GroupBrainstorm-Group:CaveJihad
From CS 160 Fall 2010
Contents |
Members
- Chao Liu
- Danial Yoo
- Jeremy Sasson
- Vincent Rodriguez
- Aaron Loessberg-Zahl
Brainstorm
Elderly:
- easy interface to call family members
- to-do list (medicine)
- easy texting
- homescreen replacer
- photo gallery for family members
- finding ways for them to get out more
- vision exam
- hearing exam
- reflex exam
Traveller:
- Foods to avoid
- Calorie counter
- Sobriety check
- Cab caller
Family
- barcode reader -> price comparison
- curfew enforcer
- baby monitor
- program that plays parent's voice to baby
- pet; caretaking reminder
- phone minutes used tracker/limiter
- clothing coordinator in combination w/ weather app
- TV/games timer
- Broadcast song via Bluetooth
- home automation
Small Business
- money counter/cash register
- inventory/barcode
- price check
- security
- police/panic button
- time clock/timesheets (bump-integrated?)
- PTT interface
- remote light switch (auto-changer)
- mood profiles ^
- employee shift management
Technophobe
- easy call interface
- e-mail (easy)
- note-taking (handwritten)
- piano/kids
Misc.
- image/word parser
- phone -> car gps addresses
- light detection
- wireless device locator
- light detection
- carbon footprint calculator/suggestions for improvement
- “Photobook” type app
- send file from phone to printer
- photoshop basics
- virtual bulletin board based on location
- mixer
- audio modem/SSTV
- networked game
Idea Count: 50
Idea Selection
The idea we have selected is the cash register app. This app will allow the user to use their Android smartphone in place of a physical cash register (except for the cash drawer, of course) and will implement interface changes that make the cash register, as a means of collecting money for services, much more intuitive to use. Additionally, while not in the initial stages, we hope to eventually make it compatible with common peripherals, such as card readers, that are used in the retail industry.
Core Principles:
- The app must perform (at least) all the functions of a conventional register
- The app must be easier to use than a conventional register (subjective, user-determined)
- The app must be customizable, and the options should be intuitive (subjective, user-determined)
- The app must be robust, and handle unexpected situations gracefully
- The app must be affordable
Specific Features (beyond conventional registers):
- The user can enter the amount of cash in the register at the start of the day (to facilitate the following two features)
-
The register will notify the user if it is not possible to make correct change -
The register will be able to show the user how to make correct change - The register will provide ways to record cash, check, and credit operations, even if it is not directly involved in them
- The register can display a summary of transactions for the day
- The register can output this summary to some outside resource (e-mail, printing, etc.)
Project Description
Target User Group
The target user group for this app would be owners of small businesses (or restaurants). These people are on a tight budget when trying to start up a business, so their ability to buy equipment is limited. They also, by definition, serve a relatively narrow (few in number) clientele. Therefore, their front-end money-management solution does not have to be capable of handling extremely high volumes of customers, allowing the owner to pick a solution more closely tailored to small business. Above all, the small business owner is looking for solutions that are cost-effective, easy to use, and reliable.
Problem Description & Context
One of the main problems with starting a small business is the lack of capital. This restricts the options that a small business owner has in purchasing equipment. Additionally, there is a general lack of products and services catered specifically to small businesses. This hinders their ability to do business as they are forced to conform to physical and logical models that do not fit.
More specifically, cash registers can cause problems. Purchasing a small cash register often means sacrificing features that would come with a more expensive model. The expense is not because of the effort that goes into creating these features, but because of the cost of physically implementing them in a tabletop machine. The only option when needing to upgrade is to purchase a new machine altogether--which is wasteful--both in money and in property.
Some apps already exist to fulfill some functions of a cash register, the most notable of which is Square. However, this app focuses only on the credit card payment option, neglecting cash and checks.
Why Mobile?
The mobile platform offers many advantages to the traditional physical cash register. First, the nature of the Android platform allows for fast patching and updates, ensuring that the users always have the best version of the software. Secondly, the mobile platform affords fine customization. With physical solutions it is very difficult, and often impossible, to customize a system to a user's needs. By using a highly customizable platform, we can ensure that we will be able to change the program's interface quickly and efficiently, without having to invest time and money in changing a physical design. Finally, by definition, mobile devices are able to be used while the user is mobile. This allows the user to change the physical location of the register relatively easily, while not having to worry as much about not having the space available to do so.
Preliminary Sketches
