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MIT App Developer Program
In order to survive in the 21st century, one needs
to have an aptitude for technology and software. Interest in software
development and application should be encouraged not only by schools but by
students themselves. Even professionals in different fields of work, such as law, medicine, finance etc. could have a taste for software development but never got the chance to build on it. Luckily enough, the researchers at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology did not only recognise this but also took steps in order to meet the needs of school-going kids and counter the drawback faced by professionals.
The ‘MIT App Developer Program’ is a cloud-based tool, which
means you can make apps right in your web-browser. It is a blocks-based
programming tool that allows everyone to build a
fully-functional android app in less than an hour. All one needs to get on the
Developer bandwagon is a Google account and an android device to experiment
with. This paraphernalia is easily available and is also
economically viable. Connecting your device and getting started with the
development of apps is not a hefty task, thanks to their clearly laid out
instructions in the ‘Getting Started’ guide.
This program was the brain child of Google's Mark Friedman and MIT professor Hal Abelson. It runs as a web service run by staff at the MIT Centre for Mobile Learning. It supports a worldwide community of 3 million users, and more than 100 thousand of its weekly users have built more than 7 million functional apps till date.
Who uses this program?
This program has encapsulated the attention of a wide variety of people, ranging from formal and informal educators to government and civic employees; from researchers to hobbyists and entrepreneurs.
This Program has bridged the divide between ‘professionals’
and ‘novices’. Children at the age of 14 years can now make android apps
without going into the intricacies of Java or PHP. People over the age of 60 with a penchant for programming can sit at home and indulge themselves. This app does not discriminate.
Working:
The program works in two folds: first, the real time app simulator on your android device which can be downloaded from the Play Store and second, the MIT App Inventor 2 Beta version on your laptop/PC.
The App inventor consists of the 'Design' and 'Blocks' pages which take care of the front end and back end execution of the apps under construction respectively. The aesthetic aspect of the apps is taken care of using the Design page, while each button or canvas on the design page is given its required functionality with the help of the blocks.
Without having to go into the nuances of Java or any other language, one can easily build functional apps and test them out in real time.
No other technical paraphernalia is required to connect your android device to the laptop. You just need to ensure that both of these are connected to the same WiFi network. How much easier can it really get?
Advantages:
Imagine building an android app at the age of 15 which makes
your phone talk at the touch of a button, or bouncing a ball around on the
phone screen with your finger. Achieving all this without going into detailed
theory does not only boost one’s morale, but also does wonders to expand your
horizons.
Venturing into the field of operative app development at a young age can only have a positive impact on one's intellectual growth. Backed by the expertise of Google and MIT, one can be sure that it won't lack in terms research, education and potential for further growth.
One can start building apps according to their own needs without having to depend on other professionals programmers. For instance, a lawyer may need an app which arranges his/her appointments based on certain exclusive requirements, which no other existing app provides. The lawyer can thus make his/her own app just the way he/she wants.
The myriad
of opportunities available to people these days should be exploited to the
best of their potential and the skills enhanced should be encouraged and practised by students and professionals alike.
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