Competition

Scribbler is an app specially formulated for the iPhone or Ipad that integrates the freedom to draw and the ability to share one’s artwork with their peers via Facebook, Twitter, and Scribbler itself. Scribbler will include a number of effects, tools, colors, and texts to apply to each Scribble, similar to Photoshop.

With over 500,000 apps in the AppStore, it seems almost impossible to find a truly unique app, unlike any other. Therefore, as our projects for IST 195 develop further, it is necessary to complete a competitive analysis. In order for my app to be successful, it has to differ from its competitors. There are numerous apps designed for drawing, painting, sketching, and doodling. But, each app offers almost the same exact product to the consumer, a piece of personal artwork. After much research, I found two applications that were close to succeeding, but did not make the cut to being like Scribbler. 

I found my first competitor when I searched the App Store for art. The one application that stood out to me was Squiggles. The name is similar, but definitely not as cool as mine. ;) hehe. It is defined as being a paint and image app specially designed for the Iphone. Users are able to choose a photo from their library and apply different effects or overlay images and users may also choose to start with a blank canvas. Scribbler is able to do all of those tasks, would provide more freedom to create the pieces of artwork. My app provides an array of tools, effects, texts, borders, etc., but is not limited to painting. Being similar to Photoshop, Scribbler users will be able to create any type of art, as well as photo editing. (just like the magazines!)

The second competitor is the deviantART app for Iphones. Known as, “The world’s largest online community of artists and art-lovers!” deviantART began as a website for sharing and selling art. Formulated into an app, it enables its users to surf through artists in categories of art, films, and literature. Users create their own profile complete with a gallery showcasing ones artwork and a journal for discussion. Scribbler is similar to deviantART in the ways that they both allow users to share artwork. But, deviantART is known for its sale of one’s personal artwork. Scribbler is not designed for the sale of its user’s artwork, but to simply create original pieces of art and to share it through Facebook and Twitter. In conclusion, there is no single app that is identical to Scribbler. Though, combining the main functions of Squiggles and deviantART could produce an app that would be like Scribbler. But, no app allows its user’s to have the freedom to create any type of artwork and to share it with social media outlets.

Computer Forensics

Scribbler is an app specially formulated for the iPhone or Ipad that integrates the freedom to draw and the ability to share one’s artwork with their peers via Facebook, Twitter, and Scribbler itself. Scribbler will include a number of effects, tools, colors, and texts to apply to each Scribble, similar to Photoshop.

This past week in my Information Studies and Technology Class, we discussed the topic of Computer Forensics. According to Computer Evidence Collection and Preservation, by Chris L.T. Brown, the subject is defined as, “the art and science of applying computer science to aid the legal process...” Relating back to last week’s post about privacy, we learn the in’s and out’s of computer parts to fully understand their processes. A hard drive is the number one culprit in the recovering and reading of old data on one’s personal computer. Our professor presented the class with shocking statistics like, “74% of the hard drives sold or given away contain data that can easily be recovered and read,” and “36% of those hard drives have been reformatted but still contain old data that can be recovered.” Many of those drives contained financial personal, or medical records, credit card numbers and even pornography.

The scary part about those statistics is that most computer owners do not realize how much of their data is stored on their hard drives. This makes it especially important for when you are getting rid of an old computer or laptop. When simply hitting delete on a file or putting it into your trashcan, the file does not permanently erase. In computer speak, when one deletes a file, the operating system takes note that the erased space can be reused. The only true way to delete a file off of your computer’s hard drive is to destroy it. The hard drive can only not be recovered if it is completely broken, melted, or shredded! Pretty intense, huh?

So, how does this relate to Scribbler? Well one reason being that the difficulty in truly deleting files should remind user’s to be aware of exactly what they are posting. Once it is posted on the internet, even on an app, it is forever saved somewhere in cyberspace. Would you want your Grandma to see the piece of artwork you posted? Secondly, it allows Scribbler user’s to be careful of identity theft. On the user’s profile, one should not disclose personal information such as one’s social security number, home address or telephone number. Scribbler is not an app directed for the use of buying and selling one’s artwork. It is to simply create, customize, and share the scribbles. Therefore, it is advised that users do not disclose one’s credit or debit card information within the app. Identity theft, is a serious and life-changing crime that can affect you for your whole life. Keep in mind what you are posting and who is able to view it.

Privacy

Scribbler is an app specially formulated for the iPhone or Ipad that integrates the freedom to draw and the ability to share one’s artwork with their peers via Facebook, Twitter, and Scribbler itself. Scribbler will include a number of effects, tools, colors, and texts to apply to each Scribble, similar to Photoshop.

During this week’s IST 195 lectures, we explored the topic of Social Media. Being that we are living through the social media revolution, it only makes sense that I apply the concepts to my entrepreneurial idea of Scribbler. One of the major issues revolving around social media is the aspect of privacy. Although social media networks positively connect people from all over the world, promote businesses, and provide instant breaking news, they lack depth in their privacy controls. Most social networking sites allow its users to choose to be either public or private. Public is defined as being accessible for all users to view, comment, tag, etc., on other user’s profiles. While private means that one can control who views, comments, tags, etc., on their profile. There are also blocking controls that allow one to block another user who they do not want to have access to their profile.

Instagram and Twitter have similar privacy settings. Both applications give its users the blunt option of being public or private. While, Facebook provides the options of public or private as well as custom controls that enable its users to display, hide, or block certain features or sections of their profile for specific people or a large group. For example, Facebook users can block “Friends of Friends” from viewing their page. Or if you don’t want your parents seeing all of your pictures you can specifically block your “tags” from being visible to Mom or Dad. But, Facebook is known as having the weakest privacy settings for its users out of all other social networking sites. Unless one is properly informed on how to successfully privatize their Facebook page, it might be a difficult and confusing task to complete. Thankfully, my IST 195 course has provided me with the right knowledge to make sure my real “friends” view my page.

Here are a few tips to make your Facebook profile more private:

1.     Check through your Friend List and remove people who you do not personally know.

2.     Set your default privacy setting to be either Friends or Custom.

3.     Check the individual settings for How You Connect, Timeline and Tagging, and Ads/Apps and Websites. Review each option and select one’s that pertain to your preference.

4.     Block users who you don’t want to view your profile.

5.     Be mindful of what you post. (And who is viewing the posts.)

Scribbler will enable its users to select between a public or private profile when they create an account. The account will include a username and profile. The profile will display a default picture, a “Lookbook,” a list of “Followers,” and who you are “Following.” After selection, there will be a further set of options that allow the user to control:

• Who views their “Lookbook” (folder of one’s posted artwork)
• Artist Requests (approve or deny other artists’ to follow your profile)
• Tags (approve or deny other artists’ tagging of you in their scribble or themselves in one of your scribbles)
• Sharing (approve or deny your posted scribbles to be uploaded on other social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram)
• Comments (approve or deny comments before they are posted on your scribble)
• Search (approve or deny other artists’ to find you) 

Privacy is very important amongst social media. Always be mindful of what you post and who can see it. Future employers will be searching for you!!

Entrepreneurship Project

After being assigned our first project in my Information Studies and Technology class, IST 195, I brainstormed a number of ideas, wondering what product I could create or improve upon. Being that I spend most of my time on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, I decided that I would want to incorporate the art of social networking into my idea. My Entrepreneurship Project will be created in the form of an App for Iphones and Ipads. I noticed that there are many apps for art and drawing, such as the game Draw Something or Drawing Pad that both allow the user to create their own drawings using their finger or a stylus against the screen. I love how Instagram allows its users to take or upload photos to share with their followers on Facebook and Twitter. My app would be similar in that way, but instead of photographs my app will be drawings, scribbles, pictures, etc. But, there is no app that integrates the freedom to draw and the ability to share their artwork with their peers. Thus, the app, Scribbler, will be born.

Scribbler will be a public or private application, depending on the user’s preference, and will allow its users to create a profile and a username. The profile will feature a default picture, a “LookBook” in other words, a folder of one’s uploaded artwork. Users will be able to “Follow” each other and the “Followers” will be displayed on one’s profile. Other users will be able to “Like” each other’s posted artwork and can also comment on them. The act of “Tagging” another user in the post would be another feature. Each type of artwork would be posted as a “Scribble.” Scribbler will include a number of effects, tools, and colors to apply to each scribble. For instance, apply a watercolor effect or use the sponge tool. Almost like a mini Photoshop. Users would be able to use a Text tool to write captions or titles anywhere on the picture. There will also be the ability to draw on top of photographs, like to draw a mustache on your best friend’s face in a photograph. Backdrops will be an option as well, similar to Photo Booth.

Scribbler adds value to the existing applications available on the Iphone and Ipad by being the first to join art and social networking together. I am not quite sure why my idea has not been created yet, but I know that it will attract many people of all ages.  My app will be very successful because it allows for the little artist inside us all to come and make its debut to the World Wide Web. Social networking has proved itself as being the number one way to share content to friends, family, and even to strangers. But either way, it allows freedom of expression and that is exactly what Scribbler will provide, the freedom to express yourself through art.