How the app works:
The web app "Infinite Path" can be separated into two areas: Career and Student.
Career:
This side of the app first takes the user's weekly income, average hours worked weekly and
industry from a selection of 55. It then downloads the relevant income dataset in a JSONstat (JavaScript Object Notation) format. The StatBank Application Programming Interface
(API) is a dissemination tool allowing developers machine to machine access to CSO
StatBank data. This table is then parsed, extracting the relevant information to the user. The
majority of the parsing and processing takes place on the user's machine. Graphs are then
displayed based on the users information which clearly illustrate the differences in both
income and hours worked between the user and the industry/national average. More
illustrations showing the differences in average industry incomes are then shown,
highlighting the user's own sector. Finally, the average income trend for the user's sector
since 2008 is shown. These graphs are made with the Google Charts API.
Student:
The other function of the web app caters to students. The user enters their Leaving
Certificate results into the site along with their grade and level (higher or ordinary). The
form is then validated, checking for duplicate subjects before being processed. The site has
the most recent 2014 Leaving Certificate Data stored on loading the site allowing for much
faster processing time. The grade distributions for the user's subjects are then shown,
highlighting the user's grade. Calculations are completed to determine what percentile from
NG to A1 the user came in, along with the number of students they came ahead of and
trailed behind. Finally, the user's total points are calculated and the distribution of points
brackets are shown(e.g the most common being 350-395 points at 13.6% of the total).
Datasets used:
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EHQ15: Weekly, Hourly Earnings and Weekly Paid Hour of All Employees by Industry
Sector NACE Rev 2, Quarter and Statistic
While the CSO holds Leaving Certificate results Data it doesn't offer filtering by
subjects so we decided to use data from examinations.ie
Target audience and Benefit of the app to that audience:
Infinite Path specified and highly functional nature means it is an interesting, useful app for
the workforce and students.
For the workforce, the web app offers evaluation on how the user is progressing in their
career. A choice of 55 sectors means the app is highly specified to the user. The greatly
benefits them as they can find out if they are lagging behind or surpassing their colleagues.
If the former is true they can take steps to fix this by perhaps relocating or working harder.
The user is shown the trend of their industries average income over the past few years
allowing them to better understand their future opportunities or perhaps prompt a career
change. If they do decide to change careers the app also educates it's users on the most
lucrative industries of employment in Ireland.
For students, the web app is greatly beneficial offering comprehensive information on the
Leaving Certificate. This is applicable to students yet to pick their Leaving Certificate
subjects, current Leaving Certificate students and anyone who has completed the exam.
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Pre-Leaving Certificate students:
Pre-LC students can use the app to help pick the most appropriate subjects for
attaining their desired college course and completing a good Leaving Cert. A student
with aspirations of studying a high-points course in college may use the site to
identify subjects to avoid. While a genuine interest in the subject takes precedent, a
student planning on studying medicine may want to avoid certain subjects like Art
which only has 0.8% distribution of A1s
Current Leaving Certificate students:
Current students can use the site to educate themselves on which of their subjects
are the most difficult to do well in based on grade distribution, therefore allowing
them to redistribute their study time appropriately. They can also use the web app
to enter their mock results, illustrating areas for improvement.
Individuals who have completed the exam:
Past students can find out how their results stacked up against the rest of the
country, showing them if they need to change their work ethic going forward.
Fulfilment of the Evaluation Criteria:
Data Use:

Effectively uses data to making it more accessible and interesting to the public.
Alignment with Project Goals:

The app successfully utilises data in a way that benefits the target audience while
also delivering a clean user-friendly design.
Functionality and Implementation:

The concept was effectively executed in a highly-functional and user-friendly way.
Usefulness to students, teachers, schools and citizens of Ireland:

As outlined above, the app's specified nature means the benefit to both students
and the workforce is substantial.
Feasibility:

As the app's goals were executed resulting in a functional and comprehensive way,
displaying the feasibility
Creativity/Originality:

Infinite Path differs greatly from past entrants and anything currently available as
these apps explore data in a very broad manner. However this app focuses on an
original concept of bettering people's careers and student's results.