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posted by janrinok on Wednesday March 25 2015, @10:07AM   Printer-friendly

A team of high schoolers won the 2015 Verizon Innovative App Challenge. This culminated in a visit to the White House for the 2015 Science Fair. The app is designed to help teenagers deal with the stress and depression of being a teenager.

I found this story interesting for a lot of reasons. That app development is considered STEM, that app development is so easy that a group of high-schoolers can do it, that app development is so powerful that anyone can make something that may change the world, that mobile apps continue to become all things to all people. It seems that, instead of books, essays, poetry, etc, a mobile app is now the way to connect and reach everyone.

Sometimes I am simply amazed at how in such a short time, the world has become so ubiquitously connected.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @10:40AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @10:40AM (#162297)

    Science Fair standards haven't changed in decades. Projects involving computers don't have to be rigorous experiments employing the scientific method correctly. Just making something amusing happen on a computer is sufficient. Considering that anyone can make an "app" today using web based frameworks and without even knowing a programming language, the standards really should be raised.

  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by kaszz on Wednesday March 25 2015, @10:52AM

    by kaszz (4211) on Wednesday March 25 2015, @10:52AM (#162302) Journal

    the app features a journal for users to express their thoughts and descriptions about different kinds of anxiety and depression and their corresponding symptoms.

    In an email to The Huffington Post, one of the students explained that the idea for the app was in reaction to Fryberg’s actions.

    “The Seattle Times did an article on how he [Fryberg] had been posting his feelings to Twitter for months with no one really listening,” Chloe said. “This sad example of how serious the situation can get really motivated us to create an app that could prevent this kind of thing in the future.”

    So the problem is that no one gave a shit about Fryberg. But once a blood was spilled it was all important. It's so hypocritical. Writing down feelings in a software program won't solve anything where it matters.

    Don't put people in impossible situations or suffer the consequences.

    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:15AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:15AM (#162310)

      No one gives a shit about mE! Pointlessly trolling SN will make me feel good.

      Hey dude. Is that a massive STEM in your pocket or did you get a new phone? Is there an app to Support The Troops? Or like a map with a little arrow that points toward Washington DC so I know which direction to face when I want to worship Bama's Anus ten times a day? Heck, make it twenty times a day. I only need four hours sleep anyway, 'cause Bama's so Damn Awesome just living in the Obamanation is exhilarating. Starbucks will fuel my passion for The 'Merican Way. Can I get one of them unpaid Verizon internships for doing a Web 5.0 Mashup with like Google App Engine or something. No need to pay me, I can eat out the dumpster at McDonalds. No sacrifice is too great for Bama. Sell me into corporate slavery!

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:13AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:13AM (#162309)

    Way back in the stone ages when I was a teen we coped with the stress of being a teenager by using drugs and alcohol. I'm glad there are other options for today's youth, but ain't no app gonna beat what's been used for millennia.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:17AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:17AM (#162311)

      You forgot unprotected sex and angsty music, you doped-up prude.

      • (Score: 2) by Nuke on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:24AM

        by Nuke (3162) on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:24AM (#162315)

        You forgot unprotected sex and angsty music, you doped-up prude.

        Why would someone getting unprotected (or even protected) sex be depressed? I thought the lack or insufficiency of sex was the root of the problem. Was for me. Now I know where all the teenage girls were - in their mom's basements writing apps.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:34AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:34AM (#162321)

          The root of the problem was constantly getting pushed around by adults, parents, teachers, siblings, and peers. Sex doesn't eliminate bullying. Naturally you wouldn't know that, if you were the bully.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 26 2015, @08:47PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 26 2015, @08:47PM (#162947)

          This may come as a surprise to many teenagers but sex doesn't magically solve all problems. Additionally, child sexual abuse is pretty common (~10+% depending on the statistic), so there's a pretty good chance some of those depressed teens have some pretty negative and unhealthy associations with sex.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:25AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:25AM (#162316)

        Your swing music has ruined our world! Take your upbeat shenanigans, along with your telegraph, and put 'em back on that train to Doomsville!

  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by Nuke on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:19AM

    by Nuke (3162) on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:19AM (#162312)
    The first link leads to an apparently endless series of mug shots. WTF?

    The second link ditto, not quite as endless but starting with a rather phallic shot of Obama. WTF?

    From the 3rd link :-

    the app features a journal for users to express their thoughts ......... one of the students explained that the idea for the app was in reaction to Fryberg’s actions. “The Seattle Times did an article on how he [Fryberg] had been posting his feelings to Twitter for months with no one really listening,” Chloe said.

    So Fryberg was already using a journal to express his thoughts and feelings, with no effect. How does this new app differ? Serious question.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:39AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:39AM (#162322)

      a rather phallic shot of Obama. WTF?

      Oh...yeah. Doesn't it just make you want to squat on his face.

    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by RobotMonster on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:50AM

      by RobotMonster (130) on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:50AM (#162325) Journal

      Light on detail? No kidding! According to TFA (3rd link), in addition to a journal, it also includes "descriptions about different kinds of anxiety and depression and their corresponding symptoms". Read a bit further, and it doesn't sound like they actually developed any software yet:

      its designers will meet with Massachusetts Institute of Technology trainers in a few weeks to build the app.

      This won a national science award? What came second?!

      I agree with the sentiment of this comment under the huff-post article:

      I don't understand how this is at all innovative...
      ...This article offers almost no substantive coverage of what makes this app unique....
      ...It's the worst kind of fluff piece possible: grandiose & vague to the point of embarrassment.

      • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:54AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:54AM (#162327)

        Sure it's nothing but a vague business plan, but the word "app" was mentioned, so it must be science.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:00PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @11:00PM (#162551)

          Building a gadget is NOT Science.
          In the library (Dewey system), Science is in the 500s; what these kids were doing would be in the 600s (Technology aka Applied Science).

          As the First Post mentioned (good post, Fristy), Science provides an answer to a scientific query by using the Scientific Method. [wikipedia.org]

          This demonstrates yet again that most people have no clue what Science is (e.g. "Do you believe in evolution?").

          -- gewg_

      • (Score: 4, Informative) by kaszz on Wednesday March 25 2015, @01:43PM

        by kaszz (4211) on Wednesday March 25 2015, @01:43PM (#162361) Journal

        This won a national science award? What came second?!

        whitehouse.gov: Meet the exhibitors in the 2015 White House science fair [whitehouse.gov]

        "computer program called “Rethink” that alerts users when an outgoing message contains language that is potentially abusive and hurtful"

        "designed a new type of spinal implant that expands over time, helping developing spines stay straighter as they grow, and lengthening the time young patients can go between surgeries"

        "developed a solar-powered radiation system that circulates air and heats the interior of buildings. It can run without access to electricity or running water."

        "a sensor device that can detect when a wanderer stands up, apply pressure on his or her foot, and send an alert to the caregiver’s smartphone via Bluetooth"

        "Illumi-cize, uses a pulse meter to measure heart rate and sends that information to a battery-powered computer chip. The chip is programmed to illuminate light-up accessories based on the intensity of a person’s physical activity. The wearable device includes an SD card that collects and stores the data gathered during a workout, "

        "battery-powered page turner that could turn pages for people who are paralyzed or have arthritis"

        "carbon-dioxide powered battery called PolluCell. Comprised of multiple electrochemical cells wired in parallel circuits, PolluCell harnesses the power of carbon dioxide and waste materials to generate electricity"

        And lots of other stuff..

        • (Score: 2) by RobotMonster on Wednesday March 25 2015, @02:02PM

          by RobotMonster (130) on Wednesday March 25 2015, @02:02PM (#162381) Journal

          All of those sound way more impressive.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @06:33PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2015, @06:33PM (#162475)

          computer program called “Rethink” that alerts users when an outgoing message contains language that is potentially abusive and hurtful

          fck y btch nd yr fckng wrd fltr 2 y stpd sht tng sshl fckr

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 26 2015, @07:28AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 26 2015, @07:28AM (#162636)

        > This won a national science award?

        No it did not. Did you even read the summary?
        It won the Verizon App Challenge - not science, just an app competition.
        Winning that got them a trip to the whitehouse where no awards were given.