wearables, things & apps - mobile dev + test '15

Wearables, Things & Apps

Chris BeauchampDeveloper @WhitewaterLabsEvangelist @Crittercism@cjbeauchamp

Using apps to help users experience IOT devices

bit.ly/CritterDevTest

The Disconnected Thing

• Disconnected from all other

things

• Limited functionality

– Data collection

• Wearables, sensors

– User control

• Automation, functional controls

• Some things have WiFi or connections

• Large, expensive, not always feasible

The Connected Thing

• Connected to many other things

– Wifi, Bluetooth, NFC, etc

Making the connection

• BLE enables data transfer to/from phone

• NFC (Near Field Communication)

• Wired options (plugging into USB port)

• Headphone jacks

Interfacing with the thing

• We have two devices and a data

connection between them, what next?

• Need to install our own logic on both

devices to add value

Custom Logic :: Thing

• Keep the logic lightweight

• Resource constrained

– CPU

– Memory

– Storage

– Battery

• Keep the thing doing what it does best

• Data transmission

Custom Logic :: Hub [Phone]

• Receive data from the thing

• Do… something… with it

– Display data

– Communicate with services

– Store information

– Configuration

Why an app?

• Functional

– Apps and phones are a powerful and flexible

combination – leverage them!

• CPU, memory, push, GPS, large batteries

• Engage users

– Always one touch away

– Larger interface than most wearables

and things

• [Relatively] easy to develop

So. Many. Apps.

There’s an app for everything… there needs

to be an app for YOUR thing!

Apple Watch

BREAKING NEWS: APPLE LAUNCHING SMART WATCH

Apple Watch

• Requires the presence of an iPhone

– GPS/Cell Data/Wifi

– Battery life

• Multiple types of application interfaces

– App, Glance and Notification

– Allows various use cases & variable

investment

• Easy-to-use APIs for interface between

watch & app / device

Apple Watch

Communicating with the iPhone

Responding to the watch request

Learn More

Full Demo (w/ Source Code) available at:

bit.ly/CritterDevTest

General Structure

=> Hub

IOT Device

Phone App Use Cases (pt1)

• Thing generates data – show it!

• Managing and connecting user accounts

– Somebody’s gotta do it

• Thing configuration and updates

– Push changes to keep the thing current

Phone App Use Cases (pt2)

• Use the phone to upload and download

data to and from the cloud

– Data processing, sharing, analysis, etc

– Offloads CPU cycles, memory, battery from

the thing

– Use this data to ‘teach’ the device about the

user so it’s customized to them

Use Case :: SPG (Starwood Hotels)

• Get reservation info• Check in• Unlock door

Use Case :: American Airlines

• Flight Status• Check in• Boarding pass

Use Case :: Nike Running

• Start/manage workout• Check times/status• Easy access

What do these apps have in common?

Form

– Users should love using your app

• A lot of engineers here… hug your designers!

– Keep it simple

• You have lots of cool content and functionality…

highlight it!

• Don’t make the user do too much – or squint!

• Make smart use of space

• Swipe instead of a button? Pinch instead of a slider?

• Only show what’s necessary!

not actual size*

What do these apps have in common?

Function

– Quick, easy-to-use

information

– Alerts and

notifications keep

interactions fast

– Formatted data

allows for easy

access

What do these apps have in common?

Leverage Data

– What do users really want to see/do?

– Can’t add it all, so use data tools to see

what’s most popular

What do these apps have in common?

PerformanceHow they interact with

the outside world

What happens when things break?

Performance Monitoring

• What happens if your deployed app…

– Breaks on a user?

– Runs slow?

– Drops a connection with your thing?

– Crashes?

• Left in the dark unless the user tells you

– Bad reviews are no good!

App Store Feedback & Analysis

SDK for App Performance

Crittercism

• Remotely diagnose issues happening with

your app

• Make it more stable, faster, more reliable

• Provide your users with a great user

experience

Crittercism – Crash Reporting

Crittercism – Crash Reporting

Crittercism + Apple Watch

SDK automatically

monitors connections

Crittercism – Transaction Monitoring

Crittercism – Transaction Monitoring

Make it work!

• Connectivity between devices is key

– Have a solid layer to manage exceptions,

errors and interference or device malfunctions

• Test, test, test, test, sleep, test

– Devices, settings, configurations, everything

Breakdown

• Leverage smartphones and apps – they’re

powerful!

• Don’t forget about design

• Test until you can’t test anymore – and then test!

• Leverage tools to help you get feedback and fix

issues

Finishing Up

http://crittercism.com

bit.ly/CritterDevTest

Chris BeauchampDeveloper @WhitewaterLabsEvangelist @Crittercism@cjbeauchamp