NASA Spinoff
by Lori Moody
Jan 31, 2011 9:00 AM –
Install
NASA Spinoff. The NASA Spinoff application contains a feed of NASA’s latest technology news, a searchable database of NASA-derived innovations, a map of spinoff locations, a historical timeline, and a database of NASA’s available licensing opportunities to inspire the spinoffs of the future.
Price: Free
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Great way to learn about NASA’s history and ground-breaking innovations.
- Frequent feed updates keeps you informed on NASA’s newest operations.
Cons
- I wish this app was as easy on the eyes as it was informative. Poorly designed interface and low resolution pictures completely turned me off from using this app often.
- Not Interactive. It was alright to read the information, but it didn’t hold my interest; nothing I couldn’t find on the Nasa.gov website and it would probably move faster too.
Features:
NASA Spinoff app helps the user keep up with news about NASA’s latest technology ventures and history of the organization. Tabs at the bottom of the screen help you easily navigate through the app and provides the user with easy-to-process information right at your fingertips.
The first tab at the bottom of the screen is for news. NASA’s latest technology headlines are in a bold 14pt font in white on a twilight colored background. It’s not hard to miss. It’s as if NASA is saying, “Hey look at me!” I couldn’t get over how ugly this app looked when I first opened it. The swirly pink and purple opening screen was a warning sign that it wasn’t going to get any prettier from here.
When you click a headline, the app takes you to another page with a low res picture and a caption. You get two vector-based buttons, which prompts you to either go back or view more info about a certain headline. Clicking the “view more” button takes you directly to the nasa.gov site. on your phone’s browser making me question why I downloaded this app if I can just get the same information on the site.
The next tab in the main screen is the search button, which allows you to research previous technologies NASA had a hand in creating. It’s a useful tool if you’re doing a research project on NASA. Also, The map feature allows you to view NASA-derived technologies anywhere in the U.S. The timeline tap gives you an extensive history of discoveries and inventions in which NASA was involved in from 1958 to the present.
The license tab is another useful tap that will help you find a NASA-supported project you can get involved with; especially if you’re interested in being granted a license for domestic and foreign patents, applications and software.
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NASA Spinoff Splash Screen
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NASA Spinoff News
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NASA Spinoff Search
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NASA Spinoff Map
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NASA Spinoff License
Usefulness:
You receive a chock-full of information to sink your teeth into. It’s a decent app for the NASA enthusiast who wants to keep updated with NASA’s tech news and projects, but honestly, I think it’s just as easy to get the same information on nasa.gov. When you want to read an article about a certain new tech finding, the app will just direct you to the nasa.gov page. So save the hassle of downloading this 6.75 MB app and that eye-sore of a layout and browse the site.
Ease of Use:
This app is so simple to use that Kindergartner could pick it up and know how NASA Spinoff worked. Actually I think this app was too dumbed down. What gives NASA? You think we can’ process this information without having the tabs laid out on some vomit-colored screen with headlines big bold letters? However, the tabs at the bottom of the app do help organize the information and is a useful resources for a general audience interested in the history of the NASA corporation.
Frequently Used:
I didn’t use this app often. The nasa.gov website is useful enough.
Interface:
Ugly, ugly design. The app’s twilight colored background, low res pictures and the lack of interactive features makes NASA Spinoff feel thrown together. However, the easy-to-read tabs at the bottom of the screen made it easy to navigate through NASA’s extensive history and resources.