In order to gain a complete understanding of how to create different mobile applications and the problems that occur during the process, more repetition is necessary. This includes creating more applications of my own, as well as reading different research articles about others creating applications and the difficulties that they face during the process. These issues are always changing and adapting with the changing Swift language and updates to the XCode environment. These updates improve some issues, while they also create other issues for both the programmer and the user of the apps. Computer science as a field is always adapting and changing to the modern world, it is important to continue to adapt as time passes in order to create apps that can help people around the world with their current demands.
Update 2
After learning how to use both the coding environment and the coding language, I began to start the process of building the mobile application. This started by trying to build the interface. I used different pictures as well as utilizing the button options that are built into XCode. This allowed me to have the user press different buttons to say what time zone they are in as well as what time zone they want the time of. I also had to connect this part to the actual code so that the app knew what it meant when they selected each button. The connection of the interface to the back-end code was made to be very simple within XCode due to the Swift coding language. After creating the first part of the interface, I wrote some code in the ViewController in XCode. This was the back-end code that was responsible for taking in the actions of the user and saving them in the code. The code took in the time and the time-zone of the user and saved them as variables. Then, it took in the desired time-zone and calculated the differences in the time-zone entered the desired time-zone. Next, the app added or subtracted the difference in order to give the correct time for the time-zone to the user. The app is considered to be simple, however it was very useful in my education and helpful in using the knowledge I have learned in school on an outside project.
Update 1
Before creating the actual app, I needed to learn how to code using the Swift coding language in the XCode environment. Swift is a coding language that was launched by Apple in order to create iOS applications. It is thought to be an interactive coding language that makes it easier to learn and comes with different features in order to make the programming more productive. The syntax for Swift is much cleaner and easier to read than the previously used Objective-C language. In order to learn how to code with this language I used several different youtube videos as well as reading an online book created by AppCoda. The online book was very helpful in learning the coding language as it also utilized different exercises throughout the chapters to make it more interactive and allowed you to practice what you had just read. I also used this book in order to learn more about XCode and how to use it. It allowed me to learn the more complicated parts of the “playgrounds” in XCode very easily as it gave me a step-by-step guide on how to use the coding environment in the most efficient way.
Methodology
In order to create this application, I first needed to learn the appropriate coding language, Swift. The swift coding language was made specifically to code iOS applications within the XCode program. First, I learned the basics of the language, such as declaring variables and constants, working with text, different structures, and different types of loops. I then started to learn how to make the interface portion of the application. The interface is the section that the user sees and interacts with when they open the application. The actual coding section of the application is created in a different section and then they become intertwined. After learning the basics of the two sides of the application, I began to try following guides to create simple applications that showed how the two could become intertwined with one another. Afterwards, I began to create my actual application. I decided to create an application that helps the user know the time in different time zones around the world. The creation of the app included a lot of problem solving and trial and error. I was continuously testing sections of code to make sure they all worked. I also had to create the interface for the application and test it to see if it looked the best that it could. After I had the majority of the code for the app written, I had to go through and debug the application to fix different errors that popped up when all the code had been brought together.
Introduction
Creating an application for a mobile phone is one of the best ways for a computer science student to apply the concepts learned in their classes. The application helps learn the innovative process and how to problem solve throughout the creation process. However, if you have never done this before it can be a little difficult. Before starting the creation of the application, one must first learn the coding language and environment for the desired app type, for iOS apps, one must learn how to use the swift coding language within the XCode environment. There are many different resources that can be used to learn the coding languages and how to use the environment, such as AppCoda’s book, Beginning iOS 12 Programming Swift. There are other problems associated with creating a mobile application. Joorabchi, Mesbah, and Kruchten explore these different issues and discuss the difficulties that are faced with creating an application. This paper examines Joorabchi et al.’s difficulties in creating a mobile application as well as showing the process of creating an application and overcoming these obstacles.
2nd Year In Review
Being a part of STEM EE scholars these past two years has greatly impacted my college experience. Starting college, I had not realized how sheltered I had been throughout my entire life. Once arriving at Ohio State University, I began to realize how much of the world I was missing. I began to learn about different people’s cultures and identities that were very different than those from my community at home. Not only did I learn about these different ideas through the people I was meeting at OSU, but also through different diversity events that were put on by STEM EE scholars. During my freshman year, I attended one event through my scholars’ program that celebrated the Chinese New Year and learned the different customs and traditions that occur during this holiday. I feel that this helped me grow as a person as a whole as I am now more aware of the world around me.
STEM EE scholars has also helped me to find my passion and in turn my major. Through talking to my fellow scholars, taking introductory classes, and attending different programs hosted by STEM, I realized that I loved to code. This prompted me to change my major from chemical engineering to computer science and engineering. This also inspired my capstone project, the making of my own app. I don’t think that I would have been able to find this passion of mine as quickly in life if I had not been given these different opportunities to explore different STEM fields more in depth.
As I continue with my college experience, I would like to explore more of the world and learn about the different cultures that live all around the world. I would love to participate in a study abroad program through Ohio State at some point in the next two years. Also, I plan to continue to attend more diversity events through the scholars’ programs as well as Ohio State as a whole. STEM scholars has taught me that everyone is diverse, so I want to expand my view of the world by talking to a variety of people while at Ohio State. It is fascinating to see the diversity that the world has to offer.
Additionally, I would like to join a club on campus that creates different apps in order to expand on the knowledge that I have obtained from my STEM capstone project. This club would also serve as a chance for me to make different connections within the computer science field and hopefully obtain an internship or future job. I hope to one day have a job in the computer science field that can help a wide audience of people. I would like to make a difference for people and make their lives better, even if it a small difference such as making a silly app that will in turn make them smile, or being able to code a map app that gives the user a short-cut to their destination. I love this field because the possibilities to change lives are endless.
Nina Ettefagh’s Resume
Being apart of STEM EE Scholars has given me many different opportunities throughout my two years at The Ohio State University. This scholars program has given me the chance to improve my networking skills, opportunities to volunteer throughout Columbus, and allowed me to see the diversity that exists at OSU. Additionally, being in STEM has given me an academic community that has helped me succeed during my time in college.
Interview with a Software Engineer
- What attracted you to this career path?
- I always liked to work with electronics and was happy with a life that included playing with and fixing electronics.
- What previous professional experiences have helped you most in this role?
- As a child, I was always working with the hardware of computers or on computers (the software side).
- What is something that would surprise people about your day to day?
- It would surprise people how busy I am in my day to day life. There are currently not enough qualified people in this field.
- What is one thing you wish someone would have told you before going into this field?
- I wish someone would have told me to work more on website creation and prepare for that aspect of my job.
- What are some of the biggest rewards of your position?
- I have the ability to pick and chose who I work with and when I work for the most part.
- How would you describe someone who would excel in this career?
- Someone who is very analytical would excel in this field.
- What do you enjoy most?
- I enjoy the option to work on new pieces of technology within not only my field but also within our society.
- What do you like least?
- Within my job I have to travel a lot, which is not an ideal situation.
- How do you see your job changing in the next 10 years?
- In the future, there will be a need for more qualified people in the field and this will drive up the demand for workers. This will then give the qualified workers the opportunity to pick their jobs and will then result in them changing jobs before their assignment is complete.
- If you could go back, could you change anything or do anything different with your career path?
- I would be more aggressive in trying to expand my client list.
- What are the current projects you are working on?
- Currently I am customizing enterprise software at a company that is contracted out by Accenture.
Artifacts
Project lead the way is a program based out of Metro-High School that encourages students to become involved in the STEM field. It provides fun activities for kids and shows them all the different things that STEM majors deal with. While volunteering for the lead program, I was responsible for teaching kids about different styles of math problems in preparation for the ACT. While working through the problems, the kids asked me questions about how to solve the problems and why the solutions were correct.
This experience helped me learn how to express my thoughts out loud to other people. This skill it crucial for any job in order to share your ideas and help collaborate with the others in the group. Also, this experience taught me leadership skills, such as managing many people at one time. I was responsible for helping six kids at one time and had to learn how to manage my time efficiently in order to help all of them. I enjoyed this experience and hope that my help will benefit these kids in the future!
Welcome to my Honors & Scholars e-Portfolio
Welcome to my e-Portfolio! Here you will be able to find information regarding my past accomplishments, involvements, and resume. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at ettefagh.8@osu.edu. Thank you for your time and interest.