Rob Chohan: Titanium+Plus Modules and Javascript Bridges: Controlling Hardware with a Web Language
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This document discusses using Titanium+Plus modules and JavaScript bridges to control hardware from a web language like JavaScript. It provides examples of using modules to access device hardware like barometers and Bluetooth. Developing native Android modules for hardware access requires modifying build scripts but allows focusing expertise on specific parts like firmware. Titanium+Plus lowers barriers to hardware integration and was useful for a startup developing custom sensor devices for cycling apps. Localization requires separate Android resource files for each supported language.
![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;
}
}](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/codestrongrobchohanseptember2011-111011121634-phpapp02/85/Rob-Chohan-Titanium-Plus-Modules-and-Javascript-Bridges-Controlling-Hardware-with-a-Web-Language-12-320.jpg)
Rob Chohan: Titanium+Plus Modules and Javascript Bridges: Controlling Hardware with a Web Language
- 1. Titanium+Plus Modules and Javascript Bridges: Controlling Hardware with a Web Language Rob Chohan Chief Technologist, ePi Rational (C) 2011 ePi Rational, LLC
- 3. 2001: A Space Odyssey Start around 57'20''
- 4. Streaming BBC Channel 12 to Space
- 5. Sweet Spot = Hardware + Software + Content
- 6. Mobile Architecture, extending Titanium example One Barcode app idea to rule them all!!! Titanium – Open source User Interface & Hardware API Library (Software to be written to tie these together) Zxing or Zebra Crossing – Open source barcode library encode/decode iOS Android Killer Barcode App = Camera +
- 7. Libraries that are ripe for Titanium+Plus • DropBox • My Tracks, Map or Lat/Long? -117.117203, 32.784180 • Airpush -117.116966, -117.116501, 32.784218 32.784386 -117.116501, 32.784439 -117.116341, 32.784527 • Square -117.116280, 32.784618 • Networking • Google Analytics* • A cryptographically secure RNG that your app needs that Javascript can't provide (e.g., SecureRandom)
- 8. 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
- 9. Hardware that could be interesting to Titanium Developers • Barometer • WiFi • Bluetooth • Near Field Communications (NFC) • ANT+ • GPS
- 10. Barometer • Motorola chose a What is a Barometer good for Digital Pressure (courtesy of the chip manufacturer, Bosch) Sensor in their • Enhancement of GPS Motorola Xoom navigation • Indoor and outdoor navigation • Leisure and sports • Weather forecast • Vertical velocity indication
- 11. 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
- 12. 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; } }
- 13. Screen from Motorola Xoom, Native App by Noosters 500+ Downloads as of Sep 2011
- 14. Screen from Motorola Xoom, Native App by Guild Software 5,000+ Downloads as of Sep 2011
- 15. Screen from Motorola Xoom, Native App by David Momenso 100+ Downloads as of Sep 2011
- 16. Titanium+Plus Modules helps to lower the bar
- 17. 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?
- 18. Bluetooth now becomes very interesting for Titanium Users What is a Bluetooth good for in the context of Titanium • Chat programs • Getting data from custom sensor boards var btLib = require('epi.bt'); bt = btLib.turnOnRadio(); // discovery bt.discovery(); // pairing // exchanging of data
- 19. San Diego Based Fitness Startup • San Diego based startup Mobile Phone focusing on Bicycle fitness • Patent pending nutrition and hydration algorithm for cyclists • 100% bootstrapped • Developed a custom sensor board with o wheel revolution counters o digital pressure barometer o another type of pressure sensor o Bluetooth 3 radio Custom Device comm over Bluetooth
- 20. San Diego Based Fitness Startup why Titanium worked for them • 100% bootstrapped Mobile Phone • team is comprised of o 1 firmware o 1 electrical engineer o 1 Titanium Dev o 1 Bluetooth Dev o 1 Marketing • Each team member was able to focus on their particular part • Team currently at funding stage Custom Device comm over Bluetooth
- 21. Bluetooth on Android & Titanium+Plus • Android module built for Android 1.6 • Many pitfalls o older firmware and Android • Relies on the Bluetooth phones (wait for supported hardware!) Backport open source jar o building for Titanium from Sosuke Masui, Japan required modifying the Python build scripts for both • Development was started back the Module and the before Bluetooth was Application o Android resources!!!, supported on Android 2.0 created a two-step build process o Port to iOS coming after funding
- 22. Localization Notes on Titanium+Plus with Android • Android res files for each locale (en, ja, es, ...)
- 23. Titanium+Plus Modules and Javascript Bridges: Controlling Hardware with a Web Language Rob Chohan Chief Technologist, ePi Rational (C) 2011 ePi Rational, LLC