A 12-year-old app developer | Thomas Suarez | TED

Summary

The speaker shares their passion for technology and app development, highlighting their creations like 'Earth Fortune' and the popular 'Bustin Jieber'. They discuss the challenges of learning app development as a young person and the lack of resources compared to traditional hobbies. The speaker details their journey with Apple's software development kit and the support received from family, friends, and teachers. They've started an app club at school and are involved in an iPad Pilot Program, aiming to create educational apps for local districts. They aspire to develop more apps, explore Android development, and continue sharing their knowledge.

Takeaways

• 💻 The speaker has a passion for computers and technology and has developed several apps for iOS devices.
• 🔮 'Earth Fortune' is an app that displays different colors of Earth based on the user's fortune.
• 🎮 'Bustin Jieber' is a whack-a-mole game featuring Justin Bieber, created due to its creator's schoolmates' dislike for the celebrity.
• 👨‍💻 The speaker started programming in languages like Python, C, and Java before moving on to iOS app development.
• 🛠️ The iPhone SDK (Software Development Kit) was instrumental in enabling the speaker to create apps for the iPhone.
• 💼 The speaker's parents supported their app development journey by paying the $99 fee to publish apps on the App Store.
• 🤝 The speaker received encouragement and inspiration from family, friends, teachers, and even Apple Store staff.
• 🏫 An app club was started by the speaker at their school, with a teacher sponsoring it to teach students app design.
• 📱 The iPad Pilot Program is mentioned as a way to gather feedback on app usage and to decide which apps to put on iPads for educational purposes.
• 💡 The speaker believes students can be a valuable resource for teachers in terms of technology knowledge.
• 🚀 Future plans include creating more apps and games, exploring Android development, and continuing to share knowledge through the app club.

Q & A

What is the speaker's fascination with technology?

The speaker has always been fascinated with computers and technology.

What was the first app the speaker created?

The first app the speaker created was a unique fortune teller called 'Earth Fortune'.

How does 'Earth Fortune' work?

It displays different colors of Earth depending on the user's fortune.

What is the speaker's most successful app?

The speaker's most successful app is 'Bustin Jieber,' a Justin Bieber-themed whack-a-mole game.

Why did the speaker create 'Bustin Jieber'?

The speaker created it because many people at school disliked Justin Bieber.

When was 'Bustin Jieber' released?

It was released just before the holidays in 2010.

What challenges do young app developers face according to the speaker?

Young app developers face challenges in finding resources and guidance on how to create apps, as many kids want to make games but don't know where to start.

What programming languages did the speaker learn before creating apps?

The speaker learned Python, C, Java, and other programming languages to get the basics down.

What is an iPhone software development kit?

It is a suite of tools for creating and programming an iPhone app.

How did the speaker get started with app development?

The speaker started by learning multiple programming languages and then used the iPhone software development kit to create test apps.

What support did the speaker receive for their app development?

The speaker received encouragement from family, friends, teachers, and people at the Apple Store.

What is the iPad Pilot Program mentioned in the script?

It is a program that the speaker is part of, which involves using iPads in an educational setting and deciding what apps to put on them.

How does the speaker plan to use the revenue from selling apps?

The revenue from selling apps will go into the local education foundations to support education.

What is the speaker's future plan regarding app development?

The speaker plans to create more apps and games, get into Android programming, and continue the app club to share knowledge.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Early App Development and Inspiration

The speaker expresses their fascination with computers and technology, sharing their early experiences in developing apps for Apple devices. They introduce their first app, 'Earth Fortune,' a fortune teller that changes the colors of Earth based on the user's fortune. Their most successful app, 'Bustin Jieber,' a Justin Bieber-themed whack-a-mole game, was created in response to the dislike some of their peers had for the celebrity. The speaker reflects on the challenges faced by kids who want to create apps, as there are limited resources and guidance available compared to traditional hobbies like sports or music. They also touch on the generational gap, where parents might not have the experience to guide their children in app development.

📱 Learning to Code and the Impact of iPhone SDK

The speaker describes their journey into programming, starting with learning various languages like Python, C, and Java. The release of the iPhone and its software development kit (SDK) opened new possibilities for them. The SDK provided a suite of tools that allowed them to create and program iPhone apps. After experimenting with the SDK, they developed several test apps, including 'Earth Fortune,' which they eventually launched on the App Store. The speaker recounts persuading their parents to pay the $99 fee to list their apps on the App Store, which led to their apps being available for download.

🌟 Support and Encouragement in App Development

The speaker discusses the support they received from family, friends, teachers, and even Apple Store employees, which was instrumental in their app development journey. They draw inspiration from Steve Jobs and have started an app club at their school, where a teacher sponsors the initiative. The club allows any student to learn app design, sharing the speaker's experiences and knowledge with others.

🏫 iPad Pilot Program and Educational App Development

The speaker is part of an iPad Pilot Program, where they face the challenge of deciding how to utilize iPads effectively and which apps to include. They gather feedback from teachers to understand their app preferences. The speaker's team designs apps that will be free for local districts, with proceeds from other districts supporting local educational foundations. They highlight the unique position students are in, often being more knowledgeable about technology than their teachers, and encourage educators to leverage this resource.

🚀 Future Goals in App Development and Education

The speaker outlines their future goals, which include creating more apps and games, collaborating with a third-party company, and expanding into Android programming and development. They also aim to continue running their app club and explore other avenues for students to share knowledge. The speaker concludes with a thank you and receives applause from the audience.

Keywords

💡Fortune Teller

A fortune teller is a person or device that claims to predict the future, often for entertainment purposes. In the context of the video, 'Earth Fortune' is an app that functions as a digital fortune teller, using different colors of Earth to symbolize fortunes. This app is a creative blend of technology and the traditional concept of fortune-telling, showcasing how technology can be used to create novel experiences.

💡App

An app, short for 'application,' is a software program designed to perform a specific function directly for the user on a mobile device or computer. The video's speaker discusses creating various apps, such as 'Earth Fortune' and 'Bustin Jieber,' which are examples of apps designed for entertainment and gaming. Apps are central to the speaker's narrative, demonstrating a passion for developing software that can be accessed on mobile platforms.

💡Software Development Kit (SDK)

A Software Development Kit is a set of tools and libraries used to develop software applications. In the video, the speaker mentions the iPhone SDK, which allows developers to create apps for Apple's iOS platform. The SDK is instrumental in the speaker's journey as an app developer, providing the necessary tools to bring ideas to life on the iPhone and other Apple devices.

💡Programming Languages

Programming languages are formal languages comprising a set of instructions used to create software and applications. The speaker has experience with multiple programming languages like Python, C, and Java, which are foundational skills that enabled the development of apps. These languages are the building blocks for app creation, as they allow developers to write the code that powers applications.

💡App Store

The App Store is a digital distribution platform for computer software, where users can browse and download apps. In the video, the speaker's parents paid a fee to enable the speaker to publish 'Earth Fortune' on the App Store. The App Store is a critical component of the app ecosystem, providing a marketplace where developers can distribute their creations to a wide audience.

💡Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was an American entrepreneur and a key figure in the development of the personal computer and the iPhone, among other innovations. The speaker mentions being inspired by Steve Jobs, highlighting the influence of Jobs' vision and achievements on aspiring tech enthusiasts and developers. Jobs' legacy is a driving force for many in the tech industry, including the speaker.

💡App Club

An app club, as mentioned in the video, is a group or community where individuals gather to discuss, learn, and create apps. The speaker started an app club at school, which serves as a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences in app development. This club is an example of how peer learning and collaboration can foster skill development and innovation in technology.

💡iPad Pilot Program

The iPad Pilot Program refers to an initiative where schools or districts introduce iPads into their curriculum to explore educational applications of the technology. The speaker is part of such a program and discusses the challenge of deciding how to utilize iPads effectively in an educational setting. This program represents an opportunity to integrate technology into learning and to develop apps tailored to educational needs.

💡Android Programming

Android programming involves writing code for applications that run on the Android operating system, which is used by a wide range of devices. The speaker expresses a desire to expand their skills into Android programming, indicating an interest in reaching a broader audience with their app development. Android's popularity makes it a significant platform for developers looking to create apps accessible to many users.

💡Educational Foundations

Educational foundations are organizations that support and promote education, often through funding and advocacy. In the video, the speaker mentions that proceeds from selling certain apps would go into local educational foundations. This reflects a commitment to giving back to the community and using technology to support educational initiatives.

💡Resource

In the context of the video, a resource refers to something that can be used to help achieve a particular goal, such as knowledge or materials. The speaker notes that students often have more technology knowledge than teachers, positioning students as valuable resources for educators. This highlights the potential for intergenerational knowledge transfer and collaboration in educational technology.

Highlights

Speaker's fascination with computers and technology.

Creation of apps for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Introduction of 'Earth Fortune', a unique fortune teller app.

Development of 'Bustin Jieber', a Justin Bieber-themed game.

Reason for creating 'Bustin Jieber' due to dislike for Justin Bieber.

The process of programming and releasing apps.

The challenges of learning app development as a kid.

Lack of resources for children interested in app development.

The speaker's approach to learning programming.

The impact of the iPhone and its software development kit.

Creation of test apps using the software development kit.

Persuading parents to pay the App Store fee.

Support from family, friends, teachers, and Apple Store staff.

Inspiration from Steve Jobs and starting an app club.

The iPad Pilot Program and its role in app development.

Challenges in deciding how to use iPads in education.

Feedback from teachers to guide app development.

Free apps for local districts and funding for education foundations.

Students' knowledge of technology surpassing teachers'.

Future plans for creating more apps and games.

Collaboration with a third-party company for app development.

Interest in Android programming and development.

Continuation of the app club and sharing knowledge.

Transcripts

Translator: Joseph Geni Reviewer: Thu-Huong Ha

I've always had a fascination for computers and technology,

and I made a few apps for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

I'd like to share a couple with you today.

My first app was a unique fortune teller called "Earth Fortune"

that would display different colors of Earth

depending on what your fortune was.

My favorite and most successful app

is "Bustin Jieber," which is --

(Laughter)

which is a Justin Bieber whack-a-mole.

(Laughter)

I created it because a lot of people at school

disliked Justin Bieber a little bit,

so I decided to make the app.

So I went to work programming it,

and I released it just before the holidays in 2010.

A lot of people ask me, how did I make these?

A lot of times it's because the person who asked the question

wants to make an app also.

A lot of kids these days like to play games,

but now they want to make them, and it's difficult,

because not many kids know where to go to find out how to make a program.

I mean, for soccer, you could go to a soccer team.

For violin, you could get lessons for a violin.

But what if you want to make an app?

And the kid's parents might have done some of these things when they were young,

but not many parents have written apps.

(Laughter)

Where do you go to find out how to make an app?

Well, this is how I approached it, this is what I did.

First of all, I've been programming in multiple other programming languages

to get the basics down,

such as Python, C, Java, etc.

And then Apple released the iPhone,

and with it, the iPhone software development kit,

and the software development kit is a suite of tools

for creating and programming an iPhone app.

This opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me,

and after playing with the software development kit a little bit,

I made a couple of apps, I made some test apps.

One of them happened to be "Earth Fortune,"

and I was ready to put "Earth Fortune" on the App Store,

and so I persuaded my parents to pay the 99 dollar fee

to be able to put my apps on the App Store.

They agreed, and now I have apps on the App Store.

I've gotten a lot of interest and encouragement

from my family, friends, teachers and even people at the Apple Store,

and that's been a huge help to me.

I've gotten a lot of inspiration from Steve Jobs,

and I've started an app club at school,

and a teacher at my school is kindly sponsoring my app club.

Any student at my school can come and learn how to design an app.

This is so I can share my experiences with others.

There's these programs called the iPad Pilot Program,

and some districts have them.

I'm fortunate enough to be part of one.

A big challenge is, how should the iPads be used,

and what apps should we put on the iPads?

So we're getting feedback from teachers at the school

to see what kind of apps they'd like.

When we design the app and we sell it,

it will be free to local districts; and other districts that we sell to --

all the money from that will go into the local ed foundations.

These days, students usually know a little bit more than teachers

with the technology.

(Laughter)

So --

(Laughter)

Sorry.

(Laughter)

So this is a resource to teachers,

and educators should recognize this resource and make good use of it.

(Laughter)

I'd like to finish up by saying what I'd like to do in the future.

First of all, I'd like to create more apps, more games.

I'm working with a third party company to make an app.

I'd like to get into Android programming and development,

and I'd like to continue my app club,

and find other ways for students to share knowledge with others.

Thank you.

(Applause)