Research Log of Web Science Students

One very interesting feature of JavaFX is that it lets you “bind” variables such that when the value of one changes, the value of the other does as well. This seems to be the solution to our problems with conditionals. Right now, we create a Timeline to manipulate each object’s attributes with x and y coordinates being the most visible of these attributes. The problem is that the animation is created before being played but conditionals would require run time changes to the animation. For example, the instruction if the space ahead is empty move forward, turn left otherwise would force a change to the object’s Timeline and we can do that by manipulating a bound variable. An alternate option is creating multiple Timelines but that would possibly slow the objects down and not allow them to be synchronized if there are many of them.

• Expressive RIA platform for all screens: Unified development and deployment model for building expressive RIAs across desktop, browser and mobile
• Designer-developer workflow: Dramatically shortened production cycle for designers and developers
• Powerful runtime: Leverage the extreme ubiquity, power, performance and security of Java runtime
• Ready-made mass market: Widely distribute RIAs quicker and easier across billions of devices
• Break free of the browser: Drag-and drop a JavaFX application from the browser to deploy to the desktop
• Rich client platform: Makes it easy and intuitive to integrate graphics, video, audio, animation and rich text
• No security vs. usability conflict: Unlike other web technologies, JavaFX applications get broader system access with the proven Java security model
• Investments in Java preserved: Reuse existing Java libraries in JavaFX applications
• Next-generation mash-ups: Web services support allows rapid development of mash-ups and enterprise applications
• Cross-browser compatibility: JavaFX applications look and feel consistent across all browsers on multiple platforms
• Enterprise integration: Rapidly integrate rich client UI with complex back-end enterprise applications
• RIAs with global reach: Advanced rich-text rendering with multi-lingual support to create RIAs with a global reach

Ref: http://javafx.com/faq/

• JavaFX script is based on Java’s best features. Platform indepenency is one of Java’s widely known traits. Once JavaFX seripts are written they can be run on any platform thus making it portable beacause of which Java has become so much popular today. JavaFX is also intended to provide application security and ubiquitous distribution. JavaFX has its ability lying in leveraging he power of Java Platform.
• JavaFX Script’s one of the advantages is that with the help of it the web designers and developers can create rich content applications at a faster rate than ever and that too in an easier mode. These applications can be used for desktops, browsers, mobile devices, set- top boxes etc. and in future for other platforms too.
• By using JavaFX Script the web developers can create now more compelling and dynamic
  application and interfaces which are rich in visual graphical contents. It also binds the
  capabilty of other Java components to give designers and developers more flexibility in
  making applications attractive to the users.

http://www.javajazzup.com/issue14javafx/page9.shtml

We had been simultaneously developing the modules along with the rest but we were told today we should implement the basic functionality first. In hindsight this makes a lot more sense. We’ll need to restructure some of our previous code that were more module dependent. One thing for sure, additional overnights are in our future.

Proposed game for Module 4.

This is like the typical children’s game Simon Says. We PEG will provide statements like : Simon says turn around three times. Then the student will make use of the actions to make the character move three times. If the student completed the task said by Simon, a point of one is give to him. However, if the task is not said by simon, (e.g jump three times) , then the student must click next for the next command statement. Time limit of 1 minute is given for student to complete the task.

Another module for students is the Hill Game. The goal of the game is for students to get all the fruits in the screen.

To do so, the student will drag and drop actions to the character with the following conditions:

~ When the character encounters up hill, the student must drag and drop the “up” direction and make the character “walk”.

~ When the character encounters down hill, the student must drag and drop the “down” direction and make the character “walk”.

~ When the character encounters the plateau, the student must drag and make a loop then make the character “walk”.

~ When the character encounters a river, the student must drag and drop the desired direction and make the character “swim”.

~ When the character encounters a fruit, the student must drag and drop the desired direction and make the character “getFruit”.

Time assessment in MAZE Game applies in this module.