without PLAGIARISM

Question 4 Invent a possible app (35 marks)

In this question you are asked to think of your own idea for a possible mobile app that might be relevant to you. For instance, can it help with your daily life, your work, your study, or your other needs? Investigate where it could fit into the marketplace (i.e. would it satisfy other users who have similar needs to you; estimate how many users would need it, how frequently someone would need to use it, etc.). Carry out an initial analysis of requirements (what features or functionalities it entails), and do some informal market research (are there already similar apps with the same functionality? If yes, can you do better in terms of some measurable quality attributes?).

The question is based mainly on Sections 3.1 and 3.2 of Block 3 Part 5. Note that you are not asked to write any code in this question.

• a.Identifying a market gap

  Spend a little time thinking of an idea for a potential app. Then investigate the Android app marketplace for similar apps and create a feature table to look for any gaps that could be filled by the app you design. Show that you have a combination of features not found in any other app.

  (5 marks 100 words)

• b.App functional requirements

  Having identified the market gap, draw up a list of five functional requirements for your app use a table with each row describing one functional requirement and obstacle. If you are struggling to identify five requirements then try breaking down a large requirement into several smaller ones.

  (10 marks 200 words)

• c.App description

  Write a description of your app intended for use on an app store. Use no more than five sentences to tell potential purchasers the purpose of your app and what features it offers. Such a description would be normally the first paragraph shown in an app store, so try to be brief, yet informative and attractive. Your potential users would like to purchase it by knowing that it has some value (e.g. saving them trouble, providing useful information, allowing them to be more productive, helping them get things done, or providing entertainment, etc.).

  (5 marks 100 words)

• d.App wireframe

  Sketch a wireframe of your apps user interface as an image file wireframe_4d.png. The image could include several screens if necessary. This does not have to be a finished or polished design just a rough initial draft. You can produce it in any way you like: you might use a software drawing program of your choice, or simply sketch it on paper and scan or photograph the result.

  The key thing is to annotate this sketch to show where interactions need to happen (e.g. buttons), what information is to be shown (areas or regions), and highlight how the functionality described in your answers to parts (a), (b) and (c) will be delivered to the user. This should demonstrate how all the functional requirements are met.

  (8 marks)

• e.Market investigation

  Carry out short interviews with two or more potential users either face-to-face or electronically to discover if they would consider purchasing the app, having seen its description and the mock-up of its interface. These could be other students, friends or family members.

  In your Solution Document include two short quotes, from different interviewees, to illustrate what feedback they gave on your app (2 marks, around 50 words) and also specifically collect feedback on how the app met its proposed functionality by discussing sample inputs, outputs, or the steps the users followed when interacting with the wireframe (4 marks, around 100 words). Say whether or not the response to your app was broadly favourable (1 mark, around 50 words).

  (7 marks 200 words)