The blog post explores the possibility of High Dynamic Range (HDR) emoji. The author notes that while emoji are widely supported, the current specification lacks the color depth and brightness capabilities of HDR, limiting their visual richness. They propose leveraging existing color formats like HDR10 and Dolby Vision, already prevalent in video content, to enhance emoji expression and vibrancy, especially in dark mode. The post also suggests encoding HDR emoji using the relatively small HEIF image format, offering a balance between image quality and file size. While acknowledging potential implementation challenges and the need for updated rendering engines, the author believes HDR emoji could significantly improve visual communication.
This project introduces a JPEG image compression service that incorporates partially homomorphic encryption (PHE) to enable compression on encrypted images without decryption. Leveraging the somewhat homomorphic nature of certain encryption schemes, specifically the Paillier cryptosystem, the service allows for operations like Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) and quantization on encrypted data. While fully homomorphic encryption remains computationally expensive, this approach provides a practical compromise, preserving privacy while still permitting some image processing in the encrypted domain. The resulting compressed image remains encrypted, requiring the appropriate key for decryption and viewing.
Hacker News users discussed the practicality and novelty of the JPEG compression service using homomorphic encryption. Some questioned the real-world use cases, given the significant performance overhead compared to standard JPEG compression. Others pointed out that the homomorphic encryption only applies to the DCT coefficients and not the entire JPEG pipeline, limiting the actual privacy benefits. The most compelling comments highlighted this limitation, suggesting that true end-to-end encryption would be more valuable but acknowledging the difficulty of achieving that with current homomorphic encryption technology. There was also skepticism about the claimed 10x speed improvement, with requests for more detailed benchmarks and comparisons to existing methods. Some commenters expressed interest in the potential applications, such as privacy-preserving image processing in medical or financial contexts.
Summary of Comments ( 11 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43717606
Hacker News users discussed the technical challenges and potential benefits of HDR emoji. Some questioned the practicality, citing the limited support for HDR across devices and platforms, and the minimal visual impact on small emoji. Others pointed out potential issues with color accuracy and the increased file sizes of HDR images. However, some expressed enthusiasm for the possibility of more vibrant and nuanced emoji, especially in messaging apps that already support HDR images. The discussion also touched on the artistic considerations of designing HDR emoji, and the need for careful implementation to avoid overly bright or distracting results. Several commenters highlighted the fact that Apple already utilizes a wide color gamut for emoji, suggesting the actual benefit of true HDR might be less significant than perceived.
The Hacker News post "HDR‑Infused Emoji" discussing the blog post about HDR emoji generated a moderate amount of discussion, with several commenters exploring various aspects of the topic.
Some users questioned the practical value and necessity of HDR emoji, particularly given the small display size and limited dynamic range of most devices where emoji are commonly viewed. One commenter pointed out the irony of using HDR in such a small format, suggesting it's akin to "HDR for ants." Another user questioned whether the perceived benefits would be noticeable at all, especially on devices not equipped with HDR displays.
Others expressed skepticism about the technical implementation and potential compatibility issues. Concerns were raised about the increased file sizes of HDR emoji and the potential impact on performance and bandwidth usage. One commenter highlighted the lack of widespread adoption of HDR across platforms, raising doubts about the practicality of the technology for emoji. Another user suggested that the extra data required for HDR might negate the benefits of small emoji file sizes.
Several commenters discussed the existing challenges with emoji rendering and consistency across different platforms. One user noted the already-existing issues with emoji variation and how HDR could potentially exacerbate these problems. Another pointed out that improving the basic rendering and consistency of emoji across platforms should be prioritized over adding features like HDR.
A few commenters explored the potential future applications of HDR emoji, suggesting that they could be useful in augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) environments. One commenter speculated about potential applications in messaging apps like iMessage, though acknowledged the current technical limitations. Another suggested the potential for animated stickers with HDR, potentially opening up new avenues for creative expression.
There was also a brief discussion about the technical details of HDR, with one user explaining the limitations of the Rec. 2020 color space. Another comment offered insights into the RGB nature of emoji and the potential complexities of applying HDR to them.
Finally, some users expressed general disinterest or amusement at the concept, with one commenter sarcastically suggesting "HDR toast notifications" as the next logical step. Another user simply stated, "This is absurd," reflecting a sentiment shared by some regarding the practicality of HDR emoji.