Evaluation of a Progressive Web Application for Gamified Programming Learning

Context. Since today mobile devices have limited battery life, the energy consumption of the software running on them can play a strong role with respect to the success of mobile-based businesses. Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) are built using common web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and are commonly used for providing a better user experience to mobile users. Caching is the main technique used by PWA developers for optimizing network usage and for providing a meaningful experience even when the user's device is offline.Goal. This paper aims at assessing the impact of caching on both the energy consumption and performance of PWAs.Method. We conducted an empirical experiment targeting 9 real PWAs developed by third-party developers. The experiment is designed as a 1 factor - 2 treatments study, with the usage of caching as the single factor and the status of the cache as treatments (empty vs populated cache). The response variables of the experiment are (i) the energy consumption of the mobile device and (ii) the page load time of the PWAs. The experiment is executed on a real Android device running the Mozilla Firefox browser.Results. Our results show that PWAs do not consume significantly different amounts of energy when loaded either with an empty or populated cache. However, the page load time of PWAs is significantly lower when the cache is already populated, with a medium effect size.Conclusions. This study confirms that PWAs are promising in terms of energy consumption and provides evidence that caching can be safely exploited by PWA developers concerned with energy consumption. The study provides also empirical evidence that caching is an effective technique for improving the user experience in terms of page loading time of PWAs.

The primary objective of this research was to enhance cocoa production and quality in tropical countries, such as Latin America and Africa, where cocoa cultivation plays a pivotal role in the economy of rural communities. The primary challenge addressed in this study was moniliasis, a fungal disease that affects cocoa fruits and leads to a significant decline in crop production and quality. A multidisciplinary approach was employed to tackle this issue, combining sensors, MongoDB Compass databases, Progressive Web Applications (PWAs), and predictive models. A research methodology incorporating predictive analysis techniques, particularly the logistic regression method, was utilized to achieve early detection and efficient management of moniliasis. Data collection instruments included sensors monitoring vital environmental factors like humidity and temperature alongside MongoDB Compass databases for storing and managing the gathered data. Furthermore, a PWA was developed for real-time data collection and analysis. The results of implementing this sensor-based tool in cocoa cultivation were highly effective. Early detection of moniliasis allowed for more precise preventive and corrective measures, resulting in a significant improvement in cocoa production and quality. These results were substantiated with concrete data demonstrating the tool's efficacy. Keywords: Data Prediction: Models and Applications; Efficient MongoDB Database Management; HighQuality Cocoa; Moniliasis: Treatment and Prevention; Progressive Web Apps (PWA): User Experience.

The Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (DI4A) at the University of Udine, in collaboration with Friuli Venezia Giulia regional authorities, within northeastern Italy, set up a wildlife monitoring and surveillance regional network, named InfoFaunaFVG. Here we describe the development and application of this data repository system based on a novel progressive web application, and report the data gathered in the first two and a half years of its use. InfoFaunaFVG is made of a Web Database and an integrated WebGIS system. In particular, the following open source softwares are used: Apache HTTP Server, Oracle MySQL, Symfony, Apache Tomcat, GeoServer, OpenLayers. The web app can be accessed from any web browser or by installing the progressive web application in the desktop or mobile devices. In short, operating from November 2019, InfoFaunaFVG currently (April 2022) contains a total of 40,175 records, from 300 different users, from 16 institutions. Among all species recorded, mammals were 40% (16,018) of the total, whereas avian species represented 59% (23,741), and others (reptiles and amphibians) 1% (416), respectively. Two hundred twenty-six different species (175 avian and 51 mammals) were recorded. Details about causes of death and live animal rescue were reported. To date, InfoFaunaFVG has proven to be a successful wildlife data repository system providing high quality consistent, accurate and traceable data. These had a considerable impact on regional wildlife governance. In the authors’ knowledge, InfoFaunaFVG is the first example described in literature of such a progressive web application, coordinated on an institutional level, and not based on voluntary-citizen observations. InfoFaunaFVG has the potential to become the largest wildlife monitoring and surveillance data repository system on a national level.

This paper presents the analysis of emerging data exchange technologies used for integration of mobile devices to image-based learning process of second language. Particularly, the design of portable personal spaces providing mobile access to multimedia documents based on XML technologies and creation of generic interfaces for learning environments have been carried out. For image-based languages learning that implies the image processing, recognition, and retrieval Two Segment Turning function has been proposed and analyzed for possible adoption in applications assisted by mobile devices. The evaluation of designed prototype of image-based language learning system for interpretation of Japanese kanji and Mayan glyphs on mobile devices is discussed in this paper. Additionally the performance of proposed approaches used in content-based image retrieval is evaluated for their possible integration within mobile learning environments.

In chapters 2–6 I showed you how to build geo web apps using HTML and JavaScript. Apps created this way can be accessed by a web browser via their URLs. As I explained in Chapter 1, one significant disadvantage of web apps is that they cannot be uploaded to the Apple App Store, and therefore have less visibility than a native app. In addition, it is much harder to sell a web app without access to App Store sales platform tools. However, by using a few lines of code, it is possible to embed a web app in a native app, thus creating a hybrid app.

Modern applications increasingly interact with web APIs – reusable components, deployed and operated outside the application, and accessed over the network. Their existence, arguably, spurs application innovations, making it easy to integrate data or functionalities. While previous work has analyzed the ecosystem of web APIs and their design, little is known about web API quality at runtime. This gap is critical, as qualities including availability, latency, or provider security preferences can severely impact applications and user experience. In this paper, we revisit a 3-month, geo-distributed benchmark of popular web APIs, originally performed in 2015. We repeat this benchmark in 2018 and compare results from these two benchmarks regarding availability and latency. We furthermore introduce new results from assessing provider security preferences, collected both in 2015 and 2018, and results from our attempts to reach out to API providers with the results from our 2015 experiments. Our extensive experiments show that web API qualities vary 1.) based on the geo-distribution of clients, 2.) during our individual experiments, and 3.) between the two experiments. Our findings provide evidence to foster the discussion around web API quality, and can act as a basis for the creation of tools and approaches to mitigate quality issues.

Many institutions in higher education are offering at least some of their curriculum online and use online course management systems to support these learning environments. Successful participation in online learning depends on many factors, and may especially be influenced by the degree of computer competency users bring with them to the learning environment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of several areas of computer competency on student learning experiences and learning environment usability in online learning environments. Subject of evaluation was a multi-section course consisting of eight sections taught in hybrid format; approximately 50% of course work was conducted using the World Wide Web. Results of the study have direct implications in online course design and development.

The use of mobile and ubiquitous computing devices is advantageous for collecting and sharing patient data at the bedside or in hospital waiting areas. iPhone web applications - or web apps - combine the power of Internet based solutions with the simplicity of multi-touch and gesture technology, all one portable device. Since many data collection platforms have moved to an online paradigm (or are in the process of doing so), a web app is an ideal solution. In this work, we show the advantages of using a web app for patient data collection, as an imaging engine, and for patient feedback and survey systems. This can be achieved by taking advantage of simple functions available on the iPhone OS when using an online collection platform.

Mobile learning environments have the benefit of facilitating real time student learning and assessment. However, most of such learning environments only support static or traditional learning activities. In STEM disciplines, we need more active and engaging activities and mobile learning environments should be able to support such dynamic activities. By designing such learning environments to run completely on the cloud will limit its extensibility and will not accommodate interactive activities developed by anyone other than the developer of such learning environment. Instead, we argue that by incorporating cloud services in a traditional software architecture will allow the flexibility to develop and deploy interactive problem solving activities along with versatility that cloud computing brings. This paper presents Mobile Response System (MRS) that facilitates in-class interactive problem solving using mobile devices. MRS uses cloud services in the infrastructure to minimize instructor's workload, gives students transparent access, and makes the system failsafe alongside providing extensibility to any discipline.

The Web in education

This article examines the concept of Progressive Web Applications (PWA) as an innovative approach to development that combines the advantages of websites and native applications. It explores the technological foundation of PWA, including key components such as Service Workers, Web App Manifest, and HTTPS, which ensure high performance, offline access, and security. The study investigates the impact of PWA on improving user experience, cost efficiency in development, and their potential in various industries, including e-commerce and media. Special attention is given to the prospects of PWA application in the context of digital transformation and the further advancement of web technologies.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed life in the United States, as the country has recorded over 23 million cases and 383,000 deaths to date. In the leadup to widespread vaccine deployment, testing and surveillance are critical for detecting and stopping possible routes of transmission. Contact tracing has become an important surveillance measure to control COVID-19 in the United States, and mobile health interventions have found increased prominence in this space.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the use and usability of MyCOVIDKey, a mobile-based web app to assist COVID-19 contact tracing efforts, during the 6-week pilot period.MethodsA 6-week study was conducted on the Vanderbilt University campus in Nashville, Tennessee. The study participants, consisting primarily of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty in the Chemistry Department at Vanderbilt University, were asked to use the MyCOVIDKey web app during the course of the study period. Paradata were collected as users engaged with the MyCOVIDKey web app. At the end of the study, all participants were asked to report on their user experience in a survey, and the results were analyzed in the context of the user paradata.ResultsDuring the pilot period, 45 users enrolled in MyCOVIDKey. An analysis of their enrollment suggests that initial recruiting efforts were effective; however, participant recruitment and engagement efforts at the midpoint of the study were less effective. App use paralleled the number of users, indicating that incentives were useful for recruiting new users to sign up but did not result in users attempting to artificially inflate their use as a result of prize offers. Times to completion of key tasks were low, indicating that the main features of the app could be used quickly. Of the 45 users, 30 provided feedback through a postpilot survey, with 26 (58%) completing it in its entirety. The MyCOVIDKey app as a whole was rated 70.0 on the System Usability Scale, indicating that it performed above the accepted threshold for usability. When the key-in and self-assessment features were examined on their own, it was found that they individually crossed the same thresholds for acceptable usability but that the key-in feature had a higher margin for improvement.ConclusionsThe MyCOVIDKey app was found overall to be a useful tool for COVID-19 contact tracing in a university setting. Most users suggested simple-to-implement improvements, such as replacing the web app framework with a native app format or changing the placement of the scanner within the app workflow. After these updates, this tool could be readily deployed and easily adapted to other settings across the country. The need for digital contact tracing tools is becoming increasingly apparent, particularly as COVID-19 case numbers continue to increase while more businesses begin to reopen.

<p class="0abstract">Thanks to rapid development of information technology there are many new tools that can be used for teaching and learning environment. In the long past, we had met classical classrooms where teachers had to use chalk to write done everything on the blackboard. Later, we have met new tools such as projection, desktop computers, smart boards, etc. in the classical classrooms. Nowadays, we have met with mobile devices. Mobile devices are magic tools which can be used for teaching and learning as a distance. Because of its mobility we do not need to join a classical classroom to listen to courses offered by our teachers any more. Now, we can join in virtual classroom which can be established on cloud. On the other hand, there are many social media applications which can be also used for teaching and learning. For example, it is now possible to teach courses by online where Facebook can be used as a supplementary tool. There are instructors who use Facebook as a learning environment where instructors and learners interact simultaneity on it. The Facebook has made a significant contribution towards solving the problems faced by practical education students during the period of practical education. There is an increasing trend in the study community to use Facebook in order to solve these problems. The aim of this research is to encourage instructors and students to teach and learn by using Facebook as part of a new system of education, namely online distance learning. In this study we explain how mobile devices and social media have been used during teaching and learning of courses at master studies’ level at the Department of Software Engineering of College of Technology at Firat University in Turkey. We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of Facebook in terms of teaching and learning environment and we will suggest some recommendations for using Facebook as a teaching and learning platform which have been resulted from our research. </p>

An empirical study on user experience evaluation of VR interface in digital museums

Mobile-based learning as a rich environment to manage learning in a variety of learning contexts. It opens up opportunities to expand the learning experience of students, students can access to information anytime and anywhere to perform authentic activities, learning programming through mobile devices helping students to improve programming skills at all times and they can enhance computational problem solving which important competence to support the design and development of the program correctly. In developing any mobile learning environment, learner’s context-aware are necessary for consideration. The research target was the 45 high school students. The Questionnaires are an open-ended question and Likert ration scales with 5 levels and the data were analyzed through descriptive analysis. which were examined by 3 experts based on the consistency with theoretical framework. The results showed that 1) the participants were 25 males were 55%, 20 females were 45% in high school. Most of the students had the learning experience of lecturing. 2) In the basic ability in using technology, it was found that the students are very familiar with mobile devices and its applications in high level (\( \bar{\varvec{x}} \) 3.89 s.d = 0.56) 3) Experience in computational problem solving found that some students have experience. 4) Programming experience Some students have experience in c programming and they can create program flowcharts. The findings show strong evidence that students are positive towards mobile-based learning and see it as an opportunity for a more flexible programming learning experience.