Web/Mobile App Critique

A mobile app that I am fairly familiar with and will be focusing on is “JEFIT”. JEFIT is known as a weight-lifting routine tracker, but it can do so much more than that. With JEFIT you can search for workout routines that may fit within your fitness goals, you can create custom routines to fit your individual needs, there are 1300+ exercises stored in the database, provides motivation by letting you know when you have hit a new personal record, have detailed instructions of every exercise within its exercise database, and there’s the availability of sharing your completed workouts with friends to hold each other accountable and keep the motivation high. The mobile app can do that and so much more. The overall usability and design of the mobile app is great. Very simple to navigate through, account setup, maintaining info, and uploading progress photo’s (if you choose to). Once you setup your account it's really easy to navigate your way through the app. 

In the screenshot above you see all of the 1300+ exercises that the app has stored in it's database. You can view them based on the actual part of the body that will be used during the workout or you are able to see every exercise. This is how you would put your own routine together or there are plenty of routines that you can choose from. The screenshot below is an example of the routines that can be chosen.

Now although this is a great app to use there are a few things that I feel may make the app better. First being that I think that a web app should be created for this app. I understand that most people do most things from there smartphones, however in order to change the repetition range for the exercises you need to change it on every exercise, for every single day. It's very time consuming and tough to do on a smartphone. Coincidentally, that is also another recommendation that I have for the app. Maybe preset repetition ranges based on your goals. For example, if you wanted to gain weight your rep range may be between 6-8 reps lifting heavy weights. If you wanted to lose weight your rep range my be between 15-20 reps lighting light weights.




As you can see in the above screenshot you can track your body stats. Progress on body parts based on the goals you have set for yourself. That's great if you are truly into measuring all those body stats. One thing that I think could set this app over the edge is if they incorporate a calorie tracker or some sort of food tracker. In my opinion that would make this app a one stop shop. Instead of having multiple apps for trackers.

So that is my review of the mobile app called "JEFIT". Overall a good app for tracking workout routines (whether created or found within the app) but in my opinion can potentially be better with the small recommendations that I made suggested.

Programming Languages

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/370725425/

First let me start by discussing my experience in using Scratch. Overall, I can say that the program is a very good one. At first, I was completely lost and honestly didn’t know where to begin. After reviewing the “Getting Started Guide” and some of the tutorials, I just jumped right in and started going at it. I will say that I have gained a newfound respect for programmers. Now the tutorials assisted me in creating my story, but I still ran into a few challenges.
The challenges I came across were figuring out the timing through when the characters were having conversations as well as when transitioning to a new location. I overcame that figuring out how to calculate the times throughout the conversations and also with the help of my son who has used Scratch a little bit in the coding club at his school. I also ran into the of trying to make the characters face and walk in certain directions. I haven’t quite cracked that one yet, but I am most certainly determined to with some time.
The insight I gained from using Scratch was very interesting. As I stated earlier, I have developed a newfound respect for programmers. Initially programming doesn’t seem all that difficult but let me tell I’ve learned that it’s so much more to it than I thought. Calculating every step, every action, and timing the script for conversation are tough and has to be spot on in order for everything to be smooth. I’m sure that over time it gets easier but initially it’s not.
Learning the different programming languages was interesting as well. Prior to this I honestly thought there was only one. However, there is machine language, assembly language, and high-level language. Machine language is the language that the actual piece of equipment understands. Basically 0’s and 1’s! Assembly language is the human understandable language of 0’s and 1’s. Higher-level language is a programming language that has a bit more instruction included.
When programming first started, I feel as though machine language was an easier language to program. However, with the advancement in technology I think that assembly language is an easier programming language to master. Clearly it takes practice, but I think that it’s by far an easier language to understand and learn. I would say that the high-level language is most popular because you are able to provide detailed instruction for what you are trying to program. I would also say that that’s the language used to make video games, CPU’s in vehicles, smartphones, etc...
In conclusion I would have to say that even though I ran into some challenges operating on Scratch, I’m glad that I have the opportunity to create a story on it and I’m also looking forward to creating more stories or other animations using Scratch.