This month Gentler Streak encourages us to build healthy habits by staying active without burning out. Algorithms visualize how computers search for and sort information and even gets into the basics of encryption. Finally, AntVenture invites us down to the perspective of an ant as we walk about our world.
Garry Froehlich
Jellybean Tunes
Gentler Streak Workout Tracker
By Gentler Stories LLC
Gentler Streak is a workout app that focuses on balance. It encourages you to stay active and healthy but also incorporates rest and tries to keep you from pushing too hard and burning out. An Apple Design Award finalist and former Apple Watch App of the Year, Gentler Streak now works on iPad with the introduction of health data on that platform. Initially I was hesitant to give the app access to my health information, but fortunately all of that data stays on the device. The app shows you a suggested range of activity levels to strive for, suggests and tracks workouts, offers lots of tips for well being, and is filled with fun touches like offering up lines of food emojis to show how many calories you’ve burned. I am not a fitness expert, but for the rest of us Gentler Streak is a playful and encouraging app to help us stay active. You can use the app and see basic metrics for free, with a subscription (and a 7 day free trial) for more advanced tips and features such as suggested workouts and longer term trends.
Algorithms: Explained & Animated
By Moriteru Ishida
Once they get past the basics, beginning programmers often struggle with visualizing how information gets moved around and manipulated inside a computer. That’s where Algorithms comes in. Algorithms presents animated views of techniques commonly used by programmers, to show how they work. For example, how do computers sort lists of things when you hit that sort button? How can it be done more efficiently? How does basic network security work? How do computers search for things? What’s a hash table? Each algorithm is shown through a series of colourful animated images along with text descriptions that show how and why information is stored, manipulated, and moved around. Notably it does not show actual code, but it does give user something more important — the right mental model for those wanting to code the algorithm, or for those simply curious about how things work. There are many algorithms included for free, with a single in-app purchase to unlock the rest.
AntVenture
By David Marleau
AntVenture tells the stories of four remarkably literate ants as they venture out of their nests. After selecting an ant, the app encourages you to walk outside as it narrates the story (there are no images or text for this, only audio). At certain parts of the story you are presented with a choice based on what you see around you, or how you want the story to progress. It presents an interesting and unusual experience as you listen to things from the perspective of a tiny creature. Unfortunately the app seems to not work well in the background, as I had to keep the app open for the entire story rather than putting my phone away as I walked, which I would have preferred. Despite this, I have not seen an app like this before and it is worth a look for older kids or adults interested in a change of perspective as they go for a walk.
