Be a Mechanic with Augmented Reality

I saw this cool video about how augmented reality could help you do simple car maintenance like oil change or wind shield water refill.

Of course you might want leave some major fixes to the experts, but I think I would gladly download this application to serve as tutorial teaching me how to work on minor issues on my own. I may not be a profession at fixing a car, but if the functionalities and processes in the application are understandable by a layperson, this implementation of AR tool could be really useful as educational tools.

I think it will be brilliant if AR tool implement on everyday living. Think about other potential idea for this type of augmented reality, such as AR instructions manual on how to build IKEA furniture. People who are not good at reading instructions sheet and assemble DIY furniture may find the AR tool useful if it point out the components and steps to build it. Perhaps it can also teach on how to debone a turkey. Dismembering the big bird might be intimidating and AR tool can lead you from head to toe.

The downside for this app is you only have two hands. It’s impossible for you to hold a tablet or phone and working on screw drives. If there are products like music sheet stand or tripod to hold mobile device, that should help the users. However it would a huge advantage if this technology integrates with Google glass or other goggle devices, where your hands would be free while the application gives you instructions.

Here a BMW augmented reality video dated few years ago. This video showed the possibilities of AR in working field. Perhaps just like the comments of the video said, maybe someday these gadgets and devices will become a standard to train trainees!

Mobile Native App Cross Platform Development on Single Framework

I did my mid-term paper on mobile web app, which supposedly would operate on any smart phone’s browser. The major benefit for mobile web app is its ability to cross platform since it work only via your browser. By using frameworks such as PhoneGap and Sencha Touch you can build a kind of hybrid between regular webpage and native app that work on mobile browsers and use native features of mobile phone. For instance geolocation can be used on Google Map and microphone feature can implement on search text box. In order to create web app native feel and integrate with native features, it would count on HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.

The idea of cross platform enticed me. However, since the web app work via browser there are bound to have some limitations that wouldn’t match with native app. Furthermore, few weeks ago I heard a speaker from the Mobile UX Camp said, in order to create native-like user experience such as continuous flow of scroll gesture, hundred lines code of JavaScript needed to be written to have the same effect. This is cumbersome for the developer and the performance might even act sluggish.

Then I read this.
Xamarin debuts iOS and Android app development inside Visual Studio for C# programmers

To say it in simple way, Xamarin is an integrated development environment that uses C# code to develop mobile native app, also it can work as plug-in on Microsoft Visual Studio. C# Developers can now use Xamarin to create iOS and Android applications.You can have different UI depend on the platform, but the code behind can be the same and written in C#.

The concept to develop native apps that cross multiple platforms via a single framework intrigues me. In the past (?) time, applications on certain platform have to be coded by its dedicated language, Objective-C for iOS, Java for Android, and C++ for Windows. Each platform also has their own main framework, Xcode for iOS, Eclipse for Android, and Visual Studio for Windows. For developer, the burden to learn and familiarize with these abundant of computer languages and frameworks seems like a never ending journey. It would be awesome if I could use one coding language to create cross platform native app!

Back in college I had learned Java and Visual Basic. When I worked as web developer I fumbled with C#, which turned out all right for me. When mobile apps became famed, new and old languages all wanted to take the lead of market, which made diverge of codes and user interface. Could Xamarin become the savior (for developer) for the code behind as we follow the UI guideline (AKA the bible) of Apple, Google, and Windows?

In recent years, the vast varieties of frameworks that work on development of mobile web app thrived and probably have reached its climax. Never had I thought there is a framework to build cross platform native app. Perhaps it will create another trend in the future, and become the foundation to develop mobile solution.

Xamarin
http://xamarin.com/

Find the North Star via mobile devices

When I was 7th grade, I was astounded by the sight of milky way galaxy under the sky of Australia. Because the lack of knowledge, I could only recognize the Crux. Then as I made it to freshman, there were times I took girl(s) or boy(s) out just to see the star. All I could distinguish was Orion's Belt, the Big Dipper, and the w of Cassiopeia. Polaris was very hard to identify due to light hazard of metropolis.

Two free star charts on iOS

In old-fashioned way, we had to use the star chart and compass to identify the stars. Thanks to modern technology, we now can install the digital star chart onto our mobile devices. What's more, with augmented reality, mobile star chart can do all the works on finding the stars and leads us toward the star we want to look up. By using geolocation, mobile devices are able to tell the current position and let the app load current star map. Then with gyroscope, we are able mimic our device as a globe sphere and rotate to find the stars and constellations. I tried two free star charts, surprisingly they all worked even with no Internet connection. Although the free version have limitations on what to see, as a novice I think it should be enough. The upgraded version seems have different wonderful features such as unlock all constellations and their facts, follow the satellites, and augmented reality (more!?). For people who love to watch stars and want to learn more about the sky, buy the full version of the app would let them find their favorite star whenever wherever.

Night Sky Lite doesn't have augmented reality feature, but it offers all 88 constellations. Another downside is the app can't lead you to the star or sign you're trying to find.

SkyView free version have augmented reality and the 12 signs of zodiac with its drawing, plus Hubble telescope and International space station. The app can only navigate to the sun, moon, and zodiac signs.

Safeway mobile app - when ads and coupons goes mobile

This might sound like a housewife, perhaps house-husband, but the Safeway mobile app has been really helping me on saving money on groceries. The Safeway Just for U is the loyalty program brought by Safeway. By adding the e-coupons into your Safeway card(s), you can get the discount just like using paper coupon. The program save the time to search and cut-out paper coupon, but customer could use both e-coupon and paper coupon at the same time. Hooray for accumulate the discounts! (Discount accumulation never happens in Taiwan. Can you imagine how shocked it was when I learned there are things like multiple coupons or additional 30% off for something that’s already 50% off?)

Safeway app on iPhone

I’ve found the mobile app extremely helpful to look up for nearest Safeway, the weekly ads, and current discounts, and its navigation is pretty easy too. The mobile app on iPad gives full spectrum of view on the merchants, which I like the best. The app for iPhone is a bit harder to use, which the view is limited to a few items per scroll. Somehow because there are two different e-coupon systems, the Coupon Center and Personalized Deal, the coupon lists in these two have to be view separately. On the other hand the mobility brought by iPhone is very handy. Take the iPad out in Safeway is impractical and it adds extra weight. (Been there, done that. Now I always write groceries list down first.)

iPad

iPhone

On the contrary, the use of Just for U portal through the main website is cumbersome. The data list on the website is not automatically categorized like the one on mobile app. For some reason I don’t know why I have had trouble on Google Chrome browser, but worked fine on Internet Explorer. All the teeny-tiny bits on lack of usability might just drive the valuable customers away from its website. No wonder that according to Safeway CEO Steve Burd, mobile users use Just for U 50% more often than those who are confined to desktop devices (Johnsen, 2012).

Safeway website, Just for U on Google Chrome

As a student (who’s just trying to save money) I’m always paying attentions to different grocery stores’ prices. Having these ads going paperless not only helps me constantly updated, it also helps being environmental friendly. In fact Safeway is even considering stop print its ad by end of 2013 (Zwiebach, 2013). With the combination of mobile app and loyalty program, Safeway has caught up the trends and draw customers.
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Works Cited

Johnsen, M. (2012, 7 19). Safeway's Just for U loyalty card program will bolster sales through rest of year. Retrieved from Drug Store News: http://drugstorenews.com/article/safeways-just-u-loyalty-card-program-will-bolster-sales-through-rest-year

Zwiebach, E. (2013, 2 21). Just for U Could End Print Ads: Safeway. Retrieved from Supermarket News: http://supermarketnews.com/retail-amp-financial/just-u-could-end-print-ads-safeway