Touch technology with iPhone and iPad apps
An informal game of soccer at Blind Mice Studios in Sydney led to the creation of the “first” 3D augmented reality soccer game application for iPhone.
Named ‘Upsies!’ the application launched on July 15 and was named “New and Noteworthy” by Apple’s App store.
Upsies was created by Galvin Scott Davis, Alan Rogers and Mark Tanner – joint partners in Blind Mice.
The trio creates applications for iPhone and iPad but each trod a different career path to reach their new roles as apps creators.
Creative director Scott Davis trained in two fields—graphic art and film. He still runs multimedia agency Protein One and Protein Films.
Design Director Tanner studied multi media and then started his career with Protein One six years ago.
Development Director Rogers trained as a computer engineer and worked as a software developer for 10 years before registering for the iPhone Developer Program.
Their first app, Ask the Butcher, (developed for butcher Victor Churchill) launched over six months ago and has since registered over 18,000 paid downloads.
It reached the number one paid lifestyle app in Australia in March 2010, beating food biggies Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver.
Their next big project will be converting Davis’ first film script idea Stricken into a graphic novel for iPad. “It will be the first graphic novel ‘built exclusively’ as an iPad app,” says Davis.
Rogers puts the success of Blind Mice apps down to the way it amalgamates technology and design.
“We have a good mix of creative, design and engineering, and I think this is the key to our success,” he says. “I get a kick out of people saying ‘wow’ when they see one of our apps.”
The application would not have been possible before the release of Apple’s new iOS 4 software that provides access to a video camera feed on the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.
“I casually asked Alan if we could use the camera to record our feet without a ball and then create a 3D ball inside the phone that activates with movement,” Davis recalls of the soccer game in the studio. “Alan said, ‘Yes, I could do that’.”
“Alan spent nearly two months just working out the physics of the ball. He had to work out the gravity, light, volume, speed and the force of the kick (movement).”
The development process took 11 weeks and Scott Davis’ children were among the testers.
Rogers has obviously moved far ahead of his computing engineering days where he was taught to choose function over form.
“When I started to become a Mac user and developer, I realised this view was backwards. Since then I’ve come to appreciate that design and technology are intimately related.”
The team is aware they belong to a niché crowd. “Only a few companies [create apps] really well though. There are many ideas but most of them have been done.
Others haven’t been executed well,” says Davis.
“We enjoy building fun, intuitive and gorgeous applications,” says Tanner.
Plus, they pick and choose their work as well as share their success as a team.
“There is a sense of pride and you are in control of your destination.”
For those eyeing a career in multimedia or iPhone apps, Davis advises “developing one skill and honing it really well, whether that skill is design or technology.”
“Get a good understanding in one area and build your knowledge in the others.
“You are in for a lot of hard work.
“Don’t get into the multi media business if you intend to relax.”
Visit Upsies for more information and to download the application.
How to be an… iPhone App Developer:
Qualifications: No mandatory qualification. Creating apps typically draws on software developing and multi media skills.
Course: App creators for Apple platforms must complete the iPhone Developer Program. Apps are being created for a wide range of other platforms outside Apple and other entry requirements may apply.
Where to begin: The Apple website has information including training, tools and resources to support developers. Visit: http://developer.apple.com/programs/iphone/ and http://developer.apple.com/programs/iphone/develop.html
