Blog #8- Summary

Overall, I think this project was a really helpful one. It allowed me to think of a idea, yet really explore the depth of the idea and how it would come about. This project also really helped me because I was able to take some of the concepts we learned about in class that I did not fully understand and then apply them to my idea and then they made more sense. Throughout the project, I think my idea has really grown and I have been able to think about how this app really could work in the world today.

During the course of the project, I was able to think of new ideas to enhance the PhotoConnect application. Each week in lecture, when we learned something new, it benefited me that much more when I came back to write my post because I always had a new idea or way to make the app better. Some of the ideas did not work and some of them did not but at least it really got me thinking like an entrepenur.

Through the entrepreneurship project, I was really able to take a lot out of what I learned. I gained knowledge on topics I was unfamiliar with, like bits & bytes, input/output, and hardware. I also liked being able to comment on other people's blogs because it gave me the chance to see what other people's ideas were and if they were similar to mine. Another thing I found useful was researching the professional blogger. I was able to see some of the ups and downs to applications for smartphones, different ideas when applied to applications, and much more. Here are the links to the different blogs I commented on:

http://dgtaylor91.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-1-idea.html?showComment=1320076631382#c2981076289346760027- Post 1

http://snowdayapp.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-1-topicsocial-media.html?showComment=1320076926956#c2064885417569815556- Post 1

http://joeycreighton.blogspot.com/2011/09/post-1-entrepreneurial-idea.html?showComment=1320077464729#c4437696577748024147- Post 1

Blog #7- Review

I chose to pick a blogging website called, The iPhone App Review, that sure enough follows all new iPhone applications. The website has a bunch of different categories to choose from so you are able to narrow what kind of application you want to read about. The website also has different things like iPad app review, video reviews, and much more.

The specific blog post I chose to read about was by Luke Patrick and the app was called Snow Resort. The Snow Resort app allows you to look into good ski and snowboard resorts all over the world. The design of the app makes it really simple for you to pick what kind of resort suits you. You choose your ability, the type of terrain, and the continent on which you want to find the resort. It is really helpful and then connects you to the internet but fails to work with other smartphones other then the iPhone. The only other downside to the app is that there is no way to export it to show to other friends and family members by phone. Overall though, it's a really easy and convenient app.

I took some helpful information from this post when thinking about ways to improve my application. Their was an image on the website that showed the simplicity of the way the app is designed. I would want to make sure that my app was easy to use and very straight-forward and not confusing. I would want the app itself to be as less busy as possible so the users would be able to take a picture send it to someone and that person get directions in seconds rather then minutes.

This post, just like some of the others I read over, were really insightful because it showed me areas where PhotoConnect might be weak but also other places where PhotoConnect is strong. It gave me some good ideas on how to make my application better and more efficient for my customers in the future.

http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2011/09/snow-resort-iphone-app-review/

Blog #6

This past week in lecture we covered the topics of operating systems and digital color. Both topics were very interesting to me and could really benefit PhotoConnect. I think that both operating systems and digital color are necessary for PhotoConnect to do well.

An operating system manages hardware and software resources. There are different types of operating systems but for my application I would have to use the Mobile O/S. This is because my application is strictly for smartphones. The Mobile O/S operating system is compatible with iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Blackberry. This gives me many different varieties of phones to worth with so I do not have to worry about PhotoConnect not being able to work on a lot of people's phones. This mobile operating system would allow me to work with the Mobile Market OS as well such as the iPhone vs. Android. Having my application on 2 of the most popular smartphones would be really beneficial to PhotoConnect.

Next we learned about Digital Color. Digital Color is important because I would need to make sure that the PhotoConnect application had all the options of the HSB Model. Once you take a picture of something in the PhotoConnect application, you will have the options of changing the Hue, Saturation, and Brightness of the photo if you would like. Also I would like for my colors to turn out normal so I would need the correct RGB colors to provide a satisfying picture for my users of the application.

Blog #5

This week in class we took an exam on Monday. The exam basically covered everything we have learned about since the beginning of the semester. I would definitely want to take the same concept of a "test" and be able to test out my product before I make it available as an app. This way, I can see where it needs improvement and what I need to learn more about in order to make my app a great one. Just like a test, you see where you need improvement on and what concepts you need to know better.

The second part of the week, we learned about bits and bites in lecture. Bits and Bites allow you to store data on the computer. There are different sizes available depending on the computer, that way the more data the have the more bits and bites you have for storage. PhotoConnect would need a lot of bits and bites because the amount of data being stored from the GPS directions and the picture you took. Depending on how long your destination is or how much storage the picture takes up I will need a good amount of bits and bites to be able for PhotoConnect to store everything necessary for the app to work.

Overall, testing the PhotoConnect app and making sure it has a good amount of bits and bites is crucial for my app to be successful. I would need to be on top of this, and know how to fix any problems I may encounter before putting it out on the market. Even though we did not learn a lot this week about specific information crucial to making the product actually run, we definitely learned some valuable information to get the app to the point of it being able to run successfully.

Blog #4

In preparing for our first exam, the last topics we covered in this weeks lecture were input vs. output. We briefly covered the topics of digital cameras and services such as voice recognition. We learned that 1 megapixel= 1 million pixels and their is a certain way to figure out how many mega pixels you need to print something. Granted, with PhotoConnect you do not need to print out the picture you captured, but this is helpful just incase you were too. Our company would need this information to design the application to be compatible with any computer so the clarity of the picture was well when printed. Another topic that was covered was voice recognition. It will take a lot of samples to perfect this form of search engine, but one way I could advance PhotoConnect would be to add a walkie talkie type addition so that you could easily contact the person you were trying to contact without closing out of the application or making a phone call. Just a click of a button and you would be in contact with that person.

The main topic that we covered regarding to input innovation was RFID. RFID is a system which transmits the identity of an object or person wirelessly using radio waves. One way the RFID tag could benefit PhotoConnect would be if it checked you into where someone else was. Similar to the SuperBowl idea we covered in class, if you and a friend both had the PhotoConnect app and are trying to go to the same place, the RFID tag would be able to tell you that someone in your area was going to the same place as you! This sounds a lot more complicated than it has to be but in reality, it could be very helpful and useful.

Adding onto my above idea, I would need to make sure to use a Active Tag instead of a Passive Tag. An active tag would be more beneficial to the PhotoConnect app because it has a improved operating range which means it can cover more space. Like I said before if you get a notification that someone near you is trying to go to the same place as you and you want to meet up, this could be useful in the sense that PhotoConnect could give you directions to that person and then to both of your destinations. It would be like combining the skills of the PhotoConnect app and RFID tags into one.

Blog #3

Last week in class, Chapter 4 focused on Hardware and Computer Forensics. Just like in my previous post, there are a lot of precautions I would take to make sure our security was up to date and efficient. When you throw hardware and computer forensics into the picture, it makes it that much more difficult. One thing I would have to make sure of is that my social media web pages were protected and not succeptable to identity theft. My main focus when dealing with hardware and computer forensics would be to protect my customers first and reassure them the safety that comes with using our application PhotoConnect. I know that whenever I use my credit card on the internet or through my IPhone I would like to feel sure of myself that I know where my money is going and to what. This is what I hope to ensure to my customers when using PhotoConnect.

One way I can protect my websites when using PhotoConnect is installing a anti-virus program. I know that on my computer, I use one called McAfee Security. Having a anti-virus program on your computer will allow your program to scan files, remove infections, protect from virus' and equip it with spyware. The way that an anti-virus program works is that anytime something the computer or program does not recognize it will filter through the program and then warn you of this. This would be very helpful to consumers because they will feel reassured of the fact that they are protected when accessing our website when no pop ups or virus' occur after closing out of the website.

Another way I would make sure all my customers were protected is by destroying all hardware I ever got rid of. Until this year, I had no clue that 74 percent of hard drives sold or given away can easily be read. In order for this to never happen, and for someone not to gain access to old files I have on the hard drive I would be getting rid of, I would make sure that my hard drive was destroyed. This means either to disintegrate, incinerate, pulverize, shred or melt the hard drive. I would make sure all my customers knew I would never let someone else have access to PhotoConnect's old computer hard drives and they would be discarded appropriately for their safety and the company's as well.