Done is Done

I turned in the last version of the Alpine Nature Center app in for a grade today. It no longer includes the reverse image look up, as Judy is working on a database that allows users to look up flowers by color and when they bloom. When that database is done, we will be able to add that to the app.

I can't say enough regarding how proud I am of my sister. She and her husband moved to Utah a year ago after Ed retired. I spoke to Judy then about what she was going to do. I specifically asked her about volunteer work. She told me she couldn't volunteer as she wanted to travel and spend time with her grandchildren. She also told me that if she did volunteer she couldn't do it half-heartedly. She believes that if you volunteer you must be passionate.

Over the course of a year I have seen Judy's passion grow for the Alpine Nature Center. She and Ed have not just helped with the website. They have organized hikes and led volunteers in planting and watering. I am so thankful she has allowed me to join in the fun by combining my school work with her awesome volunteer work.

Here is the link to the final version of the app:

Leaving Well Enough Alone

I got my work done early this week so I could read my niece's new book. It just dropped this week and it is the final book in the series. I started reading it and it is soooo good, but I can never leave well enough alone :(

So even though I've worked really hard and I totally deserve to read for pleasure, I keep revisiting my app. Here is the QR code to what I thought was my final draft.

Scroll lower for the QR Code for the new BETA version

Unfortunately, a different, but just as lovely niece on this side of the pond said she wished the app could help with plant identification, and my instructor had given me a tip on how to do this. I also wanted a drawing app for said niece's kids. So here is another beta version. There are a couple things I don't like about this version. Try it out and let me know... leave the new features in or take them out.

QR Code for the New BETA version

PS things I don't like: 

1) Coloring app. Needs original pictures so the Alpine Nature Center can freely distribute

2) Coloring app. I want it to save the drawings. It can save now, but if you restart the app and save again, the pictures will save over the old pictures. I could just remove the save feature.

3) The identify app has to launch Chrome for the necessary website to work. Most reverse image look up sites only work from a desktop. This works from a mobile device. Problem? In opening up Chrome, you leave the AlpineNatureCenter app and the only way back in is to open it from the icon.

** I'm looking for some feedback, Judy

The light at the end of the tunnel

My app for the Alpine Nature Center is nearing completion. I have a list of things I still need to do or debug

• Add a scoring element to the flower and bird quizzes
• Fix the game icon so it is a little cleaner and more attractive
• The first bird slide moves to fast. It shouldn't even change without someone clicking an answer
• Maybe add a photo submission feature. Android users can use Google Lens to identify a flower or plant from their phone. Once identified, the plant and identification could be uploaded to the Alpine Nature Center through an online form hosted on the website... This idea might not be added on this first iteration of the app, but could be added later.

If you would like to see where I am at on this app here is a qr code to download the app.

I like the new look of the quizzes so much I went into the AI2 program to grab a screenshot of the new quizzes. As you can see, they do not look the same in the designer view, so now I know how to fix the bird from "flying" by so fast. Thanks for helping problem solve that! You guys are the best :)

The Rise of Frustration

I had the app kinda ready to go, but I was unhappy with a few things. In trying to fix a few items, I have broken some features. I am hoping to fix them to be better, if not I will have to revert to my original process. This is annoying because I did not make a copy of my original set up. So I am kicking myself in the butt for not backing up (such a noob mistake)

Here is my first draft:

This is still a work in progress. I was given some good tips about fixing my quizzes. My other fixes include:

• Adding a link to MapMyWalk maps
• Getting GPS for certain trailheads
• Fixing up the look and feel of the app 
• Getting my caterpillar to look like it is moving

A lot of work remains but I am still hopeful I'll get it done :)

beginnings of a new app

I hope I am not biting off more than I can chew, but I have this idea for the Alpine Nature Center app.  The interface will look something like this (without the black guidelines):

I am planning to have static map of Lambert Park, an mini app that allows users to mark where they parked their car, a mini app to choose a trail head - complete with directions of how to get there from their current location, mini quiz on flowers and birds, a link back to alpinenaturecenter.com, and a pedometer. Phew. I need to get coding!!!

My sister Judy should be on her way back from the Holy Land, just in time to give me feedback and fetch me GPS coordinates. Stay tuned, this should be awesome :)

Back From Spring Break and thinking about music

Got back from Spring Break this week. And it looks like I will need another vacation from all of the travel I've put in over the last several weeks. I feel like my work and my school work have piled on me so high, it will take me an eternity to feel like I am no longer behind in everything. I was wishing I was back to just studying music while I made my app this week. My app shows that music was on my mind. I made a game for identifying music and composers. I named it Famous Composers.

I used some of my favorite pieces to play and my favorite composers. I decided to use a clip of me playing one of these pieces for this blog. Then, as I previewed the clip, I cringed at the mistakes I made out of nerves, and it all came flooding back to me that studying music was super stressful! Now I am glad to be where I am.

My app needed a little tweaking as the sound component did not work on all my peers' devices. It turns out the sound component is only good for sounds up to 10 seconds long. The player component is used for longer clips. I made the switch and hope that everything is working well now. Check it out if you want to hear some awesome music. The music is all keyboards and organs except for the Mozart piece -- just because Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is favorite, and even though I love playing Mozart, I've been told I don't have "the hands" for it. It's a love/hate relationship.

On a side note, Spring Break was awesome. We toured the southeastern side of Utah. I live on the southwestern side. We hit 5 different designated nature areas. We went to Bears Ears and offered our prayers. #ProtectBearsEars It's a marvelous addition to our National Park Areas!

For anyone interested - here is a QR Code link to the FamousComposers app so you can check it out on your android device.

Where'sMyCar Spring Break Style

This week I am closer to understanding what is needed for my sister Judy's Alpine Nature Center App. We designed a tracker app where the user can drop a pin and then map the directions back to the dropped pin from another location. I can see how this could be really helpful in a hiking map. I am taking this app for a test drive, so to speak. The kids and I left today for a cross country trek to Bear Ears National Monument. We made it as far as Monument Valley tonight. Tomorrow we will hike up to several of the cliff dwellings in Bears Ears.

My hypothesis is that the tracker will not be helpful in Bears Ears. Our cellular service ended hours ago. I really feel like we are two weeks from anywhere.

It is not super accurate to say that the cell service ended. It looks like our T-Mobile family plan is piggy backing off of Cellular One right now. That pretty much means we have phone service and sms, but no data. I was able to get the app to work in the hotel room because free wifi.

I am thinking this is not going to be a problem with the parks by Alpine Utah as this is a densely populated area with very good cellular service.

Anyway, here is a link to the URL to download this latest app. Future improvement will be to have the google map app open in its own screen to maximize the size of the map.