[GSOC 2014] "Tell the time" application

[Gabriel Morosan]

Hi,

My name is Morosan Adrian Gabriel. I am a Third-Year student at Politehnica University of Bucharest.

I have knowledge about these programming languages: Java, C/C++, Scheme, Prolog and OpenGL(for C/C++)

and GLSL.

I also developed an educational and scientific application for Android, named Graph-x with the following modes: 

scientific calculator, graph maker, converter and currency. It can be downloaded from Google Play for free:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.graph&hl=ro

I am interested in "Tell the time" application. Because children love games, I think we could combine

education and games for this application. More than that competition is also very motivating and it is included in 

my idea.

The "single-player" mode will include one 4 type of activities:

1. Match Analog-Digital : 2 types of clock will be displayed, one should be locked and the other one could be modified 

to represent the same time.

2. Difference between AM and PM, the meanings of expressions like: "It's half past two" , " It's a quarter before 3"

3. How many days are in each calendar month - including the leap years

4. Conversion for time: second, minute, day ... 

All these activities will have a score based on: speed and accuracy and 3 types of modes:

- Practice - no score -  only practice

- 2 minutes score 

- First mistake - game will end after the first mistake

An extra feature is the "multiplayer" mode which will include a bluetooth connection and a mode from "2 minutes score" and "first mistake"

where each player will have the same tasks to do.

The idea is to encourage healthy competition among children and in the same time to teach them the time and the calendar.

I would be mode than happy to contribute to your project.

Regards,

Gabi

[Avnee]

Hi Gabi

On Thursday, 6 March 2014 17:20:07 UTC+5:30, Gabriel Morosan wrote:

Hi,

My name is Morosan Adrian Gabriel. I am a Third-Year student at Politehnica University of Bucharest.

I have knowledge about these programming languages: Java, C/C++, Scheme, Prolog and OpenGL(for C/C++)

and GLSL.

I also developed an educational and scientific application for Android, named Graph-x with the following modes: 

scientific calculator, graph maker, converter and currency. It can be downloaded from Google Play for free:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.graph&hl=ro

Thanks for your introduction. I checked your app, looks really nice. :-)

 

I am interested in "Tell the time" application. Because children love games, I think we could combine

education and games for this application. More than that competition is also very motivating and it is included in 

my idea.

The "single-player" mode will include one 4 type of activities:

1. Match Analog-Digital : 2 types of clock will be displayed, one should be locked and the other one could be modified 

to represent the same time.

2. Difference between AM and PM, the meanings of expressions like: "It's half past two" , " It's a quarter before 3"

3. How many days are in each calendar month - including the leap years

4. Conversion for time: second, minute, day ... 

All these activities will have a score based on: speed and accuracy and 3 types of modes:

- Practice - no score -  only practice

- 2 minutes score 

- First mistake - game will end after the first mistake

Thanks for sharing your concept with us. The idea of having activities sounds good. You can start drafting a proposal for the same. I would also like you to look at the thread[1] we recently posted regarding getting draft proposals reviewed.

 

An extra feature is the "multiplayer" mode which will include a bluetooth connection and a mode from "2 minutes score" and "first mistake"

where each player will have the same tasks to do.

We are not trying to add a multiplayer mode in our first release. We would rather focus making a perfect single player mode game (at least for GSoC). Feel free to ask any specific questions you have.

Avnee

[1] https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/buildmlearn/droaQTxy7aU

[Gabriel Morosan]

Hi,

I have some questions:

1. The "multiplayer" mode could be included in proposal as an extra feature or not included at all?

2. In in the proposal it is necessary a starting code or just which libraries I will include and other things about the management of the application. 

3. For question: "What is going to be your approach for developing this idea?" I have described each class that I will use, version of OpenGL ES (for Android) and the application for testing. It is enough? If it is not enough, I want to know what else should I write. 

Gabi

[Avnee]

Hi

On Saturday, 8 March 2014 22:47:49 UTC+5:30, Gabriel Morosan wrote:

1. The "multiplayer" mode could be included in proposal as an extra feature or not included at all?

We don't need the feature as of now so it wouldn't matter even if you include it.

 

2. In in the proposal it is necessary a starting code or just which libraries I will include and other things about the management of the application. 

It's not necessary, if you would like to include some example code patches, you can include them. 

 

3. For question: "What is going to be your approach for developing this idea?" I have described each class that I will use, version of OpenGL ES (for Android) and the application for testing. It is enough? If it is not enough, I want to know what else should I write. 

I'd need more information to comment on this. I would say if you want your "draft" proposal to be briefly reviewed before submitting it to Google melange please share it with us. The guidelines for the same are here[1].

One more question you asked me in a personal email was whether you could add images of prototypes in your proposal. So, yes you can, we'd like that.

 

Avnee

[1] https://groups.google.com/d/msg/buildmlearn/droaQTxy7aU/L1aQ_aJYxSUJ

[Gabriel Morosan]

Hi

I have some other questions:

1. Application is responsible for teaching children or is more focused on

assessing the knowledge they already have? 

If the application should be focused more on teaching, I am thinking about giving hints in the Practice mode, or another

idea is to create a tutorial for each activity.

Which idea is better?

2. CV is recommended to be attached to the proposal?

3. I am working on sketches of the prototype and I want to know if they could be attached to the proposal? Or they are just for the organization? 

Gabi

[Avnee]

Hi

 

1. Application is responsible for teaching children or is more focused on

assessing the knowledge they already have? 

If the application should be focused more on teaching, I am thinking about giving hints in the Practice mode, or another

idea is to create a tutorial for each activity.

Which idea is better?

We would like that the app covers both the approaches, teaching children as well as assessing them. A practice mode first and then little quizzing would be good. A lot of students have proposed something like this before.

 

2. CV is recommended to be attached to the proposal?

It's not necessary. If you wish to include your CV details you should cover them in your proposal itself.

 

3. I am working on sketches of the prototype and I want to know if they could be attached to the proposal? Or they are just for the organization? 

No, they are not just for the org. You can include prototype images in your final proposal that you will be submitting to Google melange website. 

Avnee

[Gabriel Morosan]

Hi Avnee

I have some ideas, but I don't know if they are suitable for the project:

1. Animated assistant: an animated toy/cartoon character (like [1]) who has different

reactions. (I developed facial expressions in OpenGL - I have experience with it)

2. Sound effects when the answer is wrong or right and encouraging messages like: 

"You're the best!"

3. In the calendar activity, I suggest introducing the most important holidays like:

Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, etc. And questions could be with 4 possible answers.

And a question:

1. The prototype images should be more detailed?

PS: I invited you and Pankaj Nathan to review my draft proposal, after I posted it here [2].

Gabi

[1] http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/rich-tehrani/uploads/paper-clip.jpg

[2] https://groups.google.com/d/msg/buildmlearn/droaQTxy7aU/L1aQ_aJYxSUJ

Clock Activity & Main Menu:

[Avnee]

Hi Gabi

On Monday, 10 March 2014 02:23:30 UTC+5:30, Gabriel Morosan wrote:

1. Animated assistant: an animated toy/cartoon character (like [1]) who has different

reactions. (I developed facial expressions in OpenGL - I have experience with it)

2. Sound effects when the answer is wrong or right and encouraging messages like: 

"You're the best!"

It would be very nice to have at least the sound effects. Today a lot of apps have those.

 

3. In the calendar activity, I suggest introducing the most important holidays like:

Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, etc. And questions could be with 4 possible answers.

Yes, that sounds good as well.

 

And a question:

1. The prototype images should be more detailed?

PS: I invited you and Pankaj Nathan to review my draft proposal, after I posted it here [2].

I have received your draft proposal, I will process it in the queue.

Avnee

[Gabriel Morosan]

Hi Avnee,

In the review of my proposal, you suggested to use a back-up plan for my OpenGL ES knowledge. 

I developed a mini code (non OpenGL ES) for diplaying and changing the analog clock.

I upload it to the GitHub and it's functional (could be tested on android phones/tablets).

1. Could be a link to it in the proposal?

2. I would like to describe how I develop it in max 10 lines in the proposal (the important steps). It is ok?

3. Which is the best approach to the following problem: 

I considered the Mid-ter evaluation a step between the 7th and the 8th week of GSOC. Like this:

7	Score Implementation (highscore tab + options)
Mid-term evaluation
8	Mode 1 – Practice mode

It should be a special week or few days or it is ok to consider it a simple step between two big parts of the project?

Gabi

[Avnee]

Hi

On Saturday, 15 March 2014 19:47:12 UTC+5:30, Gabriel Morosan wrote:

Hi Avnee,

In the review of my proposal, you suggested to use a back-up plan for my OpenGL ES knowledge. 

I developed a mini code (non OpenGL ES) for diplaying and changing the analog clock.

I upload it to the GitHub and it's functional (could be tested on android phones/tablets).

1. Could be a link to it in the proposal?

2. I would like to describe how I develop it in max 10 lines in the proposal (the important steps). It is ok?

Yes, sure.

 

3. Which is the best approach to the following problem: 

I considered the Mid-ter evaluation a step between the 7th and the 8th week of GSOC. Like this:

7	Score Implementation (highscore tab + options)
Mid-term evaluation
8	Mode 1 – Practice mode

It should be a special week or few days or it is ok to consider it a simple step between two big parts of the project?

It is a simple step. You don't need to assign "midterm evaluations" any number of days.

Avnee

[Gabriel Morosan]

Hi Avnee

I submitted the proposal to Google melange website.

I included the mockups as links to my google drive. ( I hope it is not a problem)

I heard that last year it was a form about not working in USA which should be signed. 

I did not found any references to it and I would like to know if it is something different this year.

The scanned copy of my identification card is not in English. I would like to know if it is necessary

a translation of it, or it is ok without it.

Gabi

[Pankaj Nathani]

Hi Gabriel

 

I submitted the proposal to Google melange website.

I included the mockups as links to my google drive. ( I hope it is not a problem)

Great, thanks! Links to google drive are not a problem.

 

I heard that last year it was a form about not working in USA which should be signed. 

I did not found any references to it and I would like to know if it is something different this year.

The scanned copy of my identification card is not in English. I would like to know if it is necessary

a translation of it, or it is ok without it.

Could you please ask this on GSoC mailing list? Google handles this so they are the right people to ask.