Further Research

Google Play Services

During the tutorial one area of research suggested was Google Play Services where they offer

• Automatic updates (sent by an APK making it much faster and efficient) any Google app or those from Google Play
• Access Google features
• Location Services
• Overall enhances the experience the user has already been given by working more efficiently

Within this implementation Google allow its clients to access their services linked with android. 

Mobile Doc Scanner

Looking into a scanner app will be useful as it is another form of multimodal implementation used for input. Here is where I came across the Mobile Doc Scanner on Google Play. The scanner is available for Android devices and as you may have figured it allows users to scan documents, images etc. It then provides them with the function to convert the file into another file format (PDF) making it capable for users to share and export using the cloud storage and social networking websites. A practically feature within this app is that it is capable of detecting areas that need to be edited such as poor image quality or slanted shot the app is able to fix this to a point where the document looks acceptable. Looking at the reviews the app seems to be a common feature in many Android users and ranked high on the rating list making it a must need.

The images below are examples of the functionality of the app and its capabilities. As you can see the designer has also used a neutral effect for the interface itself in order for a more effective input of colour by the user. 

The app itself is very useful and effective, not only can you scan and save but also adjust the scanned images just in case there was some movement or the image is titled etc. It would be a useful and handy tool to apply it to my project as the users could scan another document and add it to their files of data without the need to retype the whole document.

Flash Settings

As I am using Flash CS6 I need to look into the programs capabilities and what I will be able to do with it. Adobe's Flash and Flash Builder use the runtime tool to provide me with the ability of building, testing and running my application. Within this software it is unnecessary to produce separate applications for various mobile platforms (Android and iOS) as Flash provides me with these features. This is a huge benefit for my project as I will not need to create separate code for each of them hence saving me time and the potential to focus on other features. One slight issue within this program is that creating a camera input section is not fully supported therefore I will need to find a way round it or use an existing open source code. If I am not able to reach this far I could always implement the function to import images therefore the user can take a normal picture and then upload onto the program. Another issue with Flash that I need to work round is the ability to share files with other application as it is not supported. I will need to research if there is a way round that problem but this will come at a later stage as there are other important features to be dealt with.  

YouTube Tutorials

Since I am a visual learning I decided to look at tutorials on how to create apps on YouTube in order to not only learn about the program but also how to set up everything. Within these videos I was most aware on how to set up for android and iOS as they are my target. Below are 3 YouTube tutorials I found which give me a guideline on how to create a drawing function. 

Privacy Factors
Privacy is an important factor within this project due to several reasons, the main one is the ability to share information onto other programs especially images (anything that exposes people needs some form of privacy). As I mentioned earlier Adobe Flash does not support the ability to share information with other programs therefore this section will be researched at a later stage of the project, the main thing is to be able to acknowledge the fact that it is needed.  

Target Audience
Since my project consists of being able to construct studio lighting diagrams and gather notes on lighting effects my target audience will be media users. I have listed below areas of expertise where the project targets:

• Film makers
• Photographers
• Animators 

Apart from the ones mentioned the application can be applied to anyone that has an interest in using a studio for projects whether it is a job or a hobby.

Handwriting Input

As I was looking through further software regarding touch sense I came across an article called "Keyboard fatigue?” The article talks about Google's latest handwriting input into its applications especially Gmail. The purpose of this software is to provide users with the ability to enter text manually without the need to use the keyboard; this includes uncommon languages that are not known within the system. Forms of slang or changing from one language to another in mid-sentence are now an easier function using this tool. The input method can be done in two ways either using the mouse or track pad, personally I feel that the track pad gives it a more natural feel to the user but it is all down to personal preferences. Users also have the ability to use a stylus pen or their finger therefore avoiding any further or unnecessary purchases of hardware. Activation of this function is required through the languages menu within the system, as the program does not automatically allow the user to handwrite. Following this coming Tuesday the function Google Docs will support and recognize 20 languages although Gmail will have a larger amount consisting of 50 languages including some unfamiliar and uncommon scripts. Although this is new to various programs it is actually already functioning on Google’s mobile search engine since last year therefore it seems to be merely an addition to other areas of their software. 

The image below is an example of a user implementing a foreign script using the track pad as you can see the letters are then displayed on screen. 

FreeNote 7.9.8

I came across Free Note where the ability to directly handwrite and draw is functional.

•   User has a choice of using their handwriting or the keyboard as a method of input

•   Ability to paint pictures, record voice memos, take picture and video

•   Calendar to add reminders with alarms (keep a diary)

Out of all notepad apps I feel that this is the one that reflects on what I want to produce the most interns of the multimodal feature. Although in terms of the studio section of my project I will use the Lighting Studio app as a guideline. 

  

Source

STOIK Soft. 2013. Mobile Doc Scanner (MDScan). [online] Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stoik.mdscan&hl=en [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

STOIK Soft. 2013. Mobile Doc Scanner (MDScan). [image online] Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stoik.mdscan&hl=en [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

STOIK Soft. 2013. Mobile Doc Scanner (MDScan). [image online] Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stoik.mdscan&hl=en [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

STOIK Soft. 2013. Mobile Doc Scanner (MDScan). [image online] Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stoik.mdscan&hl=en [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

The Register. 2013. Keyboard fatigue? Now you can SCRAWL in Gmail and Google Docs. [online] Available at: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/10/22/handwriting_support_in_gmail_and_google_docs/ [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

flyable. 2013. FreeNote 7.9.8. [online] Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suishouxie.freenote&hl=en_GB [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

flyable. 2013. FreeNote 7.9.8. [image online] Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suishouxie.freenote&hl=en_GB [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

flyable. 2013. FreeNote 7.9.8. [image online] Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suishouxie.freenote&hl=en_GB [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

flyable. 2013. FreeNote 7.9.8. [image online] Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suishouxie.freenote&hl=en_GB [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

flyable. 2013. FreeNote 7.9.8. [image online] Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.suishouxie.freenote&hl=en_GB [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

Unknown. n.d. Apple - Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6) supports Chinese handwriting. Do I still need Finger?. [image online] Available at: http://thisfinger.com/support/snow-leopard-mac-os-x-106-supports-chinese-handwriting-do-i-still-need-finger [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

Developers. n.d. Google Play Services. [online] Available at: http://developer.android.com/google/play-services/index.html [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

Hamblen, M. 2011. Adobe launches Flex and Flash Builder software for cross-platform mobile apps. [online] Available at: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9215664/Adobe_launches_Flex_and_Flash_Builder_software_for_cross_platform_mobile_apps [Accessed: 24 Oct 2013].

DiabloKiller124. 2009. Flash CS3 Tutorial 9 - Drawing Application. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1vNEZbfN4w [Accessed: 25 Oct 2013].

DiabloKiller124·. 2009. Flash CS3 Tutorial 9 - Drawing Application [ PART 2 ]. [video online] Available at: DiabloKiller124 [Accessed: 25 Oct 2013].

DiabloKiller124·. 2009. Flash CS4 Tutorial 9 - Drawing Application [ PART 3 ]. [image online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9STiRANgmEA [Accessed: 25 Oct 2013].

Google Inc. 2013. Google Play services. [online] Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gms&hl=en_GB [Accessed: 28 Oct 2013].

Google Inc. 2013. Google Play services. [image online] Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gms&hl=en_GB [Accessed: 28 Oct 2013].