google app inventor
TRANSCRIPT
Michael TrestUniversity of Southern Mississippi IT 780
Google App Inventor
Intro
• What is Google App Inventor? • Who can use it?• What are its limitations? • What does it do?• How do I use it?
What is Google App Inventor?
• Create Android Applications• Intuitive
• I’m not just saying that. It really is :)
• Browser Based • Access and work from any computer
• Programming like playing with Legos• Very powerful with some creative thought
Who can use it?
• Anybody!!• Specifically for:
• Non-programmers• Introductory programming students• Someone who wants to quickly put feet to an app idea• Making an app for personal use
What are the limitations?
• Not very useful for:• Experienced programmers• Other than quick “mock-ups”• Mass distribution for applications• Extremely Advanced Applications
What does it do?
• WYSIWIG App Creator• Drag and Drop components to places on a
screen• Programming blocks have set functions to
choose from• Uses real programming terms
How do I use it?
• Plan! Plan! Plan!• Planning is vital to the development of your application. • Have a good idea of what the end goal of your application
is going to do• Be prepared to change details, but stay the course for your
original end goal.• You may want to look up tutorials and examples to get
some ideas. This is helpful in the “programming” part.
• My example:• Original Plan: Build an application that uses “Poll
Everywhere” to work as a classroom polling device.
How do I use it?
How do I use it?
• Sign up for Google App Inventor• This just takes a minute :)• Go to: http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/• You can use your Google or Gmail Account
• Set up your computer• http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/learn/setup/• You’ll have to download some setup things before the Java
Blocks Editor will work
How do I use it?
App components
Phone Screen
Uploaded Media
Component Properties
App components
How do I use it?
• Determine the components you need and drag them onto the screen.• Buttons, labels, text fields, etc.
• My example:• I needed 4 Labels, 4 Text fields, 3 buttons, 2 layout fields, 1
texting component, and 1 sound object• Give them meaningful names and adjust each one’s
properties
How do I use it?
App components
Buttons
Text-fields
Labels
How do I use it?
Give Meaningful Names
Adjust the properties
How do I use it?
• Upload any extra media• Sounds, pictures, etc.
• My Example• I uploaded 3 picture backgrounds, 1 main background, and
1 sound
How do I use it?
How do I use it?
• Open Blocks Editor• Here’s the most difficult part, but still not as bad as learning
a programming language.• You need to determine what functions should be used
» This is where tutorials and explanations are very helpful» Use help docs, community resources
• My Example• Each button refers to a:
» A sound event» A color change for the status» A phone number and a message to send» A “send text message” function
How do I use it?
Available Functions
Used functions
How do I use it?
When you click the button it does everything inside
Play sound
Change status color
Text field properties (send to, and what to send)
Now send the message
It works like a puzzle.. Just put the pieces together where they fit
How do I use it?
• Test out your application and see what your application looks like by connecting your phone or running the “emulator”
• When its finished, package your application to run on your phone, save it to your computer, or download it by scanning a QR code. • QR download is only available for you to use
How do I use it?
Connected to my phone via USB
An Emulator to use if you don’t have an android phone or just can’t plug it in
More Resources
• “About” App Inventor• http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/
• Learn more about Google App Inventor• http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/learn/
• App Inventor Forums• http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/forum/
• Other slideshare presentations• http://www.slideshare.net/mattbrauchler/app-inventor-for-
android-6023579#• http://www.slideshare.net/MarcoForte1/app-inventor
Have fun!
I realize that all of this stuff is free (App Inventor, Poll Everywhere) and my idea isn’t revolutionary, but if you’d like to use this or need any help with it, please contact me first. I’ll be glad to help in anyway that I possibly can. Thanks!