Welcome to the Best Blog Ever

Delve into this young entrepreneur's blog that discusses an up and coming application that could radically change the grocery industry.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Week 9- Summary Post

This project has been really fun for me. I really enjoyed coming up with an entrepreneurial idea and applying our lessons to it. It really increased my knowledge and understanding of different technical parts of an app/website. It also added to the success of my app (should it ever be set into motion).

I really liked that students and GA's had the opportunity to comment on our blogs. It was nice to get the more technical input from GA's while getting advice from our piers on what we could improve. I also liked that I had the chance to comment on my piers' blogs. This gave me the chance to show what I've learned while reading some interesting ideas.

Overall this blog project was a success. I was able to create an idea and then fully analyze and add to it using the things we learned in lecture. I hope that someday I have the technical skills to put this app into action. Here are the blogs that I commented on: http://slampeist195.blogspot.com/ and http://manelaist195.blogspot.com/ and http://atheilig.blogspot.com/

Monday, October 24, 2011

Week 8- Networking

Last week in class we learned about networks and networking. Networks work using different components such as packets, protocol, domain names etc. Packets are small chunks of information that are part of a much larger group of information. For example, an email could potentially require hundreds of packets. Packets contain information of protocol, IP address, etc, and could be very useful for my app. In creating this app, I am going to need to follow certain protocol, use IP addresses and domain names, etc.

Protocols are just rules of communication consisting of small acts using syntax and semantix. One form of protocol that we are all familiar with is HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) which is used between a client and web server. For my app/website, this HTTP will be 100% necessary. I will need to use HTTP and have an IP address for communication via the app.

Networks and networking are concepts that I need to fully understand because they will be detrimental to the success of my idea. Learning to use the different protocol and understanding the communication in a network will only add to the usefulness of my app. Without networks, my app would not be possible.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Week 7-Operating Sytems and Digital Images

This week in class we learned about operating systems, open source software, and the mechanics behind digital images. In this blog I hope to discuss how different operating systems could be used with my app. I will also point out how digital images could be useful for my app.


Operating systems manage hardware and software resources and will be integral to the success of my app. My app would need a Multi-user OS for computers and a Mobile O/S for the actual app on a smart phone. Since, ideally, I want my idea to be an app, a Mobile O/S is definitely something I need to understand. My app will be able to be used on all smart phones so it is compatible with Android, Symbian, Apple etc.

My app will be using the RGB system because it is digital. RGB stands for Red Green Blue and this system of coloring is used in the digital world. I would have my app designers use this color system to design my app logo, background colors, text color, etc. By using RGB I can make my app stand out and look professional.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Week 6- Blog Critique: ZipList Blog

http://blog.ziplist.com/

The Link above is to a blog called ZipList. I chose to critique ZipList because it has some similarities to my ideas and I feel like it could, potentially, be easily integrated into my app. ZipList is a blog about recipes, food, groceries etc. Occasionally they blog about technology as it pertains to food, which is another reason of why I chose it.

Although this blog is a little more dedicated to the food side of my app, I still think it hits some great points on integrating technology. On October 6th the blog discussed how it just got integrated into the app aisle411, which allows customers to find the exact location (aisle) of a product within the store. I feel like this could potentially add a useful new aspect to my app.

On July 8th the blog discussed different plug-ins that can be used by customers to upload recipes etc to Google's Recipe View. They even went ahead and Made their own ZipList plug-in. All in all I think this blog is very interesting and is definitely applicable to my app. I will continue to read this blog to get some new ideas!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Week 5-Input and Output

This week in class we learned about some really neat devices, most of which can be easily applied to my app. We covered different things under the topic Input and Output such as RFID and the Google Wallet. These two technologies alone will be a huge asset to my idea

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. This is a technology that is more accurate and efficient than bar codes. RFID has the ability to scan multiple items at once and can house additional information besides just a code like a bar code. This would be incredibly compatible with my grocery app, because grocers would have the ability to scan products using RFID and then upload that information to the inventory presented on the app. This could also be used when scanning a customer's final order.

Google Wallet is a newly emerging technology that gets rid of the need for a physical wallet all together. Users of Google Wallet can simply "tap" their smart phone (not available for all phones yet) to a receiver which can then process the "cards" in your wallet, withdraw the correct amount of money, and process your transaction in one flick of the wrist. This would be ideal for when shoppers go to the grocery store and pick up their order. One tap, and they're done.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Week 4- Computer Forensics and Hardware

This week in class we learned about computer hardware (the system unit) and computer forensics. Aside from the obvious need to know and understand the hardware and workings of one's computer, there isn't much more about computer hardware that can be applied to my grocery app, but computer forensics and how to protect your personal information is very applicable to my idea.

In a world where the internet has become a necessity in one's everyday life, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to protect one's personal information. Most websites/apps require some amount of your personal information such as a password, credit card number, birth date, etc. Some sites may even ask for your SSN. It's hard to determine whether a site really needs all of this personal info or if it just a scam. My website and app will require minimal personal information; protecting you from potential spyware or hackers. This app would only require a password and username, and possibly a credit card number if you aren't paying with cash. Debit card numbers will not be accepted due to the risk that comes with disclosing one's card number and/or pin number.

Computer hardware on the other hand won't have much impact on the use of this app and website. At least not on the customer's end. I, along with staff members, will obviously have to understand the workings of the system unit and know how to use and potentially improve components of the hardware. For example if I need more RAM or a new graphics card, I will need to know things like compatibility, price, brand quality etc.

That's all for this week!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Week 3-Excel

This week in class we discussed Social Media Privacy and Excel spreadsheets. Although Social Media Privacy is important, I think that the use of Excel spreadsheets is more helpful to my entrepreneurship idea than Social Media Privacy. Excel is a very useful program in any business and even for personal use. Not only can it organize any data such as prices, amounts, etc, but it can simplify or even completely eliminate one's calculations or formulas.

With my idea of the grocery app/website, Excel would be a completely necessary tool. Like I explained before, it would be able to organize any and every piece of data that came through an order being placed. Once programed, it can calculate prices, take sales/coupons into account, and factor in taxes. That of course would all take place on the business end of the app.

The customer, on the other hand, could use Excel via the app in a much simpler fashion. The user could create shopping lists, organize needs VS wants, and even incorporate friends' and family members' grocery lists. All in all, Excel would be a detrimental tool to the success of my idea.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Week 2-Social Media

Hi guys! This is my first blog...ever, so excuse me if it isn't up to par with the avid bloggers out there. This blog is basically going to to discuss what I learn in IST-195 and how it relates to my entrepreneurial idea. My idea is something that could make everyone's everyday life much simpler. I want to create an app/website that can ease the stress of going to grocery store, making shopping lists, etc. 

This will be a website, also accessible via smart phone app, that takes care of your everyday shopping needs. The website and app will be capable of the following:
-viewing grocery store inventory
-creating a shopping list
-calculating costs using store sales, coupons, clearance items
-allowing you to pick your items and place them in an order
-processing your transaction and having your items available for pick up when you arrive at the store

All in all I want this website and app to be an automated and efficient grocery shopping process, where everything is done with the touch of a finger. This will make shopping painless, stress free, and instantaneous.

This website and app would work very well with all the social media networks out there. Not only could I use social media such as Twitter and Facebook to promote this product, but once the program is up and running, I could use YouTube to show a tutorial on how to use the app. I could even eventually use social networking sites as a way of accessing friends' or family members' grocery lists/needs; making this already useful app even more efficient. Social media would be a huge asset to the success of this product.