February 13, 2013

During my internship meeting I continued to work on creating my app with the help of my mentor. I have been experiencing some difficulties in how the information I want to include is being represented on the actual app. My mentor worked with me to look over the app to try and find a solution. We ended up finding a completely new alternative to express the information that will hopefully work.
Developing an original app is difficult at times, but I feel like I am beginning to really understand the programming involved in App Inventor. The future of my app is still to be determined (whether it will be able to adequately serve the purpose we hope it will), but I am gaining an immense about of knowledge about all the different aspects of App Inventor and the details it takes to create or even emulate a functional app.

February 20, 2013

During my internship, my mentor showed me some of the work that has been created either using the CSDT program or with using the mathematical principals as inspiration. The art that has been sent in shows how much the program has stayed with the students who have participated in it. The art ranges from using the concept of dilation to create a 3D poster to using the principles of Native American beadlooms to create ceramics pieces with a certain design that could be created using a series of algorithms. The artwork is being displayed throughout the building on many of the floors. It was really great to see that side of the program and not just the actual math that they were learning (through the pre- and post- tests). After looking at all of the pieces, I spent some times looking over the CSDT program again to understand the connections between the art and the software. This will help me when developing the app and deciding how to describe and display the art that will be included.

In the future, my mentor wants to expose me to the work that undergrads and grad students are doing in the field of computer science. This will allow me to get a new perspective on the different aspects of computer science and how the app I am creating plays into into the individual areas.

February 6, 2013

I was able to attend my internship for a shorter amount of time than usual this week (about an hour). At my meeting I continued to work on creating my app and had a discussion with Professor Ron Eglash about the different types of software that are available to create apps with. With the software I am using (App Inventor) the apps will only be able to be run on Android device, which leaves people who do not have an Android unable to interact with the app.  The Professor told me about other programs, for example processing.org, that use software that could be run on Androids and on Iphones. That software uses javascript and the app can either be accessed directly as an app or can be formatted to be run through a url. App Inventor has its limitations but features a drag and drop system that makes the system easier to understand. With processing I would have to type in exactly the right code in order for the app to do what I wanted it to do; this is out of my league at the moment but is exciting to think about.
This is a picture of the emulator I use to test what my app will look like and do on an actual Android. When I am home I do not have access to a phone that would work, but App Inventor has software that allows me to have a "pretend" phone on my computer. It is important to use the emulator in order to make sure that the configurations are right and that the commands you want it to do are working properly before you move on to something new.

January 30, 2013

This week I began the process of creating apps using App Inventor (a free program online that allows users to create Android apps). I will be working on creating an app that will provide information about the upcoming presentation at EMPAC about the CSDT program called "Algorhythms".  The exhibit will showcase work generated by the CSDT tools and a lecture series. The app will hopefully include information about the exhibit, the CSDT curriculum, exercises, and participants. It will also include images of some of the artwork that the students created. At the moment, I am learning how to use the software to create different types of apps. I will soon move into creating an original app that will provide the above purposes.