Time flies: it seems it was yesterday that I wrote my learning goals for this class, but now, we have already completed our COM 597 course and entered a time for presenting our course reflections!
Needless to say, I have learned much through this interesting class which opened a door for me and led me to a wonderful world that I had never been to. The class intrigued my passion and enthusiasm for mobile phones and mobile apps, which are the things that I had never had much concern for. The whole process of studying has imperceptibly changed my mind about the mobile phone. Although I knew the mobile phone is a significant digital device, I had never realized it could be so functional in people’s daily lives with so many creative and practical apps available out there. Mobile phones have become a multi-used device that it is no longer just a device for solely making phone calls but a powerful medium carrying many possibilities. This class consolidates my thought that mobile phone has much more potential to become the most popular electronic device in the world than computers because of its portable size and affordable price. At least, I believe anyone can find some apps that would be helpful to their lives, making their lives much easier and more enjoyable, and this is why I think Smartphone is so valuable. I am very glad that I will never feel bored when I am waiting in a queue or sitting in the bus, I can do many things via my phone and take full advantage of every fragmented minute of my day. I can not only check email without going to a computer and inputting long user-name and password, use Gowalla to tell friends where I am and what am I doing but also download movies to my phone when I am busy and watch them during leisure time, or maybe just open a small game to play with, as a pastime.
After this class, one thing that I realized is important is to tie your app to reality, which means you’d better find enough data sources and figure out who your sponsors are before you tap your foot into it. At first, I wrongly thought the app world is a place where you can free your idea and you can make anything you want, however, it isn’t. For example, the idea of class finder is kind of hard to be implemented due to the hardness of gathering data sources, so it’s really important to keep in mind that it is safer to start with something practical and more realistic. It would be better to choose an idea that is in a specific scope and has abundant data available; otherwise, you may build castles in the air and trapped yourself.
To make a successful app is much harder than I had thought after reading through Wooldridge & Schneider’s the business of iPhone App Development. First, it’s not easy to construct an idea that is innovative. When we did our project ideas, I always noticed that there are already a lot of similar apps in existence. With so many smart app developers and collective wisdom out there, it’s hard to have a unique app idea; what’s more, you have to abandon some unrealistic ones and this makes it harder to get a really great idea. Second, even if you have a brilliant idea, there is still a long tough way to go. You won’t want to ruin your idea through a ragged app screen flow and interface design which may incur users’ cognitive friction. In order to ensure a pleasant user experience, it is essential that an app be well-designed. You may out-source a professional designer to do this if you are not comfortable with it. Third, once you have a superb app with a great idea and design, you still cannot stop here and go away. There are tons of marketing& promotion waiting for you to deal with; your app will be inundated by other apps if there is no well-conceived, ready marketing operation. As a result, to make an outstanding app is similar to the process of making a movie or any other cultural production. It’s better to form a team to work on it rather than working alone by yourself because the producing process involves many different aspects of professional knowledge.
In summary, it was beneficial for me to go through the whole mobile app building process via this class. Though I may not go and start a mobile app business right away, I feel much more confident when it comes to the topic of building mobile apps. I know how it works and what the key elements that contribute to making a successful mobile app are. Additionally, I learned the principle of interface design, which would be very supportive for my further studying of design. Thanks to this class, I am now very sensitive to any latest news regarding mobile phones as well as mobile apps and I have cultivated a new hobby: exploring mobile apps!
This is my last class in the MCDM program, I am glad I have completed my graduate school studying though, with a little sentimental emotionally. The learning experience, which has a significant influence on my view, perspective and interests, has incorporated into my life style unobtrusively and imperceptibly. I appreciate this digital baptism heartily, which refreshed my mind and life path.


