http://blog.thewheatfield.org
It is now available at: https://github.com/thewheat/SMARTER-eVCS-Android
The Android app is currently meant to be used in conjunction with the SMARTER eVCS webapp but hopefully I’ll get time to upgrade both the Android app the make it a standalone app.
Also once again, anybody interested in helping in this community development project, do get in contact or just get the code, make some changes and submit pull requests.
Today is Software Freedom Day and as a user of technology you should think about the programs that you use and understand the importance of the free software movement.
Depending on who you talk to, “free” it can mean different things but in terms of Software Freedom Day, “free software” refers to freedom and not price. Some of the core beliefs of both free software movement is that computers users should have the freedom to:
Do watch the following video for Richard Stallman (RMS) explaining Software Freedom Day and has some great insight into GNU and GNU/Linux
I thought it was appropriate that I release the code for the SMARTER eVCS as an open source project dual licensed under the GPL V3 and MIT License. As I previously mentioned I hope that this will foster some community development and be a point for people to involve themselves in a community project of a different kind that I believe has yet to be done in Brunei.
The code is available at https://github.com/thewheat/SMARTER-eVCS-webapp
It requires CakePHP for now and was built on an older version of CakePHP and somethings on the todo list are as follows
Next up will be the Android app source code release and also deploying the demo app online for people to play around and test. In the meantime, anybody willing to support, contribute or help can leave a comment / fork the code / spread the news. Any and all forms of participation is truly appreciated.
A couple of months back I started attending some meetups here in Melbourne and over a month ago I was able to attend my BarCampMelbourne (my first BarCamp!) and it was a great experience. What struck me most as I look back, is that there aren’t any kind of meetups like this back home in Brunei, at least to my knowledge. Events and meetups such as these rely on people giving back to the community and for regular meet-ups, to be consistent about it.
At one meetup, there was a company saying that they wanted to open source part of their product in order to give back to the community but it would take time for them to do so as it would take time for them to sort out their code and make it nice enough to publish: especially since it would represent the company. Sometimes they also have to separate out what code that they can release as open source, as some code may be libraries used which they may not have rights to distribute. I acknowledge that no company wants to put out bad code or give out something that isn’t theirs to give, but I also acknowledge that it is a point for procrastination: an excuse or crutch to fall back on and also possibly thinking that the code/work isn’t good enough. Or perhaps that is just me.
I pledged to code the SMARTER Android app over 1 and a half years ago and I did deploy a webapp for them to use to internally as well as an Android app what utilized the exported data from the webapp. After that I was caught up in finishing up my work before heading off to Australia and I guess I fell off the wagon in terms of developing that system further and keeping in contact with SMARTER as a whole. So by next week I hope to open source both the webapp and Android app and follow up with them, if there is anything further that can be done. I know the programs aren’t perfect, I know the code isn’t perfect, I know that there is room for improvement and I know that there is work to be done.
Over the next few weeks I’ll try document what I’ve done and also future goals that we hope to achieve. I used the word ‘we‘ as I hope to get other developers / contributors on board. I want this to be a base for contributing back to the community of Brunei and I am open to contributors / suggestions / feedback.
(Image from http://www.smarterbrunei.org)
So it’s been just over 2.5 months since posted the specifications of the SMARTER eVCS. I did manage to show them a working demo in January but February and March were busy months and did not manage to spend as much time as I wanted on this project. Had to learn some Android development and so far have managed to load images stored on the SD card as well as ability to traverse directories (which corresponds to selecting a picture in the demo). Also finally managed to add some more functionality in terms of voice feedback to the web system and demo’d the new update last Friday.
Tonight I should be meeting up with Alex, one of the teachers, with SMARTER to compile the necessary photos/images/voice clips so that there can be a complete working demo with proper cases for Farid (the son of SMARTER’s president Malai Hj Abdullah bin Hj Malai Othman). I’m still wondering if this is going to be a long term kind of project or are there any other non-profit organizations looking for help with any systems they require? I would love to help them out and also work with volunteers on implementing these projects. I did talk to Zulfadly of Anak.IT and mentioned it on the Anak.IT Facebook group but more volunteers are always welcome.
Do play around with the online working demo. Any feedback is appreciated. Do not that the current version (not updated online yet) has the ability to change profile picture and some general tweaks. Hope to update the online version soon.
To-Do (Near Future)
To-Do (Further Future)
P.S. HTML 5 audio is a pain as not all browsers support the same format. Had to resort to Flash to play audio but this gives a performance hit. The initial Flash media player I was using to play MP3 did not autoplay in Chrome so had to use a different Flash player which seems much slower. But this is a rant / post for another day =)
With respect to the previous post SMARTER Seeks Help to Develop App for ‘e-pad’, I did manage to meet with Malai, the founder of SMARTER, on Friday afternoon and have a discussion with him regarding my interest to volunteer for this project. I managed to detail out some specifications of the system and general information regarding their current systems. Do read the following and if you can contribute do comment below or tweet me @thewheat
Current Flipbook System
Proposed Application Specifications:
Proposed Plan Of Action
How You Can Help
When I read this article about SMARTER Brunei seeking for help with regards to developing an e-Visual Communication System (VSC) to help their autistic individuals, I thought it would be a great opportunity for the community to help out. They plan to use an Android 2.2 tablet called an “e-pad”. I have pledged to code the application and am seeking out anybody else willing to help out in this project. So far there is some support from @emmagoodegg and @bahit. Anybody else interested do comment and specify what you can help out on.
Things to do in the near future: talk to the people in charge and get the specifications on the application.
Date: Wednesday, 17th November 2010
Time: 12noon – 6pm
Venue: Riverview Hotel Carpark Area
Reason: Fund raising for both La Vida and SMARTER Brunei (proceeds are split 50-50)
Facebook Event Page (Requires Facebook login)
Nothing to do on the afternoon of a public holiday? Stressing out over exams? Wanting something to do on a boring afternoon?
Then come over to the car park behind Riverview Hotel on the 17th of November 2010 where the LaVida Carnival will be! There will be games (loads and loads of games), food and drinks, a puppet show, magic tricks, bouncerS (Mind you, bouncerSSSSSS), a garage sale and more.
And you may be able to finally meet the Mr Friday Night you keep hearing on Pilihan FM! ;)
But the best thing is: all proceeds will go to non-profit organisations who serve the community and help those in need. 50% will go to SMARTER and 50% will go to LaVida. Not only that, the carnival helps to raise awareness about those with special needs. This is YOUR chance to help Brunei!
So I hope to see you (and your families and your friends and your schoolmates and your coworkers and your bosses… ;D) there on the 17th!
Spread the word! It’s gonna be an exciting afternoon. =)
Source: Facebook Event Page
What is La Vida?
La Vida is a parent’s resource centre and toy library, where I volunteer about two Fridays a month. The center’s mission is to care and give compassion to the community. The resources are available for loans to children with special needs and/or those who are financial needy. It is a non-profit company and the funds come from sponsorships.
For more information about La Vida, do read the following blog posts from http://clickandrender.blogspot.com
Via anakbrunei.org tagboard in response to his post
SMARTER Dad: Those interested to join the ” Charity Walk ” please contact this number 8743777 ( Malai ) , 8734427 ( Hajijah ), 8865646 ( Major Talip ) 8769264 ( Edwin Chong ) , 8732046 ( Hj Yusuf ) … You all can join the walk from one stop or another on 2 May or 3 May . Walk for Charity …8 stop altogether the shortest being 3 km only …Reeda you can join the last to GIANT ..
Calling all people in Brunei to help SMARTER raise the B$1.9 million needed for their new building. Too bad I’ll be in Singapore attending a friends wedding, would have loved to join in this event
The Wheat Field 