In the week before spring break, I spent most of my time working on the design report. In the few days before spring break, we also decided to add onto our display screen portion of our project by also including a web app for users to track their recycling statistics, and learn more about recycling. In order to prepare for this new portion of the project, I started doing research about creating phone apps. Since I wanted the app to be accessible for as many people as possible, I needed to design an app that was for both android and ios. Because of that, I decided to use the React Native framework, since it supported both ios and android, and because I also had experience using it in previous projects. I also started planning out what I wanted the app to look like, as well as what features it should have.
One important point was that the app should connect to the recycling bin, and only that recycling bin. Even though we would be making only one bin, I wanted to plan for future scenarios where EcoSort was a more common household item, so I decided that users would have to manually connect to the bin by entering the jetson’s ip address.
When planning for the app, I also originally wanted to use a Web Socket connection so that the jetson could send continuous updates to the app without the app needing to send a request each time. However, I realized that users will not always be within range of wifi, and that if the jetson were to send information while the user is disconnected, it will cause a loss of data. Therefore, I decided that the best way to update the app would be to send HTTP requests whenever the users open the app. The app should also display a little note at the bottom letting users know when the last time the app had been updated, so that users will know whether or not the app is out of date.
Finally, over spring break I drew up mock sketches of what the app would look like. I incorporated the graphs that we had originally planned for the display screen on the bin, as well as extra information about recycling, a recycling streak, as well as an achievements page where users can earn badges by achieving goals. I think that including these features will go further to gameify the process of recycling, and allow for users to become more involved in recycling.
Currently, according to the adjustments to the Gantt chart that we made, I am on time for my role in the project. However, I realize that since this portion of the project was added on rather late, I will have to put in more effort throughout the next few weeks in order to ensure that I stay on time.