Testing

I underwent testing on my project yesterday. I had a 4 year old and a 8 year old use my classroom board. A lot of the bugs were highlighted to me and I have a list of changes that are needed before I hand up my project in 2 weeks.

Problems found in testing:

-X’s & O’s game is very jumpy
-The fact that it is not multi touch is a big problem
-The photo album does not work off the server
-Songs in the music game play over each other

Report near completion

Thankfully my report is pretty much finished with only one or two tweaks to be made as I finish off my project. Finally my classroom board all seems to be coming together and I will be testing it on Friday. My dynamic bar is finally displaying all the information from the database, it took allot of patience with Java and Action-script 3.0 but I got there. However after solving that problem my clock now no longer wants to display the correct time and I haven't touched any of the code for it???? I think more google-ing and another Easter egg is needed to get the bottom of this problem!

Easter Holidays???

Not sure if I can actually call it a holiday with so much work still left to be done. Typing up my final report at the moment, I’m trying my best to get it done this week and have it out of the way so next week I can get back to programming.

Last week I finally got my web camera working on the server through flash so that's one less thing to worry about. I originally had planned that this footage would be stored in the database of the software. However in a real life situation this is illegal so I have decided not to go ahead with it.

Update

Only 5 weeks left and I’m really starting to feel the pressure. I still have quite a bit to do:
Java
Connecting flash to Java
Connecting Java to Database
Design
Finishing Touches to Piano app and Jigsaw app
Create ribbon screen saver
Website to finish
Managers screen linking menus
Sound
Add sound effects to menu and games
Testing
Still to be taken place and fix any problems found

As well as all this I am writing my Final Report, I have looked at a couple of reports from last year’s students to give me an idea of what is needed. I have also been talking to Sarah Enright (a student from last year) and she has given me a few tips on how to write it.

Update

Having huge problems at the moment getting an Action script 2 application to play in an action script 3 loader. Every time I seem to get one problem solved another error pops up. It is starting to look like I may just redo my application in action script 3 but I really don't want to do that unless I really have too.

I am also working on my css/html website which is going well so far but I will keep you updated

Recap

I am developing touch screen interactive software that can be used in child care facilities There are two parts to this software:

-The class room board (displayed on a SMART board ), which will have a number of activities for the children to play. It will also display information such as the time table and meals for the day.

-The managers screen, which will be where everything that is displayed on the child's board is controlled and all important information can be inputted, saved and accessed.

Prototype Presentation

So we had our prototype presentation yesterday and thankfully I survived. They thought my designs were really well done and well thought out. Had a couple of glitches with the SMART bored but thankfully the lecturers understood. So I now have to focus on my back end, also Pat has suggested that I make up a simple website to go with the software for parent to be able to download the fingerprint apps on to their home computers.

Drawing Application Problems

I am developing my drawing application for the classroom board at the moment. I have kept to toolbar simple with just the colour pallet, pencil, save, eraser and clear buttons. But I am having a few problems programming the save button in action script 3.0.

Looks like for lent this year Im giving up sleep! Although the religous heads saying we need to give up technology for lent is looking quiet tempting!!!

Dynamic Forms

Working on my dynamic forms for the managers screen at the moment. The forms will be used by the manager to enter information about the children into the software's database. I am using action script 3.0 to develop these and then Java to connect it to the database. My front designs are completed but coding is taking me a little longer than expected as there are so many fields needed in the form.

Dynamic Panel

This week I have been working on the Dynamic Panel that will be seen at the top of the SMART in the classroom interface. It was designed in Photoshop and then developed in Flash using Action Script 3.0.

This Panel will be read only in the classrooms and will be fully controlled by the managers screen. It is to display information to the parents and teachers.

Fingerprints

So my logo is finally finished after many revamps. I decided on a handprint as I am developing my project for touch screen. Similarly this is also for the reason I chose the tittle finger prints, but also I found after testing my applications the screen was covered in fingerprints! It is also a short, easy to remember name if it does ever go into production.

Back to reality!

With all the work I’ve had to do this week i will confess this blog had completely slipped my mind. So its update time!

Unfortunately I didn't get as much work done on my project over Christmas as I would have liked thanks to having no Internet in my house for two weeks (Thank you Eircom!) but I’ve been doing nothing but work on my fyp since returning to Limerick to make up for it.

My UML diagrams and Databases have all been worked out and are thankfully ready to go. I have two flash games developed and ready to be tested on a touch screen to pick out any bugs and changes that are needed.

On returning to college I have been advised to make my project smaller and stick to working on the software for the managers office and only one room and then based on the time I have I can work on another.

I am currently working on the logo and the overall colour scheme I am going to use. From there I can finally begin work on the front end of the software.

Then the dreaded Java has to be tackled to connect it all together! As I have never been good at Java this part will be the most challenging of it all.