Well, I had a bit of a break though today! Using the laptop, the wireless network around my house, the GPS device, and IraqiAlert, I was able to actually use AE to do location aware. I walked around the back yard and entered in what IraqiAlert said the lat/lon was via the web site. I then moved all those locs to the Beta Group and had IraqiAlert use that… and it worked! It was able to distinguish between the back porch and the door to my back office.
Some issues:
- A know one, in that commercial GPS isn’t THAT exact. I need to do some more testing to get a handle on it. My biggest issue was, standing in one place for a while got several (close) results from the GPS device.
- I missed a decimal point in the DB (DOH!) which initially screwed things up (it couldn’t tell what was close, as missing that decimal makes everything look like miles I think). Fixed it.
- The VB has problems. Primary in the COM stuff I think (not a big shocker there). Need to play around with it some more.
- Using the laptop is a pain, as it’s big (known one)
- Need to get a simple data entry and current location program written
So, it went well over-all. Took about 1 ½ hours to correct some initial problems, but the last couple of tests went well. The biggest stopping point is the VB app at this point (hangs, not reading COM, et al).
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Monday, February 17, 2003
Using it!
I’ve been annoyed with the image URL stuff. I had it set up that the image URL was the file name (which the web created based on what the user uploaded). The problem is, that’s kinda meaningless for everything that’s not the main site. Sooooo… I changed it to the full path and file name. Which works well – the web uses that for what it does. That is, it allows users to store images on the web site (handles the upload, et al). A external system could provide their own image repository, so the url would be to the actual image. I believe this fits with the basic philosophy. I may allow a extra thing to upload images the Web repository… or not. Have to see what happens.
I finally broke down and bought a lap top with some wireless stuff (Linksys wireless node). Cost around $3300, which sucks. I’ve been avoid large cash outlays on this stuff, but it’s just gotten to the point where I need to either put up or shut up :P
There are days when I really think I should just go ahead and get funding for this damn thing. I really don’t want to, as I’d like to keep the low-key, low cost way of running things. But I’d also like to be doing this more full time than I am now (work has been busy, which translates to not much time to work on AE).
Anyway, now that I have the laptop and the wireless stuff, I’m going to hook up the GPS and give it a try. I’ll do around the office to start with, and see if it works. While downtown Columbia doesn’t have a wireless network that I know of (USC might, but I don’t have access as of yet), it occurred to me I can run the web site on the laptop, for testing. I’m also going to write a “off-line” AE location entry thing, but I really need to be testing how the real, connected location aware stuff works.
I finally broke down and bought a lap top with some wireless stuff (Linksys wireless node). Cost around $3300, which sucks. I’ve been avoid large cash outlays on this stuff, but it’s just gotten to the point where I need to either put up or shut up :P
There are days when I really think I should just go ahead and get funding for this damn thing. I really don’t want to, as I’d like to keep the low-key, low cost way of running things. But I’d also like to be doing this more full time than I am now (work has been busy, which translates to not much time to work on AE).
Anyway, now that I have the laptop and the wireless stuff, I’m going to hook up the GPS and give it a try. I’ll do around the office to start with, and see if it works. While downtown Columbia doesn’t have a wireless network that I know of (USC might, but I don’t have access as of yet), it occurred to me I can run the web site on the laptop, for testing. I’m also going to write a “off-line” AE location entry thing, but I really need to be testing how the real, connected location aware stuff works.
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
Iraqi Alert!
I had a link to the Iraqi weapons list up on Slashdot, so got some real traffic for a bit in the last week. Was useful, both to see that the system was able to handle the (still small) load, and to increase the stats (I now have transaction time and host IP address logged).
I’ve also moved away from doing attributes for each node and am instead doing elements. It really doesn’t matter that much from code, but it’s MUCH more human readable, and makes more sense I think.
I’m trying to do the Iraqi alert program in VB (wanted to do MFC as that would be quicker for me to develop, but I really need to use the M$ API’s to do this stuff for the sample, as most people won’t have or want to get WFC) and that’s going ok. Got it getting the guest account and logging in, and I’ve written a wrapper to get the data.
I think this app is just going to get the GPS coord (I think I’m going to use marshallsoft’s GPS stuff to do it, as it’s simple), then get a FindNear around that coord for the Iraqi Weapons group. If it gets a hit, it’ll show the pic and a message. It will need to keep track of past hits (so it doesn’t keep repeating – probably only show the alert for the same location once a hour or something like that), and then allow for simulation – hehehe, not many people will be able to actually BE in Iraqi to see it work, so I’ll let the user enter in a test loc – or pick from the list of known weapon sites. I’ll also be adding my office loc in, so I can FINALLY…. FINALLLY!!! See this thing do something location aware. I’m going to need to get a wireless hub, and possibly a laptop to do it, but damit I want to see this thing WORK!
I’ve also moved away from doing attributes for each node and am instead doing elements. It really doesn’t matter that much from code, but it’s MUCH more human readable, and makes more sense I think.
I’m trying to do the Iraqi alert program in VB (wanted to do MFC as that would be quicker for me to develop, but I really need to use the M$ API’s to do this stuff for the sample, as most people won’t have or want to get WFC) and that’s going ok. Got it getting the guest account and logging in, and I’ve written a wrapper to get the data.
I think this app is just going to get the GPS coord (I think I’m going to use marshallsoft’s GPS stuff to do it, as it’s simple), then get a FindNear around that coord for the Iraqi Weapons group. If it gets a hit, it’ll show the pic and a message. It will need to keep track of past hits (so it doesn’t keep repeating – probably only show the alert for the same location once a hour or something like that), and then allow for simulation – hehehe, not many people will be able to actually BE in Iraqi to see it work, so I’ll let the user enter in a test loc – or pick from the list of known weapon sites. I’ll also be adding my office loc in, so I can FINALLY…. FINALLLY!!! See this thing do something location aware. I’m going to need to get a wireless hub, and possibly a laptop to do it, but damit I want to see this thing WORK!
Wednesday, February 5, 2003
More apps...
Well, I went ahead and combined list and group. It went REALLY well. Just by doing it, and using it, I think I made the right choice. The example I’m working on is the Iraqi list. It was annoying, in random locations for example, to get one of those up. Most people aren’t going to be interested in those in any practical sense. So I did the mod, and also added forum link (so you talk about the group by click on the link).
I’ve been thinking of the next app to write. I’d really like to take advantage of the Iraqi Weapons (in that type of thing is news worthy). So I’m thinking of skipping some of the other apps I was going to work on. The problem with it is I’m under a bit of a time constraint. If I can get something show able done before the next war starts, then it’s at least *possible* I could make a splash with it. Soo..
I was thinking of making a kinda silly application, a “Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction” detector. Basically make it really pretty, only deal with group 2 (which is now the Iraqi group). Have it:
- Interface to a GPS on COMx
- Interface to AE. Don’t do any login, get groups, get countries, et al., just GetNear().
- If one of the locations is within say 300 feet (might be changeable?) then pop a big warning. Might even try to parse the text to figure it out what it is (bio, chem., nuke, et al).
- Might also bring up a pic if it’s available.
Actually, that gave me an idea. Might want to be able to put “keyword” in for apps to be able to deal with locations in ways I haven’t, via category, dealt with. I’m certainly not going to put in Bio-hazard in categories, but if the key word “BIO” is in the location, then the app could deal with it different. This wouldn’t be usable for normal public groups, but would be for private stuff (So I tour could show a different graphic based on the type of building or something)
Anyway, that SHOULD be fairly easy to do. I could slam something like that out in MFC pretty quick. VB a bit longer, but I could get some skin stuff which would be nice (The MFC one I already have working, and can access the GPS and AE without problem. Going to have to figure out how to do that under VB).
I’ve been thinking of the next app to write. I’d really like to take advantage of the Iraqi Weapons (in that type of thing is news worthy). So I’m thinking of skipping some of the other apps I was going to work on. The problem with it is I’m under a bit of a time constraint. If I can get something show able done before the next war starts, then it’s at least *possible* I could make a splash with it. Soo..
I was thinking of making a kinda silly application, a “Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction” detector. Basically make it really pretty, only deal with group 2 (which is now the Iraqi group). Have it:
- Interface to a GPS on COMx
- Interface to AE. Don’t do any login, get groups, get countries, et al., just GetNear().
- If one of the locations is within say 300 feet (might be changeable?) then pop a big warning. Might even try to parse the text to figure it out what it is (bio, chem., nuke, et al).
- Might also bring up a pic if it’s available.
Actually, that gave me an idea. Might want to be able to put “keyword” in for apps to be able to deal with locations in ways I haven’t, via category, dealt with. I’m certainly not going to put in Bio-hazard in categories, but if the key word “BIO” is in the location, then the app could deal with it different. This wouldn’t be usable for normal public groups, but would be for private stuff (So I tour could show a different graphic based on the type of building or something)
Anyway, that SHOULD be fairly easy to do. I could slam something like that out in MFC pretty quick. VB a bit longer, but I could get some skin stuff which would be nice (The MFC one I already have working, and can access the GPS and AE without problem. Going to have to figure out how to do that under VB).
Tuesday, February 4, 2003
Lists and Groups
So, I’ve been thinking about this. I have category, group, and now list. Category is what it is, list is kinda Meta level (like… a location is a restaurant, but a list could be a list of McDonalds). Group is just my way of selling private space at some point (money being a good thing).
It seems to me I just might want to collapse list and group together. So there would be a public group called “McDonalds”, and people would use that to enter in stuff. That way, when they search, they can also use that info.
It seems to me I just might want to collapse list and group together. So there would be a public group called “McDonalds”, and people would use that to enter in stuff. That way, when they search, they can also use that info.
Sunday, February 2, 2003
Going well
Wow, coming along nice now. I added the hyperlink thing, DMS to DegDec and back again conversions (a BIG one, most other sites that do GPS force you to enter one or the other – even though I store everything in DegDec, the user can enter and view either way). I also fixed a problem with photo’s not updating correctly (was getting added ok, but the name was being blanked out on update of the loc if the user didn’t update the photo), and some general clean up. It’s getting really close to “done”, at least for V1.0 of the web site.
Oh, and I also added lists. There’s two now, Columbia and the Iraqi thing. The cool thing is, the table they display in shows the name, map, loc/lat and… the picture, which is kinda neat looking.
One of the big web-things I need to do is enter and use locations. Some of the mods I’m working on now (DMS/DegDec) are related to just using the site and figuring out better ways to do things. LOTS of DB’s of locs use DMS, like the Iraqi thing, so it’s much easier to be able to enter either way. I think I’m going to finish that list up, which should help me understand what else I need to do to make the web site usable (like, if you click on a country other than “USA” have it auto-select “not-usa” in the city list, stuff like that, that makes the site nicer to use).
At this point, assuming I don’t find any major issues with the web site while using it, I’m probably going to finish entering the data and then move on to the other apps.
The first will be updating the MFC application. It was talking to the old ASP/VBScript AE site ok, so moving it to the new shouldn’t be that hard.
After that, I’ll be doing the VB sample app. And then trying to use both in the field on a laptop and wireless (If I can FIND wireless access in Columbia, damit). Enter in data, get a feel for how someone in the field would both enter data and do the loc aware stuff (finally!)
After I’m done with that, on the PocketPC and Palm.
The big question now is, when do I start publishing the web site? I could do it now, but I realize it’s important for this stuff to be there and “real” before I get users, or else I could end pissing people off and never get them back
I think, once I’ve got a bunch more data entered, and the MFC and VB apps have tested in the field for a bit, that will be the point to do it. Probably try to hit a few GPS forums and get some interest. After I get a few people on it, I can put the Iraqi list as a article on Fark – if I phrase it right it should get posted, and that alone should drive a BUNCH of traffic to the site (maybe too much). While most will just play with the list (a good enough test in and of itself), a % will be into GPS and might start using the tech.
Anyway, I’m pretty happy with how things are moving now. I’m starting to actually get a feeling of finishing a piece FINALLY, after like 1.5 years. That’s one thing that’s been really hard on this project - that it’s just so damn big and I never feel like I’m getting anywhere (and will never finish). That gets frustrating after a while :P
Oh, and I also added lists. There’s two now, Columbia and the Iraqi thing. The cool thing is, the table they display in shows the name, map, loc/lat and… the picture, which is kinda neat looking.
One of the big web-things I need to do is enter and use locations. Some of the mods I’m working on now (DMS/DegDec) are related to just using the site and figuring out better ways to do things. LOTS of DB’s of locs use DMS, like the Iraqi thing, so it’s much easier to be able to enter either way. I think I’m going to finish that list up, which should help me understand what else I need to do to make the web site usable (like, if you click on a country other than “USA” have it auto-select “not-usa” in the city list, stuff like that, that makes the site nicer to use).
At this point, assuming I don’t find any major issues with the web site while using it, I’m probably going to finish entering the data and then move on to the other apps.
The first will be updating the MFC application. It was talking to the old ASP/VBScript AE site ok, so moving it to the new shouldn’t be that hard.
After that, I’ll be doing the VB sample app. And then trying to use both in the field on a laptop and wireless (If I can FIND wireless access in Columbia, damit). Enter in data, get a feel for how someone in the field would both enter data and do the loc aware stuff (finally!)
After I’m done with that, on the PocketPC and Palm.
The big question now is, when do I start publishing the web site? I could do it now, but I realize it’s important for this stuff to be there and “real” before I get users, or else I could end pissing people off and never get them back
I think, once I’ve got a bunch more data entered, and the MFC and VB apps have tested in the field for a bit, that will be the point to do it. Probably try to hit a few GPS forums and get some interest. After I get a few people on it, I can put the Iraqi list as a article on Fark – if I phrase it right it should get posted, and that alone should drive a BUNCH of traffic to the site (maybe too much). While most will just play with the list (a good enough test in and of itself), a % will be into GPS and might start using the tech.
Anyway, I’m pretty happy with how things are moving now. I’m starting to actually get a feeling of finishing a piece FINALLY, after like 1.5 years. That’s one thing that’s been really hard on this project - that it’s just so damn big and I never feel like I’m getting anywhere (and will never finish). That gets frustrating after a while :P
More apps
Whelp, I got the MFC app up and running again. It turned out to not be a big deal. It was already using the (old) ASMX, so it was mostly a matter of updating a few param issues, some fixes (like… it wasn’t showing or using Country Code), etc. It seems to work pretty well, even though I still need to re-test with the Garmin. I also added a debug check box, so you can use whatever’s on COM1 as the source of Lat/Lon, or the “debug” mode of the layer I wrote (which will try to get a Lat/Lon string from a file on c:/ or will default one on return).
So, I now need to clean it up a bit and get it on the site. Then I’ll be starting on the VB application. I’m thinking as soon as both of those are done, I’m going to get the laptop out, get a wireless network up and running locally, and test with that. I’d like to actually SEE the location aware stuff work. You know, walk around, and have the laptop beep when I get near the mailbox, telling me I’m next to it, WTF don’t you check it? Beep when it gets near a tree in the front yard, telling me what kind of tree it is, etc.
So, I now need to clean it up a bit and get it on the site. Then I’ll be starting on the VB application. I’m thinking as soon as both of those are done, I’m going to get the laptop out, get a wireless network up and running locally, and test with that. I’d like to actually SEE the location aware stuff work. You know, walk around, and have the laptop beep when I get near the mailbox, telling me I’m next to it, WTF don’t you check it? Beep when it gets near a tree in the front yard, telling me what kind of tree it is, etc.
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