As a part of a basic Java programming class, I worked with two other students to program an app using Android Studio. The purpose of this app was to allow young children and grandparents to share photos and videos in a safe, simple, and secure way. The idea for this app was designed by Christina Pellerano and implemented by our student team. The steps we took together in designing and programming this app follows.
As a group our team worked together to determine what screens would be necessary in our app and how they would relate to each other. This is an early sketch.
First, we created a paper prototype which we then used to test features with children and older adults. This user research allowed us to modify our app early on and make changes. The video above demonstrates our paper prototype.
With our user research and feedback we planned all of the functional elements which would be needed in our final app.
From these requirements, one of our group members created a digital prototype which we used to guide us during the programming of our app.
The digital prototype is located here: http://loumlj.axshare.com/#p=home. NOTE: to see the digital prototype, the Axure setting must be set to "Portrait Phone (320 x 480 and below).
UML Diagram: As a team we developed a UML diagram of all of the objects and methods which are required for our app.
This is the FamCam app's process flow for a new user. After selecting the "new user" button on the landing screen, the user is invited to input their information, including their phone number, which would be used to identify them. Parents would input this information for their children and grandparents would input their own information. New users could then import phone numbers from their phone and on the backend a database would be searched to determine if their is a match, indicating that a family member the user knows is registered. The user could then add these family members to their family list and would be directed to the app's main home screen.
Once users are registered they would be able to view family member profiles and the pictures that are posted to their profiles. They are also able to post pictures to their own profile for their loved ones to see.
The java and XML code for our Android Studio project can be found on GitHub here:
FamCam App
In a class on Java programming, I learned basic Java skills and collaborated with classmates to program the "FamCam" app using Android Studio.
The FamCam app was created to connect geographically distant relatives with their children. In particular, we are interested in connecting grandparents to their grandchildren.
What is FamCam all about?
Our project would connect geographically distant relatives with their children, whether that is their grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or their own children. Children, especially under the age of 5, love seeing photos of their loved ones and themselves, often taking their parents smartphones and tablets to look at recent photos (Any parent will tell you that, it’s almost impossible to take the phone/tablet away from them once they start looking at photos).
Our application would provide a portal for children to see recent pictures that have been sent from close relatives in a safe, secure environment. This would allow children to stay connected with their distant relatives.
Note: This project is an extension of a project concept created by Christina Pellerano for SI 582 Winter 2014.
Who are the user groups?
For the purpose of this project, we’ll be focusing our application on children up to the age of 5 and grandparents.
Why is it important?
Many grandparents are geographically distant from their grandchildren in the United States, restricting their opportunities for interacting with them. Our application places grandchildren and grandparents at the forefront, giving both groups a simple interface in which they can use to upload and view photos at any time in a safe, simple, and secure environment..
Who are the competitors?
Facebook: Grandparents can sign up Facebook pages and parents can post their child’s photos on Facebook pages for grandparents. Instagram: Parents can post their child’s pictures on Instagram and share with grandparents. Skype: Grandparents can participate in video chats with their grandchildren via Skype. Children entertainment Apps: Apps like “Elmo Calls,” which simulates the popular Sesame Street puppet speaking to children and other child-centered game apps.
Why is our idea better?
This application is more secure and private than applications like Facebook and Instagram because families would be restricted to connecting to each other. In addition, our application is the only child-centric program on its kind that provides a simplified interface that children can easily use to look at pictures and take pictures for their grandparents. By contrast, Instagram and Facebook are especially complicated for young children and older adults, leaving opportunities for accidental posts and security issues which are not present in our proposed app. Other child apps only focus on gaming rather than communication.
The java and XML code for our Android Studio project can be found on GitHub here:
