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Module 14

What did you complete this week?

I added filler news stories to the news feed. I also updated the maps to a more current date (Apr. 1 - May 1) and finished creating icons for the crime statistics page.
Assignments: Danger Ranger App

What will you complete next week or for the future?

If I receive the code for the gps, I will add it in and resubmit next week. Otherwise, I will continue working on the project in the summer. I know my post event pages aren’t up to date so I can work on those pages. I have an idea of what I want to do as it has been developing in the WNM 810: User Experience class. I just need to code it to make it work. Hopefully for next semester as I will be taking WNM 830: Visual Design, it will help conceptualize the overall project and how I can make it look better than at this beginning stage.

What issues did you run across?

I didn’t have many issues this week. It was basically trying to get the project as finalized as possible.

Past Entries

Module 13

What did you complete this week?

In my user experience class, Alyssa suggested that I add an alert box that would redirect to the event marker taking place. I don’t know how to do that yet so for now the alert redirects to the News page. I also updated the news page to look more like a news feed. It doesn’t go anywhere from there yet. I am also trying to get the post event page working.
Assignments: Danger Ranger App

What will you complete next week?

I want the project to look as complete as possible.

What issues did you run across?

I want to be able to add a marker by typing in the location and the marker pops up on the map. I know it can be done as it is possible to already to in the default Google maps. But, I want to keep the markers where they are and an ability to save the marker once someone inputs the location. Once I get that working, I want to add a category dropdown and a message box for description of event.

Module 12

What did you complete this week?

I moved the account login to the index page. Last week, it sat as a button that became a popup login page. Now it is a separate page and the map page is a separate page.
Assignments: Danger Ranger

What will you complete next week?

I will continue working on the geolocation. Once I have the code corrected, I will implement it to all of the map pages.

What issues did you run across?

I am still having a problem with the function showPosition(position) {center: position.coords.latitude} area.

Module 11

What did you complete this week?

I got the needed code for geolocation this week. It is a process and I will continue adjusting next week. This week, I also updated all the maps to Mar. 1-Apr. 8. I also added two more categories to the Crime Statistics page: Prostitution & Sex Offenses. The earlier map didn’t have the two categories yet as no crime occurred in the beginning of the year.
Assignments: Danger Ranger

What will you complete next week?

I will continue working on the geolocation. Once I have the code corrected, I will implement it to all of the map pages.

What issues did you run across?

I had a problem with the function showPosition(position) {center: position.coords.latitude} area. I need to look into it. Right now, most online tutorials show a static image map after finding the location and I need a live map.

Module 10

What did you complete this week?

This week, I added headers to each of the map pages. The majority of the time spent this week was creating the main page map as it just took a hella long time to geocode.
Assignments: Danger Ranger

What will you complete next week?

I plan to update the map marker pages to Apr. 1 to Apr. 29 dates. If I get the code to add geolocation, I will do that also.

What issues did you run across?

Nothing this week.

Module 9

What did you complete this week?

After the meeting, it was decided that I should include a login page especially for the post an event page. This would allow me to store data. My plan for this project’s completion by the end of this semester is to add the gps location to the main page and continually update the map markers pages.
Assignments: Danger Ranger

What will you complete next week?

I hope to get some help with the gps location for the main page. I also want to complete the account login page.

What issues did you run across?

Nothing this week.

Module 8

What did you complete this week?

I finished adding the csv files to the fusion tables so now each page has some relevant data. I also finished the icons for the Crime Statistics page. I didn’t mention it in the post as I technically completed it about an hour after the assignment was due.
Assignments: Danger Ranger

What will you complete next week?

I hope to get some help with the gps location for the main page. Also from the midterm review, there is a way to automatically upload the data which will be a major time saver. Hopefully, I can get the code or a source to add it to this project.

What issues did you run across?

The only issue is that the fusion tables take a long time to geocode especially if there are many entries. The larceny/theft category had over 4,000 entries and it took over an hour for it to geocode. I am also finding that the fusion table geocoding doesn’t recognize some of the latitude/longitude entries so if you expand the map, you may find a marker in Oakland, San Diego, LA, etc.

Module 7

What did you complete this week?

I found the Fusion Tabling in Google Maps API that will significantly reduce time spent on gathering location data. It allows me to upload a csv of the each category and then will geocode each location into a clickable marker or heatmap. For the heatmap version, I am trying to figure out how to change the style of the heatmap (radius, opacity) without having to do it in the Fusion Table setup. I managed to complete 5 of 8 fusion tables. I want to finish the rest, but it will have to wait until next week. Being that this week is Holy Week & Easter, I am committed to events at church.
Assignments: Danger Ranger Midterm

What will you complete next week?

I will continue to create Fusion Tables for vandalism, larceny/theft and robbery. I will also finish creating the icons.

What issues did you run across?

Getting the radius to change in fusion table heatmaps.

Module 6

What did you complete this week?

This week, I added the main pages to the app. Currently, there are 4 main pages. I haven’t done the sub-pages like how to Post an Event or the stages of entering directional data to the map. I changed the map style so the heatmap is more noticeable. I also removed the toggle buttons and placed the temporary navbar at the bottom. I want the navbar at the bottom, but as an up arrow that when clicked will pop the menu up, floating over the map or whatever page. Currently, it is sitting in a sticky footer.
Assignments: Danger Ranger so far

What will you complete next week?

As per my revised timeline, I will continue working on the dummy pages. I was looking into how to place a marker onto the map through the front end and not the back.

What issues did you run across?

This week the issues were layout issues, adjusting the css to make the grid work.

Module 5

What did you complete this week?

This week, I’ve updated my timeline based on the data I’m collecting. As I wrote last week, I am condensing the data to a monthly basis due to the amount of information per category. I moved the toggle buttons to the bottom for now.
Assignments: Technical Project Timeline

What will you complete next week?

As I start creating dummy pages for next week, I also plan to remove the heatmap toggle buttons. I will need to create a separate map for each js file so it can link to the categories in the page before.

What issues did you run across?

Nothing. I didn’t get to do that much this week as I had a major event for 4 days this week.

Module 4

What did you complete this week?

This week, I don’t have any links to provide. I started collecting data for the all data page. I found that SFGov has every crime listed in a downloadable csv. After downloading a month and a half of data, I realize that I need to change the timeline of data for this project for an annual gathering to monthly gathering. From Jan. 1 to Feb. 25, there have been over 1000 assaults reported and over 4000 larceny/theft crimes reported. I will need to find a way to upload each category to a database that will project the lat/lng per crime instead of manually entering each case reported.

What will you complete next week?

Next week, I probably won’t get through much except for the assignments due. I work at the International Ocean Film Festival and it starts this Thursday through Sunday.

What issues did you run across?

I found that what I want to complete is kinda nuts. I manually entered the lat/lng for arson into a js file for testing because this category had only 33 cases, and then scrolled to see assault and it was mind-boggling how many cases have been reported in less than 2 months since the start of the new year.

Module 3

What did you complete this week?

I started implementing my project. I created the homepage with a heatmap from Google Maps Javascript API, link here. The data isn't there yet, but I will need to collect it by category and insert it into the js file. This week, I brainstormed some other ideas to put into this project. One is to have a live news feed of local stations that are filtered to this project. Another idea is to have a post what you’ve just witnessed that will insert a blip on the map and would time out after a period of time. After selecting the page, a pop-up will appear to dial 911 and then the user can input infomation. I also completed my technical project timeline.
Assignments: Technical Project Timeline

What will you complete next week?

Although my next class for next semester should be the branding class, I still want a name to call my project. I hope to come up with a few names by the end of next week. Currently, I am using Danger Ranger as a temporary name, but it is on the negative side and I am looking for something more positive.

What issues did you run across?

When testing the heatmap, my phone continues to show geolocation doesn't work. It seems to be in an error loop. On the computer, it works fine. It might be the API key or that the phone is storing the info in a cache that I need to find and delete.

Module 2

What did you complete this week?

I presented my thesis project as is to Fred McHale with the updated waterfall timeline. From the feedback of the presentation, I should start work on the project as a responsive website focusing only on a mobile platform. As a responsive website, I can develop my pages for a working prototype. From there, I can move to building a hybrid app using Adobe PhoneGap, which uses HTML, CSS and Javascript. After review of the SWOT/PEST assignment, I took what Fred said and am now working on my own project’s SWOT/PEST that will be continuous over the course of this semester.
Assignments: Technical Project Description

What will you complete next week?

Complete a timeline of technical work. Example: Mod 1:Do framework research. Future Mods: Create html for map page, image placeholders, etc. I will also need to come up with a new project name. Waddle SF doesn’t cut it as a project for a safety walking app. Color, logo and typography will come later in the branding class, but a new name will help to title project instead of “Name TBD”.

What issues did you run across?

I had some issues with the technical project description. As the project is basic, I am not sure if the assignment is correct. I still don’t know if I will need a cache manifest.

Module 1

What did you complete this week?

I chose Whole Foods to complete the SWOT/PEST assignment for the week and completed all the other assignments. I am still unsure if my timeline will work out.
Assignments: Updated Timeline

What will you complete next week?

Hopefully, I will come up with some new branding names for my project. Waddle SF doesn’t fit with the updated project, neither does the brand itself. If I don’ settle with a final new brand, a brainstorm of ideas will do.

I will need to redevelop my project to present on Thursday.

What issues did you run across?

After the long winter break, it is me trying to focus and get back into the mode of going to school again, even if it is only online. Knowing that this MFA will take a total of 4 years being that I am only taking 2 classes each semester, I am trying to tell myself that I am past half-way-there.