UNIT 8

ASSIGNMENT 1 - By Callum Holman-

MOBILE APPS Hathaway

Task 1
The apps I am analyzing...
I am analyzing Learning and Development, Travel & Tourist apps in my
assignment; I am going to pick YouTube for Learning and Development.
Then, for my Travel and Tourist app I am going to choose Google Maps.

I am going to explain the purpose, quality and features of both apps

mentioned.
Task 2
What is the purpose of YouTube?
The purpose of YouTube is the ability to stream videos through any device and any network. YouTube allows
the user to search for videos, look for recommendations through a certain category for this instance it would
be an educational category, it also can stream the video to another compatible device such as a TV so other
people can watch it, or you can see it bigger or be able to work and watch the video at the same time.
Users can also look back on historical music, video clips, programmes and films and can also add video
content to share with other users, personal experiences for example which can be informative to other users.
People using YouTube can like or dislike videos and you can see how many views a video has had, which
engages community users to use YouTube. They can also share content with other users who might be
interested in viewing certain content.
Comments can also be made on YouTube content by users and subscribe to certain YouTube creators to
keep up with regular content from these channels.
YouTube users also can organise new playlists, and you are able to save videos to watch later.
What is the purpose of Google Maps?
The purpose of Google Maps is to navigate from Point A to B and to provide satellite and aerial
data to the user, the user can also input coordinates to find something or someone. This was
made to find roads, countries and many other things. You can also access the app offline, and
you can download maps on to the app so it will load better when using offline networking.
You can set your location on the app, for both home, work & when travelling anywhere in the
world.
Google Maps gives you the ability to search within an area radius for restaurants, groceries, pubs,
hotels, coffee shops, petrol stations, parking, things to do in your area, libraries, and many more
options on the explore section of the app.
Within the 'Go' function you can search directions from A to B and you can also save these
options to use again in the future.
Users can also contribute to Google Maps by adding places, writing reviews and photo content.
 What are the user requirements of YouTube?
◦ It allows the user to play and pause videos whenever they like also allows the ability to playback
where you left off with a YouTube account which is good for the user to continue with the video they
are watching maybe later or in a couple of days.
◦ It allows the user to access the YouTube app/website for free, Although you can buy a “Premium
Subscription”, but it doesn’t have any limitations on the videos you watch.
◦ It allows people to communicate through a community via the channel's comments section.
◦ It allows the user to use YouTube on any compatible devices that it can run on.
◦ It offers different ways of learning through different ways of people explaining it.
◦ This is 13+ with parental permission required.
What are the user requirements of Google
Maps?
◦ It provides a large amount of information to the user such as road layouts, reviews, satellite images, locations of
any city, town or street.
◦ You can share any location with family and friends, ensuring they get to the right address also you can live share
your location to a trusted person.
◦ It has a wide range of transport modes to choose from such as car, bike, public transport or by walking.
◦ It allows the user to pick up the location from their phone if they send it from their computer web browser.
◦ It is available offline with the map downloaded to access any map easier.
◦ People with co-ordinates can enter them to find the exact location on Google Maps.
◦ Ability to edit places for reviews if the place has incorrect information.
◦ It shows car parks nearby if you're looking for one to go to.
◦ This is designed for all age ranges.
What is the user friendliness of YouTube?
◦ It allows the user to search for videos that they might want to learn about.
◦ It has a suggestion of videos as soon as you launch the app that you might want to choose from.
◦ Allows the user to create playlists to store videos on YouTube and share playlist to friends and family.
◦ It has easy to see icons and some bold text within the app.
◦ It lets you know when someone has uploaded a new video that you might want to watch.
◦ Allows you to create videos to show other things that you know and to show others how to
understand that subject.
◦ Big thumbnails so people can see when you first launch the app.
◦ One colour throughout the YouTube App.
 What is the user friendliness of Google Maps?

Search Voice Searching Bold text and icons Same colours Real time
bar/navigation bar throughout the app tracking/data
Does YouTube utilise any hardware that is
already built in?
YouTube is dependent on hardware being used for the use of creating and
watching.
It uses the following:-
◦ Camera – recording videos.
◦ Microphone – Voice searches and speaking in videos.
Does Google Maps utilise any hardware that
is already built in?
Google Maps is very reliant on its hardware.
It’s uses hardware such as:-
◦ Speaker – Reading directions out.
◦ Microphone – Voice Search.
◦ Camera – In real life tracking giving you directions with your camera.
What interface elements does YouTube have?
◦ YouTube has a variety of buttons within its mobile app such as casting, searching,
uploading a video, viewing subscriptions and shorts, your personal library etc.
These are set to allow the user to interact and utilise the app for its intended use.
◦ It has ad-survey’s which allows the user to check mark any answer to the ad’s pop-
up survey, this is used to normally know what the user likes and dislikes or to gain
information.
- Screenshots shown on the last slide of this task.
What interface elements does Google Maps
have?
◦ On Google Maps you have a wide selection of buttons, these buttons can control
multiple features such as setting your map type and the detail you want on it, a
category menu that can show different businesses in your local area.
◦ You also have an input control where you can put in a country, city etc. which
allows the app to look up information which the end user has inputted and returns
a result.
◦ You also have local feeds which allows the user to like or comment.
- Screenshots shown on the last slide of this task.
What integration does YouTube have with the
operating system?
◦ Files – To find files to upload on YouTube.
◦ Microphone – Voice searches and speaking in videos.
◦ Notifications – alerts you on new videos on the app for you to watch based on your
watching history.
What integration does Google Maps have with
the operating system?
• Files – Download of updated maps.
• GPS/Location Services – Used for looking at your location on the map and finding point B.
• Contacts – Sharing locations with each other.
• Cable connection – To connect to Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
• Notifications – To direct while off the app and to suggest to write reviews to places you have been to.
What platforms and devices are compatible
with YouTube?
◦ YouTube is a cross platform app, which can be accessed on both iOS or Android.
This has many advantages such as having a wider target audience, having one
source code to share across both phone operating systems.
◦ The compatibility for YouTube is on game's consoles, smart tv's and streaming
media devices. These devices can be PlayStation 3-5, Nintendo Switch and Wii
U, XBOX 360 – S/X Series, Apple and Android TV etc.
What platforms and devices are compatible
with Google Maps?
◦ Google Maps is a cross platform app, which can be accessed on both iOS or Android. This
has many advantages such as having a wider target audience, having one source code to
share across both phone operating systems.
◦ Google Maps has to have a certain operating system to run and is available on Computer,
iOS and Andriod. For Android you have to have a phone or tablet which is on Android 6.0
or further and the latest version of the app. Whereas, with a computer you have to have a
certain web browser which would be Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge within
the operating system being Mac OS 10.12.0 and further, Windows 7 and above, Chrome
OS with an Intel CPU and Linux. With IPhone being apart of the app compatibility, you
must have iOS 13.4 and above. These systems must be compatible with the system for the
app to excute its purpose.
 Search icon Account
Management
Voice Search

SCREENSHOTS
OF YOUTUBE'S
MAIN
INTERFACE Ability to Save
 Ability to share a place to someone
Ability use voice
search Ability to use your phone to Big search bar
call, view a website also save
and label within the app.

SCREENSHOTS
OF GOOGLE
MAP'S MAIN
INTERFACE

See other places nearby

Go back to current
See images/street location with ease
view

See reviews that people

have wrote
Task 3
How does some of the app help fulfil the
purpose of YouTube?
Performance - YouTube's app performance is very responsive and loads videos quick within the app, if the app had
a bad performance rate people would find an easy alternative to YouTube.
Presentation – YouTube's presentation is very clean and it's not hard to find things within its app interface,
presentation is vital for the end user to be able to navigate and see any video they like, as if the presentation is
not good it can lead to people leaving within 3 clicks/touches of the app.
Usability – YouTube's app is easy to navigate due to its minimal stress interface which allows the user to navigate
videos within the app, people like this as if they are clicking too long, they are not likely to stay on the app.
YouTube is usable by all age groups to watch videos on its platform for any video purpose.
Accessibility – YouTube has a limited amount of accessibility settings, it has a voice search feature which allows the
user to speak what they want to search instead of typing it, this may be because they are not good with the
keyboard or have a disability that may affect their typing skills, but sometimes it can be a language barrier, or it
does not pick up what you are saying. There is also a high contrast setting for those who cannot see properly,
which allows the user to see more effectively throughout the application.
How does some of the app help fulfill the
purpose of the Google Map's?
Performance - Google Map's app performance is very responsive and loads the map quick within the app, If the app had a bad
performance rate people would find an easy alternative to Google Maps.
Presentation – Google Map's presentation is very clean and it's not hard to find things within its app interface, presentation is vital
for the end user to be able to navigate and see any location that they have inputted, if the presentation is not good it can lead to
people leaving within 3 clicks/touches of the app.
Usability – Google Map’s is very easy to navigate and to set a location due to its nicely presented app as it's easy to use and anyone
can use it, you can also access this app offline so it's convenient for the end user wherever they are to find directions if they are lost
or need to find out information around them. For example, shops and restaurants have their own business profile where others can
find more information about them while viewing their location, so you don’t have to search for information about them which i s
convenient for the end user.
Accessibility – Google Maps has a limited amount of accessibility settings, it has a voice search feature which allows the user to
speak what they want to search instead of typing it, this may be because they are not good with the keyboard or just prefer to voice
search. They also have a live view feature, which allows the user to view the direction they are going in with their camera o n their
phone, this may be good for people who are visual learners rather than looking from a bird's eye view or don’t know where they're
going.
Task 4
Strengths and Weaknesses of Youtube
Strengths Weaknesses

• Free and easy to use platform. • Bullying and other hate crime may
• Can connect with people via a take place within the comments
comments section on a video section.
• You can upload educational videos to • Some information on the app may not
provide others with information, which be reliable on the app
may earn you revenue depending on • Relies on an internet connection or
how many people click on your video mobile data.
• Available 24/7 • Advertisements is a distraction as they
• It can provide stress relief besides are not related to the content that the
educational videos for example, you student is watching or may distract the
can have music available to help you user while listening to the video.
do your work or relax.
 Strengths of YouTube
YouTube enables users to access their platform for no cost which is good for those who like to learn by people talking and showing diagrams and is good for those who have a
budget and enabling people to do anything over the internet. YouTube makes their app easy to use as people within the older generation might find it difficult to navigate or
people who don’t know how to use YouTube can have an easy experience with finding menus and videos.

YouTube can connect a range of people with its comments section feature, this is mainly to have discussions with people with the same interests and find answers and ask
questions to a wider community. This is good for educational/learning purposes as people can help each other if they are unsure about a certain topic which can also help
someone else as they may have the same question.

YouTube allows you to upload your own videos onto their platform to generate revenue depending on views and subscribers. These are good for if you want to be a video creator
or a virtual online teacher to help others or just to have fun on the platform by connecting others as these videos can help people who like to learn virtually/visually with pictures or
diagrams or get a different aspect of the subject.

YouTube allows you to access their app anytime and anywhere, which is great for those on the move or who want to access it from different devices, also recovering where they
left off on that video is good for those who want to go back to the video or when they are switching devices. It is good to a ccess this 24/7 as then people can then access it for
additional resources if they need it. YouTube wants to make it compatible on every device possible so they can connect everyone, and it is useful for the user rather than having
only one device that is compatible with YouTube which is good as it will get more people using the platform wherever they can.

Alongside videos, YouTube provides a stress-free environment where you can listen to music or watch videos that may interest you or you may like to watch live streams where
others are connected in a two-way channel so you can talk to each other in real time. YouTube do this as they don’t want to just be classed as an 'educational' site, they want
to attract end users towards their app. This is good for YouTube as they are trying to expand on their services within their app so it's just not a video app, it can be many other
things within the app, which is what people want rather than using multiple services for different things.

All these strengths, makes YouTube a great app for what it has become overtime to allow users to unwind, learn and entertain themselves whilst YouTube improves their app by
any feedback that any user provides to them.
Disadvantages of YouTube
YouTube has comment sections within a creator's video, but this can be abused by people breaching Community Guidelines which
are set so people do not abuse the comments section, but this must be monitored by the Creator and YouTube comments
moderator as people can post scam links, cyberbully/hate crime to other users on the platform. However, comments sections are not
always monitored by both parties. YouTube's comment moderation filter is not quite up-to date with new comment techniques that
people may use to try and bypass their filter.
YouTube could potentially be a good source of information, but some information on the app is 'unverified' or fake information. So,
you would have to consider trusting the source before taking in the information further. But people may have different things to say
about a particular subject especially within the educational sector.
YouTube can only run on an internet connection or mobile data, which is a negative aspect of the usability of YouTube, as some
people may not have a good signal to access it or may lose connection while watching a video. This is unsuitable for those in rural
areas as they may have a lower signal bandwidth. People may also want to watch a video on the go to entertain themselves but
without this they cannot watch a video if they have run out of data or have slow connections offline.
YouTube's advertisements can be unrelated to the end user's videos at times, which is distracting the user while watching the video
as if they are in education learning something from a clip and an advertisement comes on automatically it may distract them while
taking notes or taking in information, or by looking into the advertisement leading them to not focus on their video. YouTube tries to
relate their advertisements to videos they have watched in the past or data they find about them via Cookies and other data that
is shared to the app.
 Strengths and Weaknesses of Google Maps
Strengths Weaknesses

• Free and easy to use platform • Some information on the app may not be up-to-
• Can connect with people via local feeds around date on the app
you or in a selected area • The information is not live so it can take you down
• Available 24/7 closed roads, altered roads by cause of roadworks
• Lots of information • Can be potentially exploited for criminal activity
• Share routes with family and friends within the ‘Street View’ feature for burglary
• Multiple Transport Modes information such as easy access and possessions.
• Available offline • ‘Street View’ images are not always up-to-date,
• Available in cars with Apple CarPlay and Android which can be misleading for some who are not
Play to have a handsfree map experience familiar with the area.
How can YouTube app be improved?
◦ Improve video playback to stop the video from buffering.
◦ Ability to add accessibility features without having to change it within your
device settings.
◦ Add a more friendly content upload filter so it prevents young children from
seeing content they shouldn’t be seeing.
◦ Not having uploaded videos with the same content on/same strategy.
How can Google Maps app be improved?
◦ Updated more regularly such us adding new roads, updating street view, updating place
status such as closed and permanently closed.
◦ The ability to send the chosen destination to more devices than just your phone, it could
be sending it to a smart satnav, computer, tablet etc.
◦ Could improve upon the weather function maybe add the weather for the full day in the
area that they searched or their current location.
◦ Improve upon the screen reading for road names to get names of roads correctly
pronounced.
◦ Ability to book transportation through the app such as taxi, bus fare, trains etc.
The End!

Thank you for watching!

Questions?