Version 0.0.1 NOW AVAILABLE !

Version 0.0.1 is out now. I've been waiting and wanting this to be out. I finally decide to make a demo of what I've been working on. Of course this does not have all the elements that I want, but it's just to give you an idea.

Some features that you will see when Composing a new SMS are being able to set a specific time and date that the teacher will want to notify the parents. The reason I choose this to include this feature is so that the parents aren't being notified when there working.

Another feature that you might see is when the name of the parent to whom it will be sent to in inputted the default language will appear on the bottom of the "To:" box. Of course it has  a drop down option if the teacher wants to notify a specific group(class).

For the Contacts some features that will be there are basic information such as the parents name along with the students name (in grey). Also labeling it the first person as the Primary parent to contact or having the option as a secondary for having both parents being notified at the same time if both parents choose too.

Again this is just a special release, but more will be coming soon. Let me know what you think. What I can change, what you suggest any feedback will be awesome. Thanks!

If you want to original PDF shoot me an email and I will be happy to send you a copy so you can try it out.

Keep enjoying your summer!

TGIF

TGIF (Thank God Its Friday). My question to this is - who is God? Anyway I think it's funny that people will say this sort of stuff. When I first heard of this I thought it was a file saving format.

Anyway it's Friday great and hope your doing well. I am thanks for asking. I just had a long and productive week. To start off I did approximately 58 wireframes in two days. I went to my first Mexican League Soccer game. These where two great and exciting things, but something not to exciting was I was running up and down the Bay Area to re-new my Health Insurance - which is a pain in the butt.

My Friday went well. I spend almost all day working at Google and finishing up more of the wireframes. I started the Composing SMS feature and todays fouces was on the Contacts feature. For the 6 hours that I was working I managed to get the Contacts design and have some clickable wireframes. Those wireframes where able to select on the different parent that the teacher wanted to see the contact info and wanted to edit.

In editing the contact info - there are several key things that are not common. One is setting a default language that the parent wants to receive his/her messages. Another feature is being able to add a secondary user and having both parents being notified at the same time if they prefer or if they do not.

There are many challenges when working with lots and lots of wireframes. Once you do up to 15 it starts getting confusing. Connecting each one to a specific window is not as easy. You need to be concentrated on what you're doing. There was one point of the process where I was amazed at what I did. I was able to get the text that was being sent translated into different languages. I want to make it easier for the end user to understand the message to I added a feature which will allow the teacher to select what languages to send the message. The teacher was able to select it and once it was selected and translated it will show what the message will look like. I saved it and tested and it worked and I was able to selected 6 different languages and it will translate into that langage. I felt great about doing this. For some weird reason I laughed and it made me happy to see this. I hope this serves as a great feature to users.

I think thats what Balsamiq wants you to do. Feel frustrated for sometime, but once it is exported you will feel great went it does what you want, if you connect it correctly. Like I've mentioned in the past it's a great tool and useful tool to use when designing for a new application or any idea that you have in mind.

Enjoy your weekend and also enjoy the rest of Friday and then enjoy the next and the next Fridays to come.

Translate

This is a feature that might not sound to important, but it will come useful in many scenarios.  It doesn't only have to be a translation from English to Spanish, other foreign languages as well. Why did I choose to have this as part of this application, well to make it easier for both of the end users. It won't be set as default, but will be an option that is available for the users to use. The user receiving the message will be able to read it in his/her language, which will also make it easier for them.

Not to mention - everything that is translated will not be transcribed exactly the same in the other language. For example try translating this blog into another language. When you read it, it does not make sense most of the time - depending on your word  choice. It's a feature that helps and at the same time does well and not so well in many cases, but overall a tool that is useful.

Now I'm off to watch my first soccer game. Pumas vs. Morelia

Happy 4th of July!

I was on vacation, which is why I haven't been posting anything up. This week I will bring more updates on what I am doing.

I can say that I've been working or rather thinking what platform it would be most beneficial to the teachers to use and also I've been learning more about APIs.

Again, Happy 4th of July and I hope you had a great weekend.