Points: 2

# Comments: 0

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47194994

Points: 13

# Comments: 2

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47100550

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

My background is not in CS, but in the fish market. However, in the early days of the web, I managed the hosting for [Crimson Room](https://en.wikipedia.org), one of the original "Escape the Room" games. That experience taught me a simple truth: if the content is meaningful and engaging, the world will respond.

Today, I see young people in Japan and elsewhere giving up on social change because the "cost-performance" of traditional protest feels too low, or the risks too high. I want to change that.

The *Virtual Protest Protocol (VPP)* is my attempt to build a "digital town square" that is:

1. *Healing Social Division:* Modern discourse is broken by "For vs. Against" binaries. VPP introduces an *"Observe"* mode, allowing the silent majority to manifest their presence and concern without being forced into polarized camps. It visualizes the scale of the "unspoken" public will. 2. *Low-spec friendly:* So anyone with a $50 smartphone can participate. 3. *Resilient:* A protocol that can be hosted anywhere, making it harder to shut down. 4. *Visually powerful:* Thousands of avatars moving together creates a psychological impact that a simple "like" button cannot achieve.

I am 75. I don’t have 20 years to learn every modern web stack, but I have the vision and the initial specs. I am looking for "architects" who can help refine the cell-based grid system and "builders" who believe that digital activism needs a dedicated, open-source infrastructure.

I'll be here to answer any questions. Thank you for taking a look at a project from an old fishmonger.

I am a 75-year-old former fishmonger from Japan. Currently, I work at the compensation desk for the Fukushima nuclear disaster (TEPCO). Witnessing deep social divisions and the limitations of bureaucracy firsthand, I realized we need a new way for people to express their will without being "disposable."

To address this, I’ve designed the *Virtual Protest Protocol (VPP)*. It’s an OSS framework for large-scale, 2D avatar-based digital demonstrations. I recently shared this with the *Open Technology Fund (OTF)* and received an encouraging "This is great" response. Now, I am looking for the HN community's expertise to turn this spec into a reality.

*The Concept:* * *Beyond Yes/No (Avoiding Polarization):* Introducing an *"Observe"* status. Modern social media forces people into binary "For or Against" camps, deepening social division. VPP allows the silent majority to participate by simply "being there," visualizing the scale of public concern without forcing a polarized stance. * *Cell-Based Scaling:* To handle thousands of participants, avatars are managed in "cells" of 50 units. New cells instantiate as the crowd grows, ensuring compatibility with low-spec devices and low-bandwidth environments. * *Privacy by Design:* We only collect anonymous attributes (age/gender/region). All event-specific data is wiped immediately after the demonstration. * *OIN Membership:* We have joined the [Open Invention Network (OIN)](https://openinventionnetwork.com) to ensure this remains a patent-free global public good.

*Why I’m doing this:* At 75, I belong to the generation that will soon "retire" from society. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to leave a better infrastructure for the next generation?one that isn't burdened by the financial and social "debt" we've accumulated. I am not looking for personal gain; I want this to be a sustainable, global infrastructure.

*GitHub:* https://github.com/voice-of-japan/Virtual-Protest-Protocol/b... *Project Site:* https://voice-of-japan.net

We are looking for collaborators with expertise in: * Scalable Web Architecture (Node.js, Go, etc.) * High-performance Canvas/WebGL rendering * AI-based real-time moderation (LLM integration)

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47014380

Points: 8

# Comments: 1

I’m a 75-year-old former fishmonger from Japan, currently working on compensation claims for victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Witnessing social divisions and bureaucratic limitations firsthand, I realized we need a new way for people to express their will without being “disposable.”

To address this, I designed the Virtual Protest Protocol (VPP) ? an open-source framework for large-scale, 2D avatar-based digital demonstrations.

Key Features:

Beyond Yes/No: Adds an "Observe" option for the silent majority

Economic Sustainability: Funds global activism through U.S. commercial operations and avatar creator royalties

AI Moderation: LLMs maintain civil discourse in real-time

Privacy First: Minimal data retention ? only anonymous attributes, no personal IDs after the event

I shared this with the Open Technology Fund (OTF) and received positive feedback. Now, I’m looking for software engineers, designers, and OSS collaborators to help implement this as a robust project. I am not seeking personal gain; my goal is to leave this infrastructure for the next generation.

Links:

GitHub: https://github.com/voice-of-japan/Virtual-Protest-Protocol/b...

Project Site: https://voice-of-japan.net

Technical Notes:

Scalable 2D Rendering: 3?4 static frames per avatar, looped for movement

Cell-Based Grid System: Manages thousands of avatars efficiently, instantiates new cells as participation grows

Low Barrier to Entry: Accessible on low-spec smartphones and low-bandwidth environments

We are looking for collaborators with expertise in:

Backend/Real-Time Architecture: Node.js, Go, etc.

Frontend/Canvas Rendering: Handling thousands of avatars

AI Moderation / LLM Integration

OSS Governance & Project Management

If you’re interested, have technical advice, or want to join the build, please check the GitHub link and reach out. Your feedback and contribution can help make this infrastructure real and sustainable.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46923337

Points: 11

# Comments: 5