Mobile App Development MOBILE APP DEVELOPMENT PEARSON BTEC LEVEL 3 EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN IT Mobile App Development Contents Task 1: The intended users of each app, and how the users’ needs preferences and characteristics have been met .............................................................................................................. 2 Explain how the purpose of a mobile app and the needs, preferences and characteristics of the user affect its design and the provided features. ......................................................................................... 2 The impact of current technologies available on various mobile platforms and how ......................... 4 these have affected the way app has been designed and implemented. .............................................. 4 Analyze how the implementation and design of mobile apps are affected by the intended user, current technologies, and the purpose of the app. ............................................................................... 8 The aim of the app and the features that are required for it to achieve those goals are determined by its purpose. A social networking app would require features like a user profile, friend list, and message system, whereas an app designed to assist individuals in tracking their food and exercise consumption would need a food diary, barcode scanner, and calorie tracker. .................................... 8 The impact of current technologies available on various mobile platforms and how ......................... 8 these have affected the way app has been designed and implemented ............................................... 8 Task 2: You have been asked to develop a mobile app which will help children improve their mental arithmetic. ............................................................................................................................... 10 Create a comprehensive design for the mobile app which is suitable for multiple devices .............. 10 and considers alternative aspects of the design. The design should include user ............................. 10 requirements, visual designs, and technical documentation ............................................................. 10 Review your design with at least two other people in order to help you refine ............................... 15 improve it. ......................................................................................................................................... 15 Write a justification of the design decisions you have made, showing how they have .................... 16 helped ensure the app will meet the requirements identified in scenario.......................................... 16 It is possible to consider the fourth question's preview session. The design comprises a basic background, a distracting graphic that can prevent kids from paying attention to the app, and a 30second time limit for each question. In the updated version of the same question, I altered the background to a more vibrant theme and integrated it with vibrant colours to attract users. I also incorporated mathematical cartoon drawings to calm youngsters as they played the game, and the time limit also been increased. .......................................................................................................... 16 Task 3: Develop a mobile app that utilizes device functions. .......................................................... 16 1 Mobile App Development Create the app based on your design. Test the app using a number of different methods, including the test plans you created during the design and feedback from users. You should document your tests showing that important problems and errors have been identified and addressed. ................... 16 As the game begins, the easy first level is displayed above. In response to feedback I had received, I changed the time to its maximum capacity as it was mentioned in the criteria for easy. Next, I added a good theme background, making it more colourful and appealing. I then swapped out the images with various quotes and number images to make the game much more engaging for kids to play.................................................................................................................................................... 16 Gather and analyze feedback on your completed app from other people and use it to ..................... 20 optimize your app and produce an updated version. ......................................................................... 20 Write an evaluation of the design, development, maintenance, and optimization of your app, considering the completed app's effectiveness in comparison to alternative .................................... 21 solutions, the reasons why your solution was chosen and the extent to which it meets ................... 21 the requirements in the scenario. Your evaluation needs to be supported by evidence .................... 21 form all stages of the project, and it needs to reach conclusions and suggest future ........................ 21 developments. ................................................................................................................................... 21 Present evidence that you have shown individual responsibility, effective time- ............................ 22 management in your design and development of a mobile app, making high-quality justified recommendations and decisions. For example, you need to show how you have: ........................... 22 Bibliography ......................................................................................................................................... 24 Task 1: The intended users of each app, and how the users’ needs preferences and characteristics have been met Explain how the purpose of a mobile app and the needs, preferences and characteristics of the user affect its design and the provided features. The design and functionalities of a mobile app are heavily influenced by its intended usage as well as the requirements, tastes, and traits of its users. 2 Mobile App Development Clarity: By making everything plain through language and graphics, the interface prevents uncertainty and ambiguity. The user usually doesn't need a long onboarding process when using mobile apps with good user interfaces. Numerous people like to see recognizable elements, buttons, or calls to action. Common symbols, images, or colours that communicate messages, such as red for leave or delete, are considered familiar. Certain components of an interface may be recognizable even to someone using it for the first time. Speed is a component of responsiveness, as a top-notch user interface shouldn't lag or feel sluggish. By keeping the user informed of what's happening while a screen loads, for example, by telling them that data processing or a purchase has been confirmed, providing feedback will help improve the user interface. Consistency: It's crucial to maintain consistency throughout your application's UI so that users can identify usage patterns. Your users can leverage their newfound understanding of how specific elements of the interface function to access additional features and regions. Aesthetics: While it’s not necessary to make a user interface attractive for it to function correctly, making something look attractive will make the app more enjoyable. Locale: Localization is the process of translating and optimizing an app with the goal of making it work well with other languages other than its default. It can include different variants or even dialects of the same language spoken in different countries, which we call locales. Creating an app that will live up to consumers' expectations requires a thorough understanding of their needs and preferences. For instance, users seeking a schedule management app might prefer one that is simple to use and has an intuitive user interface, whereas users looking for a health management app might prefer one that is more customized and offers in-depth tracking of their health parameters. The goal of an app, as well as the requirements, preferences, and traits of its target audience, are very important factors in deciding the app's design and features. The app should be created to satisfy the requirements and expectations of its target audience and offer features that are pertinent and beneficial to them. The likelihood that the app 3 Mobile App Development The impact of current technologies available on various mobile platforms and how these have affected the way app has been designed and implemented. The technologies that an app can use depend on the mobile platforms it will be designed for (such as iOS, Android, etc.). For mobile consumers, there are two main deployment choices: Making native applications for all or a portion of the main mobile platforms. Creating a web application that is mobile-friendly. Native Apps There are several advantages that come with apps made for certain mobile platforms: A native application is one that is created specifically for a given operating system. You have to be aware that each of the platforms, whether iOS or Android, have a different system. So, if your intention is to make your app available on all platforms, you need to create several apps with the language of the operating system selected. Native applications are perfectly suited to take advantage of the special hardware and software features of mobile devices, such as GPS and localization tools, accelerometers, and touchscreens. Native access to the user interface enables a level of interactivity that is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve via a Web browser. The main advantage of this type of application is that they do not need an Internet connection to function. The installation and download of the native applications are done through the application stores. This makes your promotion process easier. Advantages of native applications • Sending notices or notifications to users. • It provides full access to the device. • It has visibility in the App Store. • Great user experience • Constant updates of the app. Disadvantages of native applications • Tendency to be more expensive than other options during the development phase. 4 Mobile App Development • Different tools, skills, and languages ?? for every target platform • The client code cannot be reused between the different platforms. Mobile Web Applications The following benefits of concentrating development efforts on Web apps accessible via mobile networks: A Web App is one of the types of a mobile application developed by an app development company with languages ?? well known to programmers, such as CSS, Javascript, or HTML. The Web App can be programmed independently of the operating system in which the application is to be used, so applications can run on different devices without the need to create multiple applications. These applications run within the device's web browser using a URL. Advantages of the Web App • Unlike the native ones, they do not need external approval to start. • The development process is quite easy and economical. • The user always has the option of accessing the latest version. 5 Mobile App Development • The base code is reusable on different platforms. • Responsive sites already designed can be reused. Disadvantages of the Web App • Limited access to device hardware elements. • The user experience is worse than the native app option. • Internet connection required. • A greater effort is needed for its promotion. Hybrid App (Native + Web) The types of mobile applications combine both native and web apps. The Hybrid App brings together the best of the Native App and the Web App and is developed with web app languages, that is, Javascript, HTML, and CSS. With the Hybrid App, it is possible to group the codes and distribute them in the app store. Applications can absorb traits from both native and Web applications in a variety of ways. Applications should use well-defined coping mechanisms like • Making a few HTTP queries to address loading difficulties on mobile devices. Advantages of the Hybrid App • The installation is native, but the development is done with the CSS, Javascript, and HTML programming languages. • Part of the device hardware can be accessed. • Use the same base code for different platforms. 6 Mobile App Development • You have the possibility to distribute it in the stores of Android and iOS. Disadvantages of the Hybrid App • Virtual design is not always related to the operating system in which it will be displayed. • The user experience is closer to the web application than the native app. Operating systems: A mobile operating system (mobile OS) is an OS built exclusively for a mobile device, such as a smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet or other embedded mobile OS. Popular mobile operating systems are Android, Symbian, iOS, BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile. Hardware: Mobile hardware includes mobile devices or device components that receive or access the service of mobility. They would range from portable laptops, smartphones, tablets Pc's, and Personal Digital Assistants. These devices will have a receptor medium that is capable of sending and receiving signals. Modern technologies have a significant impact on how mobile apps are designed and implemented. The design and implementation of their apps will be impacted by current technologies; thus, app developers must keep up with these developments. This will guarantee that the apps they create are modern technology-optimized and capable of offering the finest user experience. 7 Mobile App Development Analyze how the implementation and design of mobile apps are affected by the intended user, current technologies, and the purpose of the app. The target user, available technologies, and the intended usage of the app all have a considerable impact on the implementation and design of mobile apps. Intended user: Creating an app that meets the expectations of the intended use requires a thorough understanding of their needs, preferences, and personality traits. An app geared at younger users might, for instance, have a more up-to-date and aesthetically appealing design, whereas an app geared toward senior users might have a simpler and more uncomplicated design. The most recent technological advancements, including mobile platforms, hardware requirements, operating system updates, and network connectivity, have an impact on the creation and use of mobile apps. The advent of 5G network connectivity, for instance, may have an impact on the design of an app that significantly depends on network connectivity since the app can offer faster and more dependable data transfer. The efficiency of mobile app development and design can be increased by utilizing modern technologies including the most recent hardware requirements, operating system updates, and network connectivity. The user experience of an app, for instance, can be improved by using cutting-edge graphics and animations, whereas the scalability and dependability of the app can be increased by using cloud computing. The aim of the app and the features that are required for it to achieve those goals are determined by its purpose. The impact of current technologies available on various mobile platforms and how these have affected the way app has been designed and implemented These modern technologies are effective thanks to their designs and ways of application in a variety of mobile platforms: Java We all have heard enough about this object-oriented programming language. This easy-tohandle and highly secure language is the official language for building Android applications. Java offers ample of open-source libraries, excellent documentation, and community support, which helps developers to build different types of Android applications efficiently and 8 Mobile App Development effortlessly. Telegram, VLC media player, and Sea Weather are some of examples of the apps build using this language. Flutter Developed by Google, Flutter is an open-source mobile app development SDK (software development kit) that facilitates developers to create cross-platform applications. Yes, you read that right. By using Flutter, you can make an application that runs smoothly on both the Android and iOS platforms. The technology is highly demanded because people these days are preferring cross-platform applications over native applications that run only on a single platform. The technology uses Dart as the programming language to build native interfaces. It also relieves developers to write the entire code from scratch to develop a single app for two platforms. Google Ads, Xianyu by Alibaba, and Reflectly are the three popular mobile apps developed using Flutter. React Native Developed by Facebook, React Native is an open-source framework used to develop crossplatform applications for iOS, Android, Web, and UWP. The apps developed using React Native have native-like capabilities and can run on multiple platforms. Developers use ReactJS and JavaScript to create applications that witness skyrocketing success on different platforms. Myntra, UberEats, Facebook, and Airbnb are some of the apps that have been developed using this framework. Swift Swift, the general-purpose programming language, is developed by Apple Inc. for macOS, watchOS, tvOS, Linux, iPadOS, and a few other platforms. The language dedicatedly works with Cocoa and Cocoa Touch frameworks and C and Objective C codes written exclusively to develop iOS apps. Swift uses a safe programming pattern and offers exceptional features to make the complete iOS mobile app development process smooth. LinkedIn, Lyft, and Hipmunk are some of the examples of applications developed using this language. Kotlin 9 Mobile App Development Kotlin is used for developing highly advanced mobile applications. You can consider this cross-platform, statistically typed, and general-purpose programming language as the modern version of Java. It interoperates completely with Java and was initially designed only for JVM. Safety, clarity, and a large tool support are the features that make Kotlin a preferred choice for building Android applications. Trello, Coursera, and Evernote are some of the applications that have been created using Kotlin. Task 2: You have been asked to develop a mobile app which will help children improve their mental arithmetic. Create a comprehensive design for the mobile app which is suitable for multiple devices and considers alternative aspects of the design. The design should include user requirements, visual designs, and technical documentation The created app is a simple math app where there will be two number given we have to calculate the sum and choose it from the options given. The numbers will keep on changing until the allotted time given, we have to do as many questions as possible and points will be given based on the number of correct answers chosen. Below are the early simple designs for the kidsfriendly math gaming app and the corresponding code: 10 Mobile App Development 11 Mobile App Development 12 Mobile App Development 13 Mobile App Development 14 Mobile App Development Review your design with at least two other people in order to help you refine and improve it. The review of the design received from other people to help refine and improve the app are: Juhi - To draw kids in and keep their attention as they play the game and increase their level of enthusiasm, the design should be more colourful and have a better theme. Also add some kind of background music also. Daksh - Better numbers-related gifs or graphics should be used in the design, along with other mathematical procedures. Also use a lot attractive colours as well as background to attract more kids. 15 Mobile App Development Write a justification of the design decisions you have made showing how they have helped ensure the app will meet the requirements identified in the scenario The design comprises a basic background, there is no distracting graphic that can prevent kids from paying attention to the app, and a 30-second time limit for completing as many simple additions question as possible. In the updated version of the app we are adding other mathematical operations also, I altered the background to a more vibrant theme and integrated it with vibrant colours to attract users. I also incorporated mathematical cartoon drawings to calm youngsters as they played the game, and the time limit has also been increased. I have also include a good theme song and playful background music throughout the game. Task 3: Develop a mobile app that utilizes device functions. Create the app, based on your design. Test the app using a number of different methods including the test plans you created during the design and feedback from users. You should document your tests showing that important problems and errors have been identified and addressed. As the game began, the easy first level is displayed above. In response to feedback I had received, I changed the time to its maximum capacity as it was mentioned in the criteria for easy. Next, I added a good theme background, making it more colourful and appealing. I then swapped out the images with various quotes and number images to make the game much more engaging for kids to play. 16 Mobile App Development 17 Mobile App Development 18 Mobile App Development Testing: As the term suggests, Mobile App Testing refers to the process of validating a mobile app (Android or iOS) for its functionality and usability before it is released publicly. Testing mobile apps help verify whether the app meets the expected technical and business requirements. For successful mobile app testing, teams need to test apps across numerous screen resolutions, operating system versions, and distinct network bandwidths. This helps ensure that the app performs flawlessly across numerous device configurations when released publicly. Documentation Testing The beginning of mobile testing takes place from Documentation testing -preparatory stage. Even before the development of the app starts the testers are handed over screen layouts, navigational charts, and other requirements that are obscure on the design. In this phase, you need to analyze the requirements for wholeness and discrepancy. All the discrepancies found in this stage are required to be resolved before the development begins. Functional testing It helps you test whether your mobile application works as expected and in accordance with the requirement specifications. While you are performing functional testing for your app, keeps the following factors in mind: Business functionality of your app, like banking, social networks, ordering and delivery of food, education, tickets, the game industry, etc. Target audiences like companies, students, entrepreneurs, etc. Distribution channels like Google Play, direct delivery, App Store, etc. The basic validations that you need to test in functional testing are: Installing and running the application Fields testing Business functionalities testing Interruptions testing Constant users feedback testing 19 Mobile App Development Update testing Device resources testing Test Case No 1 Test Action Test Type Expected Outcome 1 Checking if the main menu bar works correctly Click on the options in the menu bar Normal 2 Checking if buttons are working Click on the desired button to check Normal The page would change to the next screen with the selected option. The screen would change based on the clicked button. Gather and analyze feedback on your completed app from other people and use it to optimize your app and produce an updated version. These are the game's first three questions. According to the final review, which was quite positive, all of the questions were excellently finalized and carried out. However, there were a few additional suggestions. The advice I was given was to give additional points after each question so that kids would be more eager to respond to the following one. As well as give bonus gifts in form of extra animations or stickers for kids who get high scores. In order to add a brief audio track that says "well done" at the end of each question that is correctly answered, I have done the following. 20 Mobile App Development Write an evaluation of the design, development, maintenance, and optimization of your app, considering the completed app's effectiveness in comparison to alternative solutions, the reasons why your solution was chosen and the extent to which it meets the requirements in the scenario. Your evaluation needs to be supported by evidence form all stages of the project, and it needs to reach conclusions and suggest future developments. Background and purpose Children frequently show little interest in learning and math-related problems, so we decided to improve management courses by developing a mobile app game for kids to play and learn from reports on the design and testing of prototype mobile gaming applications (apps) to increase student engagement and learning of math problems. Educational activities and settings The smartphone app was created to support the education of important kids-related subjects. Children were given access to this app after receiving math instruction. The purpose of allowing students to use the app was to make learning more engaging and effective. Survey results I conducted a survey, and 40% of people responded to it overall. 46.8% of respondents reported using the game app two to three times. Only 14.1% of those surveyed finished all 10 levels. The majority of players concurred that the game's description was clear and that it was simple to navigate while yet being engaging and enjoyable to learn. Increased interaction with your content is possible. People who used the gaming app more frequently had a better opinion of it. The majority of respondents downloaded the game app within two days (80%) and played up to four levels (68.5%), according to game app user data. Summary The game was generally well-liked by the kids. However, the way the app was created and put into use had a big impact on how well kids learned math. Thanks to all the questions, the font slides, the photos, and the interactive design, kids found math to be more exciting than ever before and are now able to advance using the app we created. 21 Mobile App Development Present evidence that you have shown individual responsibility, effective timemanagement in your design and development of a mobile app, making high-quality justified recommendations and decisions. For example, you need to show how you have: Add a reminder for every assignment. This was my go-to strategy for time management, and I set deadlines and reminders. Setting a reminder 15 minutes in advance of a task or session will help you prepare and gather your materials. Make a daily schedule. Make a list of the activities you have to complete today, and as you think of them, jot them down for the next programming and app designs. When you finish the list, be sure to check the tasks that have been completed. Each task should have a deadline. On the daily to-do list, enter the amount of time needed for each task. Stop when the timer expires and come back later if it doesn't finish. You might have a fresh start and a different viewpoint when you leave to take care of other obligations and then return. These were some of the methods I utilized to make sure I was devoting all of my time and attention to the app I was creating while also having the opportunity to pick up a lot of discipline rules and professionalism. These are some professional and moral standards I attained while creating my software. An individual's ingrained standards and fundamental values are referred to as their ethics. Ethics are used to distinguish between good and wrong, and they typically dictate how we act in daily life. 1. Integrity Honesty is among the most crucial working morals. In most cases, you can rely on employees who are honest. I learned this from the mentors who had assisted and advised me throughout my project. They defined a mentor as someone who upholds the greatest moral standards and constantly aspires to do the right thing. 2. Discipline Sometimes, even though we have aptitude in a certain sector of work, we lack the commitment and perseverance needed to complete the responsibilities that have been given to us. Instead of just finishing the activity in a certain amount of time and doing the bare minimum at the end, a task requires discipline 22 Mobile App Development to be performed properly. To guarantee that all deliveries and projects are finished on schedule, disciplined staff are crucial. 3. Fair and respectful No matter what level you are at, you must always act fairly and justly, especially if you are trusted in a leadership role. This ensures that the business will have a great workplace culture. No matter who they are or where they are, everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. 4. Responsibility and Accountability An employee with a strong sense of responsibility will show up for work on time and put out their best effort to finish the duties that have been given to them. To do. Employees may still make mistakes, so it's critical to accept responsibility for them, admit fault, and deal with the fallout. Additionally, in some circumstances, a lack of business ethics can easily harm your reputation due to the ongoing monitoring of your app's reputation and your easy access to relevant social media sites. Working with employees is ultimately the key to sustaining a good ethical culture inside a firm. Maintaining the integrity of your company. My app required a lot of corrections, and I learned from all of my previous steps, so I gave it my undivided attention and put the majority of my day into developing it. I learned and used these ethical behaviours while developing my app, and I dedicated about 7 hours per day for about 1 week to its development. 23 Mobile App Development Bibliography netsolutions.com [online] Available at: https://www.netsolutions.com/insights/mobile-app-features-users-want/ [Accessed 19 Jun. 2022]. forbes.com [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabrielshaoolian/2017/06/07/5-mobile-appfeatures-your-customers-want/?sh=1e08aaba47bf [Accessed 19 Jun. 2022]. Michael Page. (n.d.). 5 Tips to Better Your Time Management | Michael Page US. [online] Available at: https://www.michaelpage.com/advice/careeradvice/growing-your-career/5-tips-better-your-time-management. Michael Page. (n.d.). 5 Tips to Better Your Time Management | Michael Page US. [online] Available at: https://www.michaelpage.com/advice/careeradvice/growing-your-career/5-tips-better-your-time-management. JobStreet Employer MY. (2018). 5 most sought-after workplace ethics and behaviour. [online] Available at: https://www.jobstreet.com.my/en/cms/employer/5-sought-workplace-ethicsbehaviour/. 24