The presentations were yesterday! We got to present in front of judges not related to the class, and our group came up... short! We didn't get one of the two awards handed out, but overall I still think we presented a good project. Ours was the only mobile app, while everything else was a website. We also had a video in our presentation which nobody else did. Finally, I think our one-sheet was the most unique, since we made a brochure instead of a normal one-sheet. So, while we may not have won, I think we presented the most unique project.
We slipped up a couple of times while answering the judges' questions, but this was expected since it was a high stress environment. Though we said a couple of things we shouldn't have, overall our we answered our questions knowledgeably and effectively.
The two winners were Visual Scheduler and Mechanapp, and they were both excellent. Visual Scheduler, I believe, was the best idea. It had a clear and direct function with little to no competition, and as a student I know the customer base is very interested. Mechanapp had the best presentation, with a well rehearsed speaker (James Vickers) leading the show. Both of these projects were great, and my hat is off to them.
The semester has been a good one. Even though we didn't win our project was my favorite of all of them. I learned a ton about Android and developing in general, and I wouldn't do it any differently. To all my readers, this is my last blog, but thanks for checking in!
I will update if I start a new CS blog on this account.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Friday, May 9, 2014
Thoughts on Other Projects: Demigod
Demigod is a stat tracking app online that allows you to track personal stats about yourself. Basically, you can track stats about your fitness, nutrition, or brain (or mental exercises). There are certainly a lot of other stat tracking apps out there, but this one tries to combine all self improvement stats into one convenient website where you can go to track everything. Their presentation did a good job of convincing me that the United States (myself included) should do a better job of tracking their nutrition and fitness, and how this site can assist in that.
The site looks very slick and it does look easy to pick out exercises for you to do for a week. It also seems that it does encourage you to do these exercises by "leveling up" your character the more stuff you do. This gives you a sense of accomplishment when you finish one of the challenges and puts it permanently into your profile, making you want to do another challenge for the next week. I think it's really cool how they split the challenges into three categories (nutrition, fitness, brain). This makes it easy for someone who's really only interested in one of these things to still use the website. The site even has challenges for quitting smoking, or other unhealthy vices, which seems really nifty.
My main problem with the site is that it requires manual data entry on your computer, i.e. you have to log on to the site on your computer and enter that you actually followed up on the challenges. The problem with this is it makes people not want to use it if they did do a challenge but forgot to input that they did. Or if they don't use the computer much, it can be tough. I really do think this should be a mobile app. It's easier for people to pull out their phone right after working out or something and entering that they did than it is to log in at home. However, this is a very minor complaint. Most people who wouldn't want to enter their stats on the computer probably wouldn't sign up for it in the first place so it is unlikely a target demographic.
Overall, this is a very nifty app. I could see myself using this if I was trying to get a bit healthier, which I may need to do. The team worked super hard on the site, and it definitely shows, it looks very polished and professional. Watch out for these guys at the final presentation.
The site looks very slick and it does look easy to pick out exercises for you to do for a week. It also seems that it does encourage you to do these exercises by "leveling up" your character the more stuff you do. This gives you a sense of accomplishment when you finish one of the challenges and puts it permanently into your profile, making you want to do another challenge for the next week. I think it's really cool how they split the challenges into three categories (nutrition, fitness, brain). This makes it easy for someone who's really only interested in one of these things to still use the website. The site even has challenges for quitting smoking, or other unhealthy vices, which seems really nifty.
My main problem with the site is that it requires manual data entry on your computer, i.e. you have to log on to the site on your computer and enter that you actually followed up on the challenges. The problem with this is it makes people not want to use it if they did do a challenge but forgot to input that they did. Or if they don't use the computer much, it can be tough. I really do think this should be a mobile app. It's easier for people to pull out their phone right after working out or something and entering that they did than it is to log in at home. However, this is a very minor complaint. Most people who wouldn't want to enter their stats on the computer probably wouldn't sign up for it in the first place so it is unlikely a target demographic.
Overall, this is a very nifty app. I could see myself using this if I was trying to get a bit healthier, which I may need to do. The team worked super hard on the site, and it definitely shows, it looks very polished and professional. Watch out for these guys at the final presentation.
Thoughts on Other Projects: G.E.R.A
G.E.R.A., or the Global Emissions Reduction Alliance, is a gamified carbon tracking website that allows users to input real data from their actual carbon emissions, and also encourages them through mini-games to reduce these emissions in real life. What's really great about this site is that it is trying to make a difference in the real world. Some of the apps are for convenience or entertainment, whereas this app is actually trying to address a real world problem, and that's admirable.
The stat visualization on the website looks really good. Since users can enter their data, the team has created tools to help visualize their carbon emission history, and I think this will help users to see how much they've improved, or if they have. Most of the users on the site will want to improve their carbon emissions, it's unlikely that people will be playing the game without any motivation. This tool just helps them keep track of everything, and gives them little directed incentives, which is really all people need to get going in the right direction.
The site is a little too dark sometimes, which makes the text a little hard to read. The team slightly fixed this by making a translucent background, but the site (at certain points) doesn't look super visually appealing, mostly because of color rather than art style. As well, I wish I knew what the games looked like. From what I can tell, the "games" are just something like "reduce your carbon by 2% this week" with data entry from the user, which isn't super exciting. Though, I don't really know how you could make it more exciting, so I can't really blame them.
Overall, I think this app is very good. I think it is the most beneficial app to mankind out of all of the projects in the class, since it is actually trying to do good for the world.
The stat visualization on the website looks really good. Since users can enter their data, the team has created tools to help visualize their carbon emission history, and I think this will help users to see how much they've improved, or if they have. Most of the users on the site will want to improve their carbon emissions, it's unlikely that people will be playing the game without any motivation. This tool just helps them keep track of everything, and gives them little directed incentives, which is really all people need to get going in the right direction.
The site is a little too dark sometimes, which makes the text a little hard to read. The team slightly fixed this by making a translucent background, but the site (at certain points) doesn't look super visually appealing, mostly because of color rather than art style. As well, I wish I knew what the games looked like. From what I can tell, the "games" are just something like "reduce your carbon by 2% this week" with data entry from the user, which isn't super exciting. Though, I don't really know how you could make it more exciting, so I can't really blame them.
Overall, I think this app is very good. I think it is the most beneficial app to mankind out of all of the projects in the class, since it is actually trying to do good for the world.
Thoughts on Other Projects: Automaton
Automaton has succeeded in making a game that looks professional, and better yet, like something people would want to play. The idea for Automaton was to make a game that's fun but also teaches about computer science, not necessarily in a way that's strictly educational, but more in a way where you don't even realize you're learning. It looks like a puzzle game mixed with fundamentals of CS. You have to manipulate the pieces to create a for loop, or take the mod of a number, stuff like that.
I think what I really like is even if it's not teaching people how to program, it's teaching them how to think like a computer scientist. In computer science, you really have to think of things in a step by step fashion, and that's what the game is all about. Manipulating a system in a step by step way to get your desired result. No, it won't teach you the correct Java syntax, but it will teach you how to think about problems when you're writing Java.
The only thing I don't like about it, is that it looks very similar to Spacechem, another game like it that I've played. The gameplay is extremely similar. However, they've recognized this, and after all it's in the same genre, since the genre is a specific type of puzzle game. Automaton certainly has its own look and feel to it, it is nothing like a complete copy, so this is not a big issue.
Overall, I think Automaton looks amazingly polished for what it is. Nobody else made a game (at least a video game) for their project, likely due to the inherent obstacles that come with building a game from scratch. These guys have not only pulled it off, but they've made something excellent, despite the difficulties. This project will definitely be one to look out for in the final presentations.
I think what I really like is even if it's not teaching people how to program, it's teaching them how to think like a computer scientist. In computer science, you really have to think of things in a step by step fashion, and that's what the game is all about. Manipulating a system in a step by step way to get your desired result. No, it won't teach you the correct Java syntax, but it will teach you how to think about problems when you're writing Java.
The only thing I don't like about it, is that it looks very similar to Spacechem, another game like it that I've played. The gameplay is extremely similar. However, they've recognized this, and after all it's in the same genre, since the genre is a specific type of puzzle game. Automaton certainly has its own look and feel to it, it is nothing like a complete copy, so this is not a big issue.
Overall, I think Automaton looks amazingly polished for what it is. Nobody else made a game (at least a video game) for their project, likely due to the inherent obstacles that come with building a game from scratch. These guys have not only pulled it off, but they've made something excellent, despite the difficulties. This project will definitely be one to look out for in the final presentations.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Thoughts on Other Projects: Mechanapp
This application looks really good. The visuals are really nice, their seem to be pleasurable animations on everything which I really like. The idea is a good one, basically it helps you diagnose problems in your car based on a series of yes or no questions. It also uses weighted likelihoods to try to diagnose your problem more accurately and more quickly.
I really like this product, and think it has real market potential. Their idea is to make money by putting in targeted advertising into the product, which makes a lot of sense since their product is already targeting a specific demographic. The problem there is you have to gain momentum to get the attention of anyone who wants to advertise with you before you can make any money, however this is a problem for a lot of startups.
The presentation for these guys was great! They felt very relaxed and comfortable with their product, which is good. It makes me feel more confident in the product when I see them so comfortable with it. Also, it seemed that they had rehearsed the demo a few times so it went very smoothly and demonstrated all of the features quite clearly.
One question that I have, (and a reservation I have about the product) is how are all of the trees going to be implemented? Are all of them going to have to be manually entered? Are there separate trees for every car or are they all pretty much working with the same tree?
Despite all this, I think the product is great, and think it's a real contender for the best project award. Good luck to Mechanapp and its team!
I really like this product, and think it has real market potential. Their idea is to make money by putting in targeted advertising into the product, which makes a lot of sense since their product is already targeting a specific demographic. The problem there is you have to gain momentum to get the attention of anyone who wants to advertise with you before you can make any money, however this is a problem for a lot of startups.
The presentation for these guys was great! They felt very relaxed and comfortable with their product, which is good. It makes me feel more confident in the product when I see them so comfortable with it. Also, it seemed that they had rehearsed the demo a few times so it went very smoothly and demonstrated all of the features quite clearly.
One question that I have, (and a reservation I have about the product) is how are all of the trees going to be implemented? Are all of them going to have to be manually entered? Are there separate trees for every car or are they all pretty much working with the same tree?
Despite all this, I think the product is great, and think it's a real contender for the best project award. Good luck to Mechanapp and its team!
Thoughts on Other Projects: Visual Scheduler
These guys certainly made a product that people want. To be honest, I knew the scheduling tool for UNM was a pain but I didn't really know I wanted a new way to do it until I saw the visual scheduler. It just seems like it makes it so easy, compared to the current method. The schedule generator is genius and is definitely a feature I would use in the future.
The first presentation for this group was a bit weak. The demo was fine, the site (mostly) worked, and it certainly looked like a strong product, but I felt like the presentation wasn't super rehearsed and they demo'd a bit too long just to fill in time that they didn't use.
All that being said, the second presentation from them was way better. The demonstration didn't feel forced, the time felt natural, and they demo'd the schedule generator which was super cool. Overall, I think it was super improved and I'm confident it will be even better going into the final investor pitch.
I really like this group, and wish them the best with their final presentation!
The first presentation for this group was a bit weak. The demo was fine, the site (mostly) worked, and it certainly looked like a strong product, but I felt like the presentation wasn't super rehearsed and they demo'd a bit too long just to fill in time that they didn't use.
All that being said, the second presentation from them was way better. The demonstration didn't feel forced, the time felt natural, and they demo'd the schedule generator which was super cool. Overall, I think it was super improved and I'm confident it will be even better going into the final investor pitch.
I really like this group, and wish them the best with their final presentation!
Project wrapping up
It's interesting to view the project now that it all is wrapping up. It's no longer a looming fear in the distance, it's quite nearly an obstacle overcome. I'd be lying if I said there weren't nights when I thought we wouldn't finish it. I've had to pull quite a few all nighters working on this project, but it's unbelievable how much we've been able to accomplish in such a short time span. Sure, we only got one "simple" Android application done in 3 months time, but none of us even had Android experience going into this project. We jumped in head first, and I for one came out with a much better understanding of Android and how to use it.
Android wasn't what I was expecting. I will say that. It uses Java, but it definitely isn't Java. If you've used Java, it doesn't give you enough knowledge to just know Android, and may be quite confused going into it. However, I have started using a little bit of Java FX and it seems to use some of the Android paradigms. Since it Android is a very visual language (or perhaps I'm just taking advantage of a lot of the visual aspects) this relationship makes a lot of sense.
Being so close to the end makes me excited, and sad. Sad for the end of all the memories, excited for the prospect of moving on to new projects! Good luck to everyone working on their projects.
Android wasn't what I was expecting. I will say that. It uses Java, but it definitely isn't Java. If you've used Java, it doesn't give you enough knowledge to just know Android, and may be quite confused going into it. However, I have started using a little bit of Java FX and it seems to use some of the Android paradigms. Since it Android is a very visual language (or perhaps I'm just taking advantage of a lot of the visual aspects) this relationship makes a lot of sense.
Being so close to the end makes me excited, and sad. Sad for the end of all the memories, excited for the prospect of moving on to new projects! Good luck to everyone working on their projects.
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