Titanium+Plus Modules and Javascript Bridges: Controlling Hardware with a Web Language

Rob ChohanChief Technologist, ePi Rational

(C) 2011 ePi Rational, LLC

2001: A Space OdysseyStart around 57'20''

Streaming BBC Channel 12 to Space

Sweet Spot = Hardware + Software + Content

Mobile Architecture,extending Titanium example

Zxing or Zebra Crossing –Open source barcode library encode/decode

Titanium –Open source User Interface & Hardware API Library

Killer Barcode App = Camera +

iOS Android

One Barcode app idea to rule them all!!!

(Software to be written to tie these together)

Libraries that are ripe for Titanium+Plus

• DropBox

• Airpush

• Square

• Networking

• Google Analytics*

• A cryptographically secure RNG that your app needs that Javascript can't provide (e.g., SecureRandom)

• My Tracks, Map or Lat/Long?-117.117203, 32.784180-117.116966, 32.784218-117.116501, 32.784386-117.116501, 32.784439-117.116341, 32.784527-117.116280, 32.784618

How To:Appcelerator makes it easy

to get started

• Titanium generates stubs• From their it is up to you to fill in the blanks• Pull in your favorite JAR, Java, or Obj-C or C++ code• Build and distribute on the Appcelerator Marketplace

Hardware that could beinteresting to Titanium

Developers

• Barometer

• WiFi

• Bluetooth

• Near Field Communications (NFC)

• ANT+

• GPS

Barometer

• Motorola chose a Digital Pressure Sensor in their Motorola Xoom

What is a Barometer good for (courtesy of the chip manufacturer, Bosch)• Enhancement of GPS

navigation• Indoor and outdoor

navigation• Leisure and sports• Weather forecast• Vertical velocity indication

Barometer,Javascript example

• This is a perfect example of how Titanium+Plus can be extended• Barometer usage (targeting Motorola XOOM)

var baro = require('epi.baro');data = baro.getBaro();  // in milliBars, of course

Titanium+Module Implementation for a Barometer on Android

public void onSensorChanged(SensorEvent event) {long curTime = System.currentTimeMillis();    switch (event.sensor.getType()) {      case Sensor.TYPE_PRESSURE:        if (lastUpdate == -1 || (curTime - lastUpdate) > mTime){           float pressure = event.values[0];        }        break;              case Sensor.TYPE_ACCELEROMETER:        if (lastUpdate == -1 || (curTime - lastUpdate) > mTime){            float x = event.values[0];          float y = event.values[1];          float z = event.values[2];        }        break;    }}

Screen from Motorola Xoom, Native App by Noosters500+ Downloads as of Sep 2011

Screen from Motorola Xoom, Native App by Guild Software5,000+ Downloads as of Sep 2011

Screen from Motorola Xoom, Native App by David Momenso100+ Downloads as of Sep 2011

Titanium+Plus Moduleshelps to lower the bar

Data Mining on Android Bluetooth Hardware Apps,

Data mined from AndBOT.com, April 2011

• Bluetooth Samples• Bluetooth Bar Widget• Bluetooth Backport for pre-Android 2.0• Bluetooth Fileshare - Bluex• Bluetooth On/Off for Droid• Bluetooth Remote• Bluetooth text & paint Chat• Bluetooth Terminal• Bluetooth Widget

Very useful apps, but what else can be done?

Bluetooth now becomes very interesting for

Titanium Users

var btLib = require('epi.bt');bt = btLib.turnOnRadio();  // discoverybt.discovery();// pairing// exchanging of data

What is a Bluetooth good for in the context of Titanium• Chat programs• Getting data from custom sensor

boards

San Diego Based Fitness Startup

• San Diego based startup focusing on Bicycle fitness

• Patent pending nutrition and hydration algorithm for cyclists

• 100% bootstrapped• Developed a custom sensor

board witho wheel revolution counterso digital pressure barometero another type of pressure

sensoro Bluetooth 3 radio

Mobile Phone

Custom Devicecomm over Bluetooth

San Diego Based Fitness Startupwhy Titanium worked for them

• 100% bootstrapped• team is comprised of

o 1 firmwareo 1 electrical engineer o 1 Titanium Dev o 1 Bluetooth Devo 1 Marketing

• Each team member was able to focus on their particular part

• Team currently at funding stage

Mobile Phone

Custom Devicecomm over Bluetooth

Bluetooth on Android & Titanium+Plus

• Android module built for Android 1.6

• Relies on the Bluetooth Backport open source jar from Sosuke Masui, Japan

• Development was started back before Bluetooth was supported on Android 2.0

• Many pitfallso older firmware and Android

phones (wait for supported hardware!)

o building for Titanium required modifying the Python build scripts for both the Module and the Application

o Android resources!!!, created a two-step build process

o Port to iOS coming after funding

Localization Notes on Titanium+Plus with Android

• Android res files for each locale (en, ja, es, ...)

Titanium+Plus Modules and Javascript Bridges: Controlling Hardware with a Web Language

Rob ChohanChief Technologist, ePi Rational

(C) 2011 ePi Rational, LLC