Week #4- Input/Output

As my application is essentially based on information that is updated by the users, they must have some form of inputting that information into the application, so that other users can view it. This is where the different methods of input, and input devices come in. Most of the users will be updating the information by using a smartphone, which comes with a built in keyboard on the touchscreen, therefore the touchscreen is the input device. However some users may be updating from a personal computer, where the keyboard and mouse are the input devices.

Input is not only limited to adding new information to the application, we can also use input as a method of accessing information from the application, google 411 is an example of voice recognition, whereby a user can input speech into a microphone and receive a response, for example the map function of the application would use this, when the user can say the location they need directions to, and the device will take the command and produce a response, like a set of directions.

Week #3- Hardware

Certain pieces of hardware are going to be essential to my product, from both the manufacture end and the consumer end. Firstly, from the manufacture end, as my product is a piece of software, i would have to use some form of hardware to create it, so looking at the size of the application i would be creating, i would not  have any need for anything much more than a personal computer. This would provide me with sufficient capabilities to create, monitor and improve my product over a course of time. For testing purposes it would be useful to have devices that the application would be available on, for example an iPhone, or another version of a smartphone. The computers used to create this application will have to have plenty of Random Access Memory, or RAM, as the design programs like to use this up.
On the consumer end, there is a requirement to have a smartphone, as this would be used to run the application, and, depending on the size of the application and its updates, a personal computer, as for larger applications it is not possible to update on the device itself.

Week #2- Facebook Privacy

Many users of my application will have concerns over the connection between it and their social media pages, such as Facebook. As this application involves a social activity that my be shared between certain groups of friends, but not others, or the users may not want their family members which whom they are friends on Facebook to see these particular updates. This is where the Facebook privacy settings come into play. When signing up to use my application, users will be directed to the Facebook privacy settings page, to ensure full awareness of the existence of these settings, and therefore the availability to customize what certain people can or cannot view.
These privacy settings will be particularly useful for the target audience, college students, who may not necessarily want their parents or family members knowing all about their Friday and Saturday night extra-curricular activities! So these settings will allow the users full access and usage of all of the features of my application, whilst also limiting the people who can see their posts, tags, pictures and comments.
These settings also allow you to control content that others post about you, taking your online profile and image back into your control. The ability to allow other to tag you, or check in to a location with you can be controlled, along with the ability for you to remove your name from any posts, tags or check-in's. If a problem persists with a particular user you can block the person, stopping them from being able to connect with your profile altogether.

week #1- idea

As a student coming from London to a new city i have experienced a few changes in culture. One of the main differences that i have noticed, being a particularly social person, is the difference between the social activities in London compared to those in Syracuse. Being part of a University has meant that weekend social activities are somewhat governed by certain groups, in particular i have noticed the Greek societies on campus. Many of the students enjoy the Greek activities that are organized, but a lack of information regarding exactly what is happening and when, along with a lack of forward planning from many students has led to the repetition of the same night over and over for many students; walking up and down in front of the fraternity houses, not knowing which one is which, and what is happening where.

So i am proposing to design and create an iPhone application that is based around a map of the Greek Societies, along with many of the sports houses etc, which allows users to identify where they are in relation to certain houses, search for certain houses or obtain directions from a "current location" feature, along with allowing users to update information about where they are in real time. The application will allow users to identify whether the particular event is open to all, or guest list only, whether there is alcohol, and if so what type (Kegs, cans, liqueurs etc). Users will also be able to update information about entry fees, sizes of the parties, ratios (boys:girls), and music types, along with dress codes and the number of people attending.

Anyone should be able to post/update an event, however the initial posting will be stylized in a way that encourages the particular house to post, instead of individual users, as this could result in multiple "virtual" events being created for the same actual event. This application also allows an opportunity for connection with other social networking applications such as Facebook, twitter and foursquare, as it draws upon features from each. However to ensure privacy, the connection with these other applications is strictly through acceptance only.