

That green ring sounds cool. Conference groups, where one tries to enter a group, but doesn't know anyone in it, are one the biggest challenges of a conference. If you could simulate open shoulders, closed shoulders, that would be a way to make this, better than reality. If everyone in a group has closed shoulders, it appears obvious they are not interested in anyone new joining. And also as in real life, a more welcoming group will stand slightly differently, but a newcomer can feel the difference. A slight opening of the shoulders in the group circle, allows one to enter, without feeling rude. Simulating that feeling, by making a switch, sign, or setting, may be a breakthrough? Very exciting program. Going to try soon.

I like the idea of having some sort of easy-to-see marking. The specific realization in terms of a green hat might be non-optimal, because green hats have an unfortunate symbolism in Chinese culture.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com