Unit 7: Mobile App Development Assignment 1 –
Investigating mobile apps and mobile devices
Mobile apps are computer-programmed software applications that run on a
mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, or watch and are meant to perform
a variety of tasks in order to meet the demands of the user. Each mobile app
built serves a specific sort of user to accomplish a specific goal; some
applications may have identical features and designs, but they all have
something that sets them apart.
What impact does current technology have on mobile app design and
implementation?
There are three categories of apps (Native, Web and Hybrid). Advancements in
technology have allowed technology to evolve and find new ways to impact
mobile applications.
Native apps are a sort of app that is created to run on a specific mobile platform,
such as IOS or Android. It makes use of all a device's authorised features, such
as location, microphone, and camera. Google Maps, Twitter, and Pokémon Go are
just a few examples.
Web apps are another form of mobile app; they are remote applications that run
on a server. Users often engage with mobile device applications via a web
browser (internet), therefore there are no applications installed on the device,
limiting its access to device functions. Word processors, Gmail, and shopping
websites are all examples.
The Hybrid App, on the other hand, combines both previous two types of apps. It
usually has cross-platform compatibility, meaning it can run on a variety of
operating systems, and it usually comprises of both the apps’ components (can
be accessed through web browser too). Because hybrid is targeted towards
several sorts of mobile devices, it can be considered as a more cost-effective
solution. Instagram, Uber, and the Apple App Store are examples of hybrid apps.
There are roughly 8 types of apps that have been designed for various purposes
and features: Apps that give geographical information based on the user's
current location are known as Locales. Utility - apps that help users configure
or maintain their devices such as file managers, helps remove adds and
unnecessary files. Productivity suites are software that provide office-style
functionality for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access (database), allowing users
to write letters and reports, create presentations, and calculate project costs,
among other things. Immersive full screen - apps that use the entire screen to
engage users in the experience (gaming app tends to do this a lot), Lifestyle –
apps that aim to improve people's lives by providing useful information, such as
workout routines. Social - apps that connects users across the world allowing
them to communicate and share ideas, photos, and videos. Applications that
deliver media content, such as video streaming or music players, are referred to
as Entertainment apps and Widgets are little apps that take up very little
space on the screen of a mobile device which allows quick access to data or
settings.
, How does mobile app’s purpose and needs, preferences and
characteristics of the user affect its design and the provided features.
Various elements, such as the app's purpose, needs and preferences, and user
characteristics, can influence how a mobile app is built and designed. These
factors are critical in determining how a mobile app is designed and what
features it may include.
Navigational Apps – Native App:
Navigational apps are designed for people who travel frequently or are unfamiliar
with commuting. They make getting around cities and countries easier and less
stressful by advising them about alternate routes to avoid traffic, accidents, and
roadwork. Navigational apps are designed to provide users about geographical
information based on their present and recent locations. These apps may make
use of some of the phone's features to improve the accuracy and precision of the
user's location, such as the global positioning system (GPS). Users can be
assisted with features that make commuting more convenient, such as
suggesting the nearest petrol station, locating the quickest route to a location, or
notifying users of public transport schedules.
Technology does have an impact on people's lives using smartphones and
mobile devices, but it's more about what apps users need that they may use
frequently. For example, navigational apps are a highly relied on app that people
use when moving around daily because of its effectiveness in notifying times,
schedules, or road disturbances in the present and future, which helps users
make decisions about how they will go about commuting. As a result, when it
comes to building navigational apps, the goal should be to keep things simple
while still offering necessary information. Users can customise several parts of
the software to their own preferences, such as using dark or light mode, viewing
the map in first person or from a bird’s eye view, and so on.
Google Maps – Locale:
One of several popular navigational apps among mobile device that provides a
variety of services for commuting by vehicle, public transportation, bicycle, or
foot and lets users to customise how they view the map. Because it's a native
app, it can only function on specific platforms and has access to the majority of
the mobile device's features, such as location, microphone, and so on. When
using Google Maps, users have a lot of options; however, the more important
buttons are visible to users when managing the app, so it isn't complicated. In
most cases, Google Maps has a suggestion list of places the user might like to
see, even going so far as to utilise the mobile device's functionalities to help
make suing the app easier (e.g., microphone allow users to say what they want
instead of type it). Google Maps does an excellent job of always being available
for users when they need it, which helps them rely on the app more. However,
there are some requirements that Google Maps must meet in order to always be
useful and serve its purpose, for example internet connection is needed for live
update on the map.
