davidpaulrosser{blog}

Hi all!

It’s summer, I’ve just graduated and now I have some spare time whilst searching for a job to create the next version of dashboardX. I’m currently writing a design document for it. Here’s the feature list so far:

Features:

• Xbox Live player information (More information added)
• Customizable backgrounds
• Friends List (New)
• Recently played games with achievement information and tracking (More information added)
• Sleek dashboard interface (Still maintaining the feel of the 360′s)
• Possibly the ability to create your own themes?

Runtime:

• Desktop application / Adobe Air .air
• Web application / Flash .swf

Desktop version:

The desktop version would include all of those features. I’m thinking of an application size around 1000 pixels wide by 570 high. That way I can do more with the space. I was limited before by what I could display with the size of the first version.

Web version:

I was thinking of making the web version smaller with less features. The current gamercard’s available are essentially ‘signature’ size. So maybe matching their resolution but adding more features than the existing ones would make the web version more desirable for forums etc.

I’m open to all comments on this. I want to make this version more accessible than the first and hopefully more fun to use and interact with. Feel free to leave a comment, and il get back to you :)

*Please note I don’t have access to the full Xbox Live API so I wouldn’t be able to include functionality such as adding new friends/ messaging etc.

I decided to call my interactive training package Galileo, as a tribute to the Italian physicist, mathematician and astronomer. He was mentioned throughout the documentary series Wonders of the Solar System. As Stephen Hawking once said: “Galileo, perhaps more than any other single person, was responsible for the birth of modern science.” (Source). When I was watching an episode of Wonder’s of The Solar System Prof Cox talks about Galileo creating telescopes so he could discover and learn more about Space. As Galileo (my application) teaches school students about Space, it would seem appropriate and as a good gesture to name the application after him.

Galileo – Interactive education package

Galileo is an interactive education package based on the theme of Space. Galileo follows the National Curriculum guidelines for teaching Key Stage level 1-4 students. I only developed the Key Stage 2 part of the application. Here’s an overview of it’s features:

Package includes:

• Setup tool which allows school staff to add their students to a database
• Analysis tool which allows the school staff to monitor the progress of the students
• Teaching application – the main application that teaches the students

User Interface:

• Clean modern interface – slightly larger for use with touchscreen and interactive whiteboards
• Help text which guides the user through the application
• Sound on/off toggle
• Accessibility – text enlargement

Teaching application (KS2) features:

• Interactive learning experiences on: Stars, Planets, Asteroids, Comets
• Games that are based on the information taught
• Activities that involve creativity on the subject
• Rewards that give the school students an objective whilst they learn
• Fun Links provides students with access to local activities, museums, educational websites and more games
• Social network integration allows students to discuss space related topics with other user’s of Galileo

Information taught by:

• Terminology school students can understand
• Interactive interfaces
• Games and activities

Usable with:

• Touch screen displays
• Interactive whiteboards
• Desktop/ Laptops

Runs on:

• Windows and OSX via Adobe AIR

You can see the final product by clicking here.