From CS 160 User Interfaces Sp10

Team

Brainstorm

Used car appraiser
Message template starter
Rubik's cube trainer
Floor plan mapper
Restaurant pick-up order
Frequency analysis
Musical instrument identification
Music composition software
Dining reservations
Math diagram generator
LaTeX GUI/Interpreter
Laser tag
Skateboarding/Biking Velocity measure
Panoramic image generator
Fishing bait suggestion
Nutrition application
Food/recipe recommender
Price comparison
Physical trainer
Emergency Call Button
Common Car maintenance
Dress app
Self-portrait beard picker
Self-tracker
Fridge/pantry storage tracker
Budget tracker
Crime look-up
Restaurant ratings with ordering suggestions based on others' input
8-ball psychic/wish game
App developer tips
Tree/forest guide
Ad-hoc event coordinator
Hiking trail creator
Skiing/snowboarding conditions
WoW-style game
Conducting baton
Pitch-control music maker
Augmented reality tag game
iPhone code generator
Workout buddies social app
GPS Friend locator (finds your friends)
File Sharing (allows you to have server space, store files for personal or work and send files to others)
MP3 streaming between two iPhones (shared music, not mp3s)
MP3 streaming from your computer
Skydiving related
Camera assistant/guide (e.g. for a DSLR)
Hiking/camping guide (what's safe/dangerous)
Drinking aide
Digital BART ticket (concept)
Send print jobs
Movie info (linked to GPS tracked location)
Accidents in freeway (so you know which is the safest route)
Constellation/star identification
Golf stats tracker/helper
Bet maker
Tying a knot tutorial
Survival how-to's
Accelerometer games
1. Golfing
2. Football
3. Hockey
4. Baseball
5. Bowling game
Craps game
Poker
Networking deck of cards
Forever falling game
Graffiti app
Client/Server Card Game App

Idea Selection

The idea we chose was the client/server card game app. The application can have multiple different styles of card games: poker, blackjack, Texas hold 'em, etc., because there is no associated game logic. We chose the idea because we thought a deck of cards would be an interesting app that makes the most of the iPhone's features: the internet, accelerometer, portability, and graphics.

Our group felt that a card game would make great use of the networking capabilities, using sockets or web connections to simulate virtual tables and connect players all over the world. We liked the idea of having an application where someone can just quickly join a blackjack game, play a few rounds, win some points, and have those points saved to the user's account the next time he plays. The gestures of playing cards can be emulated using the accelerometer to toss cards onto the table, shuffle the deck, or open and close your hand. The table can be viewed differently depending on the orientation of the iPhone of iPod Touch. We will also need to add interactivity utilizing the graphics capabilities of the iPhone SDK. Our group thought this would be a hard, yet rewarding aspect of the application to tackle.

Target User Group

Our target user group is poker players and card gamblers who need to fulfill an addiction 24/7. These users have gambled away their computers and laptops but they are still holding onto their iPhones. These users have a desire to play card games such as poker, blackjack, Texas hold 'em, etc., but cannot play it where they are because it might be a public space and/or there are not enough willing players around them to start a game. The users in the target group also enjoy the thrill of playing strangers who may or may not be near them and find this to be exciting due to the anonymity. They prefer real players over computer AI because real people vary in skill and do wild and crazy things that an AI server could not replicate.

Problem Description & Context

John is at the airport waiting for his plane and has an itch to play cards with someone real because the AI just doesn't provide an easy enough patsy. He whips out his iPhone and opens up the card game app and joins a "table" and starts playing with George, who is in a lecture but is not paying attention to class, and Jack who is at the dentist waiting for his appointment and has so much fun that he misses his flight.

This app will help card game fans play with others at distance places, and give them the feeling of a real hand of cards. Wherever the user is, he/she can just simply pull out his/her iPhone, open the application and select players from online contacts to play with. Whether the user only wants to play a quick round or play the whole night, this app is the perfect solution to the card game enthusiast's needs.

There already exist card games applications for the iPhone such as Blackjack and Texas Hold’em. Only a few card games provide the ability of multiple players.

Why is a mobile app a good solution for the problem?

A deck of cards is about the size of the iPhone. Having this application as a mobile app is very convenient since it gives the user the feeling that he is actually holding cards in his hand. Gamblers and poker players don't necessary want to play with a mouse or keyboard in order to gamble with others. Thus, an iPhone card deck feels more like a real deck of cards and simulates the experience more realistically than a computer can. In addition, special features such as shaking the iPhone for shuffling the cards will allow a better and more real experience for the user.

A mobile application is a good solution to the problem because it allows users to play their favorite card games with others regardless of where they are. It also saves time and effort of getting together and meeting at a specific place.

The advantage of having this game as a mobile application instead of just having it on the computer is that it would be easier and faster to access. For example, imagine you only have one hour of lunch and it happens that you only take 10 minutes to eat. What will you do for the rest of your lunch time? 50 minutes might not be enough to go home and log in to the computer to play online card games. Also it might take some time for the people you want to play with to login as well.

Having the mobile application is a good solution compared to having it on a laptop because it is easier to carry an iPhone in your pocket. It is very unlikely that you will carry your laptop while you wait for a dentist appointment or while you are waiting for your girlfriend to shop at the mall.

Solution Sketch

Two people in entirely different geographic locations link up over a connection on their iPhones. Suddenly it seems as if they were at a poker table together.