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=LHS Android Applications=

We started playing with Google's Appinventor in the spring of 2011. During the time when appinventor shifted from Google to MIT, we spent some time building logic circuits in Minecraft. Now the MIT site is operational. We currently use 64-bit Fedora 15 and LG Ally android phones without contracts. we have also gotten LG Optimus V, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and Motorola Droid devices to work in Windows and Linux. You have to tinker with specific android device drivers on the Linux and Windows platforms (we have no experience with Macs so we can't say).

We meet once a week after school and none of the students have experience with Java programming so Appinventor is a pretty productive environment that doesn't burden the novice with lots of difficult syntax. We are also funded by a USTAR grant so our applications are mathematical/science in nature. We have also had two short summer school sessions. Our first was in the summer of 2011 and information on that class can be found by clicking the "Fraction Calculator Summer 2011" link on the left in the navigation window. Our second was in the summer of 2012 and details can be found from the "NXT Robotics Summer 2012" link also at the left.

In order to access Appinventor you need a Google account so you can be authenticated (even now that Appinventor's home is MIT). You will also need to set up your computer (Linux, Windows or Mac) with directions and downloads at:

[|explore.appinventor.mit.edu/invent]

Appinventor is web-based and is now located at:

[|appinventor.mit.edu]

When you use Appinventor, you interact with three components (it is possible to set up your own server but we haven't tried it):


 * The Designer:** This is where you organize the visible and non-visible components your app will use. This is where you design what your app will look like on your android device. You can use the designer to download or upload your projects as zip files or to package your application and load it on your USB-connected android device.


 * The Blocks Editor:** This is where you use blocks like a jigsaw puzzle to build your event-driven program. If you have seen or used scratch, this should look very familiar.


 * The Emulator:** Even if you don't have your own android device, you can run an android emulator on the computer along with the designer and the blocks editor.