Hacker News: mparas

Show HN: A language app where you act out words with phone sensors to learn them

mparas — Fri, 29 May 2026 09:46:39 +0000

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48321071

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

New comment by mparas in "Show HN: Learn languages by tilting, shaking, and smiling at your phone"

mparas — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:54:55 +0000

I'm a solo dev from India who moved to Berlin a few years ago. I built Sensonym because I was bored with every language app feeling the same, and I wanted to find out what happens when you make vocabulary learning physical.

The idea is that tying vocabulary to physical actions makes it stick better. So I tried mapping every word to a physical action using phone sensors. Some examples:

- To learn the word for "drink", you tilt your phone toward your mouth like a glass

- To learn the word for "blow", you blow into the microphone

- To learn the word for "listen", you bring the phone to your ear

- To learn the word for "eat", you plug in your charger

- To learn the word for "remember", you take a screenshot

The app contains two modes: story mode, where sensor interactions and vocabulary are woven into the narrative, and training mode for quick single-word drills.

Sensonym supports 10 languages and is live in Germany (iOS + Android), expanding soon. If you're outside Germany, you can sign up on the website to get notified when it launches in your region or contact me at hello@sensonym.com to get a beta test invite.

I would love to hear your honest feedback. What do you think of the general approach (sensor interactions and stories)? Do the sensor-word mappings feel intuitive or forced? Any interaction ideas I'm missing?

Show HN: Learn languages by tilting, shaking, and smiling at your phone

mparas — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:54:24 +0000

Article URL: https://sensonym.com

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47846707

Points: 2

# Comments: 1

New comment by mparas in "Ask HN: What are you working on? (April 2026) (Non AI)"

mparas — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:32:36 +0000

I am building Sensonym (https://sensonym.com), a vocabulary learning app that uses phone sensors (gyroscope, camera, mic, accelerometer) to tie physical interactions to words. For example, you tilt your phone like a glass to learn "drink", shake your phone to learn "earthquake", charge it to learn "eat". The idea is that these associations help improve recall.

I've just launched it on iOS and Android in Germany with support for 10 languages. Happy to receive any feedback

New comment by mparas in "Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (April 2026)"

mparas — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:59:24 +0000

Thanks! I agree!

New comment by mparas in "Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (April 2026)"

mparas — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:11:58 +0000

Building Sensonym (https://sensonym.com), a vocabulary learning app that uses phone sensors (gyroscope, camera, mic, accelerometer) to create physical interactions tied to word meanings. Based on embodied cognition research. I've just launched it on iOS and Android in Germany with support for 10 languages.

New comment by mparas in "Ask HN: Please restrict new accounts from posting"

mparas — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:19:35 +0000

I understand that something needed to be done. Still can't help but say that it's a pity. A blanket ban on new users posting doesn't seem right. There are many people like me who "followed" HN for a long time, but then decided to create an account recently to post and ask for feedback, only to see the submission get blocked.

New comment by mparas in "What's your biggest challenge as a founder?"

mparas — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:22:40 +0000

1. Distribution 2. Splitting time between family, day job, and building the product.

New comment by mparas in "Ask HN: What career will you switch to when AI replaces developers?"

mparas — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 17:05:48 +0000

What my parents always wanted - work for the government

New comment by mparas in "Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (March 2026)"

mparas — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:48:54 +0000

Working on Sensonym (https://sensonym.com), a language learning app that teaches vocabulary through physical phone interactions. Shake your phone to learn "earthquake," blow on it for "wind," smile for "happiness." Nearly 40 different interaction types using accelerometer, gyroscope, camera face detection, microphone, etc.

Built with React Native/Expo. The hardest part hasn't been the sensor code, but rather designing interactions that feel natural rather than gimmicky. Each word needs to map to a physical action that actually reinforces the meaning. Solo dev, live in German app stores now. Previously co-founded another language learning startup (Sylby, partnered with Goethe Institute), so this is take two with a very different approach.