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Show HN: Nebula – Alarm clock where you grow stars while you sleep

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Re: Show HN: Nebula – Alarm clock where you grow stars while you sleep

#151

Post by chrisux »

rocketsloth wrote: post #105
pluma wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The first screen I see on the page has a challenge that at least 8% of males (me included) can't solve. Matching colors is difficult to make accessible so it's no surprise that the example is one I couldn't solve, being partially green blind.

Hey really sorry about that, there are a variety of dismissal methods you can choose from including shake dismissal, qr scan, barcode scan and a simple stop button as well as this color tap. That dismissal method is just the one I went with for the screenshot, but there is something for everyone. I'm also looking in to giving users the option to change the color combination because I've received this feedback from tw…

Using text labels to associate the color chips could work too.

Even color blind people know Ocean = Blue if given simple terms like you have. :)

Re: Show HN: Nebula – Alarm clock where you grow stars while you sleep

#152

Post by plttn »

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #87
plttn wrote: post #70

Random note: the fact that you're showing an iPhone device frame but using Android screenshots is one of those things that makes me unreasonably unhappy. I do like the idea of the app though.

Funnily enough your complaint that the small generic rectangular outline representing a phone is the wrong brand is the sort of thing that makes me unreasonably irritated.

The problem is that even though there's Play Store and App Store badges, to me, my brain subconsciously parses "this app is available for you" based on the existence of the home button in the mockup.

I saw the home button, I assumed iOS only.

Re: Show HN: Nebula – Alarm clock where you grow stars while you sleep

#153

Post by pluma »

rocketsloth wrote: post #105
pluma wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The first screen I see on the page has a challenge that at least 8% of males (me included) can't solve. Matching colors is difficult to make accessible so it's no surprise that the example is one I couldn't solve, being partially green blind.

Hey really sorry about that, there are a variety of dismissal methods you can choose from including shake dismissal, qr scan, barcode scan and a simple stop button as well as this color tap. That dismissal method is just the one I went with for the screenshot, but there is something for everyone. I'm also looking in to giving users the option to change the color combination because I've received this feedback from tw…

Yeah, I was less concerned about the usability of the app itself (I assumed there are other challenges available and they're configurable) but it's a bad first impression, especially when it's the only challenge shown and the screenshot is repeated multiple times throughout the landing page (which suggests it is the only challenge currently available).

If you're going with a "color blind" palette, just make sure you don't accidentally make it worse. I've seen many people mistakenly avoid e.g. red/green completely and end up with hues that are even less distinguishable.

A good low-tech approximation is to just check your palette in gray scale and make sure e.g. red/green or yellow/blue don't appear too similar. It's likely not necessary that a user knows which color each color is supposed to be but they will likely need to be able to distinguish them at a glance. Also make sure when filling in a shape with color (such as letters) that the shapes are big enough (i.e. bold enough) -- colors are easier to distinguish when they cover a larger surface (more photons, better vision).

Re: Show HN: Nebula – Alarm clock where you grow stars while you sleep

#154

Post by pluma »

chrisux wrote: post #151
rocketsloth wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey really sorry about that, there are a variety of dismissal methods you can choose from including shake dismissal, qr scan, barcode scan and a simple stop button as well as this color tap. That dismissal method is just the one I went with for the screenshot, but there is something for everyone. I'm also looking in to giving users the option to change the color combination because I've received this feedback from tw…

Using text labels to associate the color chips could work too. Even color blind people know Ocean = Blue if given simple terms like you have. :)

Yeah, no. That works if the colors are easy to recognise but considering how many times I guessed wrong when facing two unlabeled hues I was able to distinguish but not clearly recognise (e.g. knowing one is green and the other red but guessing wrong because the green is brighter when normally the red would be brighter).

Re: Show HN: Nebula – Alarm clock where you grow stars while you sleep

#155

Post by rocketsloth »

pluma wrote: post #153
rocketsloth wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey really sorry about that, there are a variety of dismissal methods you can choose from including shake dismissal, qr scan, barcode scan and a simple stop button as well as this color tap. That dismissal method is just the one I went with for the screenshot, but there is something for everyone. I'm also looking in to giving users the option to change the color combination because I've received this feedback from tw…

Yeah, I was less concerned about the usability of the app itself (I assumed there are other challenges available and they're configurable) but it's a bad first impression, especially when it's the only challenge shown and the screenshot is repeated multiple times throughout the landing page (which suggests it is the only challenge currently available). If you're going with a "color blind" palette, just make sure you…

Very fair, I picked it cause of all the dismiss methods it's the most visually appealing since the others aren't really based on interacting with the UI much.

I'm working on some alternative palettes right now, and will do my best not to make it worse. One option I'm considering is allowing users to customize the palette entirely by picking 4 colors themselves from a list.

Also while I'm not sure if this is accurate, the android developer mode settings offer the ability to simulate a color space based on various color blindnesses (Monochromacy, Deuteranomaly, Protanomaly, and Tritanomaly) so I'm working with that too.

Re: Show HN: Nebula – Alarm clock where you grow stars while you sleep

#156

Post by rocketsloth »

chrisux wrote: post #151
rocketsloth wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey really sorry about that, there are a variety of dismissal methods you can choose from including shake dismissal, qr scan, barcode scan and a simple stop button as well as this color tap. That dismissal method is just the one I went with for the screenshot, but there is something for everyone. I'm also looking in to giving users the option to change the color combination because I've received this feedback from tw…

Using text labels to associate the color chips could work too. Even color blind people know Ocean = Blue if given simple terms like you have. :)

If I understand correctly though, I think that suggestion would defeat the purpose of the stroop test that this method is using to trick people, cause the whole idea is that the word ocean is supposed to mislead you and the color of the text can be green. You tap the text color, not the meaning of the word.

Re: Show HN: Nebula – Alarm clock where you grow stars while you sleep

#157

Post by rocketsloth »

zamber wrote: post #150
rocketsloth wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I only ever tested the parallax library on a very early build of the app which consumed far less ram overall just cause the app wasn't finished yet, so it's hard to give an exact amount. If ever I did any serious animation work and parallax backgrounds I'd leave the option to disable it for users who don't want it or find it impacts performance. I'd also have to do extensive testing with any third party library for p…

All I was able to find fast was this: https://github.com/nvanbenschoten/motion a bit outdated, not sure if it will work https://github.com/material-motion/material-motion-android a bit fresher, but development stopped halfway through > I'd also have to do extensive testing with any third party library for parallax cause it's so vital they release sensors properly and without fail when they are no longer needed to con…

Hey sorry for responding so late. Thanks for sharing those libraries, I'll take a look at both. The one i used before was actually quite tough to find and I remember it wasn't a very popular one. I have a release notes list now implemented in the app (as of about an hour ago) and I think i'm going to try the parallax thing soon cause you're really tempting me haha. I really like the idea of experimental settings and think I'm going to do it that way.

Re: Show HN: Nebula – Alarm clock where you grow stars while you sleep

#158

Post by rocketsloth »

bert_cwchang wrote: post #141
rocketsloth wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've gotten that request from quite a few people now and am looking in to ways to add that functionality to the alarm while preserving the overall idea of setting meaningful alarms with consequences. The reason behind the single button initially is that it forces you to consciously set your alarm which I felt would increase commitment. I completely understand that it isn't for everyone so am working on the multiple a…

Probably like this: let the user set the repeated alarms (like, Mon-Fri at 9am, Sat-Sun at 10am), yet the user is required to "confirm" the alarm each night if he/she really wants that alarm be effective. This way, the user can avoid the tedious "keep setting same alarm" each night, and the "conciously set the alarm" thing is still there.

That's an interesting idea. I've added it to the Trello board of ideas I'm considering for recurring alarms and appreciate your suggestion.

Re: Show HN: Nebula – Alarm clock where you grow stars while you sleep

#160

Post by telesilla »

rocketsloth wrote: post #2

Hi HN, I just wanted to add that I'm looking for any kind of feedback on the app. I've been working on it since graduating in may and released it a couple of days ago.

I've been using it for a week now and I'm a little disappointed in only one thing: if I wake up early and press the cancel button, I don't get my star! If there is an option to say, 'give me my star if i sleep x% of the total alarm time' I'd love that. I get woken up by kids, birds, whatever, very often and I'm afraid I'll never get a constellation at this rate.
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