Project Proposal

By: Daniel Ku & Matt Iannacci

Objective

• For users to discover their own city as tourists. To allow people to share secret locations in their city and for other people to visit them. In return people can discover a new experience and businesses expand their clientele.

Hidden Gem

An interactive location based mobile app

What is it?

• Hidden Gem is an interactive mobile app that allows users to ‘check-in’ and navigate through a map of hidden gems and destinations within the city. The idea is to visualize the destinations within an interactive map that allows users to geo-tag themselves and simultaneously posting a photo. The app enlists only locations that may not be known to the mass public such as a neighbourhood restaurant and helps encourage users to try something new.

• This project will take the form of a mobile device app. It will rely on a mobile device‟s ability to take photos and GPS location services. It takes place in an online space where users can navigate through a map that corresponds to their present city.

• Visually the app looks like a 2D map of whatever city they‟re currently located. Users can navigate through streets and suburbs however a street is empty until a user has visited, checked-in and snapped a photo of the location. When a user checks-in, the map is filled with a photo of that location alongside a diamond icon signifying to users that a new gem has been found.

• This app allows users to produce content by using their mobile device‟s GPS to „check-in‟ into a location which would correspond by asking the user to take a photo. Alongside the photo the user can add a short 50 character comment about why this hidden gem is worth visiting. The comment function allows users to write a short enough review to entice users without giving too much information.

• As a consumer, users can navigate through the map, find hidden gems of interest and visit them. This helps users travel around their city and find new locations where they may never have stumbled upon. It also helps small businesses such as clothing boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants and others expose their products to a larger audience.

Budget

• According to that article, a survey of 96 mobile app developers showed the average cost to develop an app was $6,453.

• An article on OS X Daily about iPhoneDevelopment Costs reported that the development cost range for “small apps” is $3,000 to $8,000 and that “more complex or recognized brand apps” can cost $50,000 to $150,000.

• However this covers paying developers

Feasibility

• This project is achievable because the technology and resources are currently available, apps like Foursquareshow that this location-based mobile device apps can be successful.

• The main challenge will be taking on a new medium of mobile app design. There will be a large learning curve for this project.

Problems & Resolutions

• Developing an app

▫ The time and technical aspects to learn a new technology

▫ Create a working prototype or integrate technologies of familiar use

• Marketing the app

▫ Gaining popularity and creating content