Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login
Show HN: I built a fun AI tour guide into Google Street View (streetwhip.com)
8 points by rohanm93 13 days ago | hide | past | favorite | 8 comments
I love culture + travel, and one of my favorite pastimes is dropping into random streets on Google Street View. I just LOVE getting a tiny snippet into how people live, the architecture, and discovering hidden corners of places I'll probably never visit. I'm kinda weird like that.

When AI came along, I started asking it to explain what I was looking at - and I learned a ton. I couldn't stop using this combo.

So I built Streetwhip. It's kinda like reverse Geoguessr - instead of guessing where you are, you get educated about places as if you had a smart local guide with you.

What used to be just "some random street in Buenos Aires" becomes a rich learning adventure about Argentine architecture, why things look the way you are, and stuff about the history and way of life.

I've been having so much fun with it. I LOVE when I'm on an ordinary looking street and suddenly I find out there's a WILD historic story behind why the architecture is a certain way.

A couple of tips: - make sure you log in! If you don't, things aren't really real-time (I had to do this because Street View's API costs can get expensive and this is just a fun hobby project for me). - play around with the categories - they're fun. I'm curating in more places over time. - the search is not perfect - when it works its magical (totally llm-driven). But sometimes it isn't. - don't use this on mobile, it kinda sucks

Would love to get your thoughts on the concept and what you could see it turn into! :)

P.S. Oh and one of my favorite features: radio! You get a live radio from a stream in the country (please mute it if you get annoyed - but I promise you it makes things a whole lot more immersive)






This is so cool! It's a little clunky on the phone, but I had a great time. Thank you!

Thank you so much! Means a ton.

Totally agree - the mobile experience need a ton of work, I'll try to figure out a better UX.


did you hardcode all the locations or is truly random?

I curated the locations like I said in the post so it's a good first-time experience, but you can use the search to literally go anywhere!

Cool project!

This is cool!

Thanks dude!

Hi there,

First off, I want to say that the core idea behind this – exploring locations through Street View and providing contextual information about what you're seeing – is absolutely fantastic! That's a really unique and engaging way to learn about places, and it has a lot of potential. Great concept!

Now, regarding the user interface... to be honest, while the concept is strong, the current look and feel of the interface feels quite cluttered and dated. :( It feels like an "Indian style," and I think what you might be picking up on is a design approach that tends to pack a lot of information into distinct boxes with varying styles and colors, sometimes leading to visual noise rather than a clean, organized presentation. It doesn't strictly adhere to modern design principles of simplicity and consistency.

Here's a breakdown of why it feels less modern and what could be improved:

Why the Current UI Feels Dated/Cluttered:

1. *Inconsistent Visual Style:* There are many different box styles, border radii, background colors, icons, and font treatments all over the screen (the purple text box, the varied colored boxes on the right, the Explore tags, the buttons). This lack of uniformity makes it visually jarring and hard to process quickly. 2. *Poor Visual Hierarchy:* With so many prominent boxes and varying colors, it's not immediately clear what the most important information is. Everything seems to scream for attention equally. 3. *Clutter and Lack of Whitespace:* Elements are placed very close together, especially the boxes on the right and the "Explore" tags at the bottom. Modern design uses whitespace effectively to separate elements and improve readability. 4. *Dated Typography:* The fonts and the way they are used (varying sizes, weights, mixing styles) don't feel contemporary.

*How to Make it Better in a Modern Style:*

The goal is to create an interface that is clean, intuitive, easy to read, and visually appealing, guiding the user naturally through the information.

1. *Simplify the Layout:* * *Reduce the number of distinct boxes:* Can some of the information be combined or presented more subtly? * *Use consistent containers:* If you need boxes or cards, make them look the same – consistent borders, shadows (if any), and background. * *Prioritize information:* What's the most important thing a user should see (probably the ___location and the Street View)? Make that prominent. Group related secondary information logically.

2. *Establish a Consistent Color Palette:* * Choose 2-3 primary brand colors, plus neutrals (whites, grays, blacks). * Use color meaningfully and sparingly, not just to differentiate every piece of content. For example, maybe use color for buttons, highlights, and key interactive elements, and use neutrals for background containers.

3. *Choose Modern Typography and Use it Consistently:* * Select one or two clean, modern fonts that are easy to read on screen. * Use a clear system for font sizes and weights (e.g., large bold for titles, standard for body text, smaller for captions). This creates a strong visual hierarchy.

4. *Use Whitespace Effectively:* * Add more padding inside elements and margins between them. This gives the interface "room to breathe" and makes content easier to scan.

5. *Refine Interactions and Elements:* * Ensure buttons have a clear, modern style and hover states. * Icons should be consistent in style (e.g., all outline, all filled). * Consider subtle animations or transitions where appropriate (but don't overdo it).

In short: Focus on cleanliness, consistency, and clear hierarchy. Think about popular modern apps – they often use flat design or subtle depth, clean typography, minimal color palettes, and plenty of whitespace to make the content stand out.

Your idea is genuinely interesting, and bringing the UI up to a modern standard would make it so much more inviting and user-friendly!

Hope this feedback is helpful!




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: