My first Android app

I've created my first Android app. It's called "SpacerLabs UV" and is for use with the WiFi version of my UV Radiation Meter, ( see post 12.01.2021 ). The UV Index can be read from the meter's web-server, without the complete web-page, and there is also no need to open a browser first. All this has been achieved using a cloud-based tool for developing applications for Android devices, called "MIT App Inventor", ( appinventor.mit.edu ), and without any programming knowledge needed !

Basically, developing an app is a two part process using the Designer view and then the Blocks view. First, design the display by positioning components, ( e.g., buttons, labels, text boxes etc ) onto a viewer that looks like a phone. Then, using the Blocks view, connect functional blocks to assign functions to the components e.g., what should happen when a button is tapped. If the "MIT AI2 Companion" app has been installed on a smart phone, the effect of changes can be seen on an actual phone in near real-time via WiFi. When the app is finished, it is saved as a .apk file which can be emailed to a recipient as an attachment from where it can be downloaded and installed on an Android device.

Tapping 'Get UV Index' updates the value

My choice of icon for the app

The lower image shows the icon I chose to launch the app. The top image shows the app opened on a smart phone. It looks quite primitive, having only a few components and no menu bar. But it serves its purpose well. The UV Index 6.54 was measured one sunny morning this month on my balcony.