Story Boarding App Video

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Luke Wakeford

Here are a few photos of a storyboard for my promo video, The video is going to be produced very quickly and hopefully be slightly humorous in it’s form, I hope to make a video that makes the app feel fun and that demonstrates the apps ability to create fun triggers and reactions.

The video will contain 3 examples of how the app can be used, and for each of these will show a trigger layout on the device (recorded / screen captured from the IOS simulator) and then the scene acted our filmed out where the device is used with the app running to following consequences.

Toast Detector
Sound to light
Motion Detection Prank

Camera and Counter

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Luke Wakeford

The last two inputs and outputs are completed, after researching for camera properties etc… I found a dictionary that can be found with each image from the camera’s buffer the dictionary contains useful information such as exposure time, ISO, overall brightness, this allowed me to sample each image as it arrived and detect the brightness that the camera is viewing with a useable integer.

The image above also demonstrates the counter output, I have also integrated a Sajax web counter so that you can link the app to the website and view the counter online, the plan eventually for this is to allow a web link with an iframe that you can share or embed in your website for others to use.

This sort of integration demonstrates the extent at which this application is capable of sharing and transmitting information, the potential is there to add in many other outputs and link the phone up to outlets with endless possibilities for installations, arts, graphics, tech, stats, data logging.

App Update

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Luke Wakeford

I have reached a stage with the development of my application where I am now crash testing and debugging certain parts of my code, I still have some content to write for the app such as documentation and template triggers that basic users will be able to play with before creating their own custom programs, however the core functionality – Loading, Saving, Sharing, Running programs is all working.

I have been working a lot on the apps integration with the website so that sharing triggers is made as simple and as streamlined as possible, I have taken in to account duplicate data and authentication via twitter.

I have learnt loads about how the iPhone functions when handeling different inputs and outputs simultaneously – I have create call backs and completion bools to notify the user when outputs are finished running and added in a program direction button that allows users to set the program to stop after each output or simply loops forever.

As I work I am constantly thinking of new additions to the program, there are vast possibilities that this app could encompass such as graphics, midi, automated technologies, accessories, location based data.. However I am having to limit myself so that I can work effectively within the time constraints but still produce the most feature rich application that I can!

Here is a screen shot of my task management and calendar, Time planning is what has kept me on track with this project.

The next few weeks should be testing and will see me complete my Professional Development along with my Extended Major Project.

Educational Tool

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Luke Wakeford

I have recently been reflecting on the purpose of my application, most of the uses i have found are more for basic teaching, learning of functions and statements than actual practical application in everyday use.

The app can be seen as a fun detection application which could potentially sell for its comedy value and ability to process information.

There is a lot of potential for expansion of my idea, in that the application could include a lot more graphic output and advanced options for each output, however within the time given I am limiting the project to be just a simple tool that includes educational guides/tutorials for learning the basics of programming.

New Save Structure

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Luke Wakeford

I wrote a post a while back that talked about how I was going to save my programs on the phone and enable sharing of the programs easily using a CSV structure. The plan is to save the inputs and outputs as a small string of text and then by recalling this structure I can show these programs anywhere on any device and on any web browser.

The old post is here > http://ba.wezdezign.com/nsdictionary-structure/

The old structure looked like this inputID,ruleSHORT,userData,outputID

what I have come to realise is not only do I need more information than this, I need to make it easy to recall and function, the way I have mixed the use of ID’s and SHORT names is not very good practice, So I have revised this structure and will now be using the following.

program_name,speed,inputid,ruleid,uservariable,outputid,outputvariable

Keeping all the structure neat at this point will allow the program to be easily modified at a later date and mean i can sleep well at night. Bellow is a little screen shot of my save function.

Essentially all this function does is collaborate all the variables from various parts of my program and parse them in to on CSV (Comma Separated Value) string.