Posts Tagged ‘INN345’

a break through with using XML in flash!

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

I’ve been struggling with XML in Flash for days… I found two pieces of information that really helped me a lot… so I thought I’d share them here.

1. The difference between an element node and a text node!

I found out today that some nodes were classed as element nodes and some are classed as text nodes. What I didn’t know was that the text is a node.

For example in this small XML document:

<conversation>
<INTERACTION>
<NPC_says>
What would you like to order?
</NPC_says>
<player_says>
I would like pizza.
</player_says>
</INTERACTION>
</conversation>

The node conversation, interaction, NPC_says and player_says are all element nodes.

I had thought that NPC_says & player_says would be text nodes… but that is not correct, they are both element nodes. The text inside these tags are text nodes. That is, What would you like to order? is a text node as is I would like pizza.

To reference the text what would you like to order? text, you would reference it as follows:

myXML.firstChild.firstChild.firstChild.firstChild

Previously, I thought it would be referenced by:

myXML.firstChild.firstChild.firstChild.nodeValue

Check out this site for more info: XML basics at www.kirupa.com
http://www.kirupa.com/web/xml/XMLbasics4.htm

2. There is an ignoreWhite property

If you don’t tell your xml documen to ignore white space it can pick up blank spaces and think they are nodes in the XML document.

ignoreWhite property
http://www.actionscript.org/resources/articles/9/1/XML-101/Page1.html

I now think I’m ready to take on the XML scripting of the Gotchi-Sim project for real! Yay!

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progress on the Gotchi-Sim project

Saturday, April 4th, 2009

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been working on a Flash Lite game for a mobile phone. At the moment I’m calling it Gotchi-Sim – basically because it’s a cross between a Tamagotchi and The Sims.

The game aims to help people learning English as a Second Language.

Progress to date. So far I’ve:

  • done some research into what makes a good learning game (found some great reports on this!)
  • developed the outline for the game
  • developed the functional specs for the game and the limitations that will exist for the prototype I am designing.
  • installed the Flash Lite player on my smartphone and explored some of the functionality of Flash Lite.
  • installed a Flash Lite update for Flash 8 on my desktop computer
  • downloaded the Flash Lite content development kit

Useful web resources I’ve been using today include:

  • the text-to-speech library for Flash Lite. http://code.google.com/p/flyer/downloads/list
    although, I think this will only work on phones that have symbian OS – and my phone does not. Symbian OS is mostly on Nokia phones so I think this one won’t work for me. It needs Python installed which only works under Symbian.

 

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What do you think the next great mobile device might be (and why)?

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Trend 1. Wearable Technology

I think that one of the next trends in mobile devices will be in wearable technology & these new devices will have applications that are usable when online and offline. They will utilise “the cloud” to store and access data but will also store some data locally – the best of both worlds!

Here are some web pages on wearable technology:

- how about a phone integrated into the hood of your ski jacket so you can make handsfree calls whilst you are going down the ski slopes?
http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/verfahrenstechnologie/bericht-17970.html

- creating a mobile story telling experience
http://www.cutecircuit.com/projects/wearables/embedded-theater/

- ability to see a monitor through glasses:
http://www.gizmag.com/go/3681/picture/8240/

 

 Trend 2. Battery charging

More devices may have solar panels built into them and devices may use wireless induction charging stations like the Palm Pre.  Eventually all your devices can be charged using the same block.

My sincerest hope, however, is for a “great” mobile device that can be used to help people – especially those who live in poverty

There have been examples of how mobile phones have been used to help farmers in developing countries get up-to-date crop prices – thus allowing them to get the best prices for their crops. http://www.itif.org/index.php?id=179

My strongest wish is for a device that will help provide education to those who crave it – so that it can make a difference in their lives.

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How might the internet change if access is predominantly by mobile phone?

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Here are some ways that I think the internet might change if access is predominantly be mobile phone:

1. HTML/CSS may change dramatically - or a new protocol may be developed so that content is more easily adaptible to multiple screen sizes.

At the moment, the movement is called mobileweb.

Goal is write once, display everywhere (http://streamer.rit.edu/chw.ariadne.mobi/presentations/2007_OxfordFutures/goingDual.html)

Perhaps widgets might be a way to do this? (http://streamer.rit.edu/chw.ariadne.mobi/presentations/2007_OxfordFutures/goingDual.html)

2. more social networking applications & “push technologies” will be developed to capitalise on the strengths of phones. For example, twitter takes low number of character entries.

Generation Y, who sees the mobile as a social device first and an information device second, is not using today’s mobile search as much as expected. But Generation Y is using mobile phones to access social networks.”
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/why_gen_y_is_going_to_change_the_web.php

Already, this is being used for on-the-spot, on-demand volunteerism  i.e. volunteer at the precise moment you have the time. This shifts the need from the needs of the organisation to the needs of the individual or wants to do the volunteering.
(see video at http://www.knightpulse.org/blog/08/12/08/what-can-we-change-using-mobile-devices)

3. more web applications will be linked to geospatial data (eg. coupons for local stores may get pushed to your phone as you walk past the store or a local historical society may send you a video, audio or web page that tell you something of the history of the local area)

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Here goes nothing..

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

Hi guys.  Would you believe this is my first blog post… ever.  Hope it works.

Colleen, thanks for setting this up – very cool.

Chris.

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INN345 – Mobile Devices

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

I have just started studying a Masters in Information Technology at Queensland University of Technology. I am currently doing the  subject: INN345 – Mobile Devices. In this blog, me and my group members will share what we are learning about ubiquitous computing.

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