Today?s app review features something very special.
A charity.
First, a little context. Depaul are presumably a charity organisation helping homeless people get back on their feet, and to stay away from drugs and other dangers. To raise awareness, they built this little application, aptly named iHobo. The basic concept is that a young homeless man will live in your iPod or iPhone over a period of three days, and it?s your job to keep him fed, warm and safe. Every now and then, he?ll need your help, and you have the option to provide him with a sleeping bag, a sandwich or money.
It sounds simple enough, but it can really get frustrating. For starters, Homeless Jim and I have wildly different sleeping patterns, so I?ll wake up to about three alerts. During my sleeping hours, he?s somehow managed to have his sleeping bag stolen, gotten into a fight with a smack dealer, and nearly starve to death.
The app is actually enjoyable, if not frustrating, though if I?m enjoying the plight of Jim, I?m clearly missing the point.
Life in my iPod Touch started out alright for Jim. He was cold, so I gave him a sleeping bag. This was at twenty-five minutes to midnight. At twenty to, the bag was stolen, and I had to give him another.
That morning, he asked for money. I gave him money. He bought a warm drink. It was all good.
That was yesterday. This morning, he was cowering in fear of a smack dealer, whom he owed money, and was coming to rough him up.
I gave him the money to pay him off and keep himself alive. He went and bought more drugs with it. Then he complained about having no food. I gave him a sandwich. He threw it away and complained about wanting drugs instead.
I hate this little homeless man. Hats off to Depaul for putting up with them.
So, the review seems a little scattered, but I?ll round it all up for you. If you want a challenge, go for it. The app is interesting, to say the least, so it gets a thumbs-up from me.
A charity.
First, a little context. Depaul are presumably a charity organisation helping homeless people get back on their feet, and to stay away from drugs and other dangers. To raise awareness, they built this little application, aptly named iHobo. The basic concept is that a young homeless man will live in your iPod or iPhone over a period of three days, and it?s your job to keep him fed, warm and safe. Every now and then, he?ll need your help, and you have the option to provide him with a sleeping bag, a sandwich or money.
It sounds simple enough, but it can really get frustrating. For starters, Homeless Jim and I have wildly different sleeping patterns, so I?ll wake up to about three alerts. During my sleeping hours, he?s somehow managed to have his sleeping bag stolen, gotten into a fight with a smack dealer, and nearly starve to death.
The app is actually enjoyable, if not frustrating, though if I?m enjoying the plight of Jim, I?m clearly missing the point.
Life in my iPod Touch started out alright for Jim. He was cold, so I gave him a sleeping bag. This was at twenty-five minutes to midnight. At twenty to, the bag was stolen, and I had to give him another.
That morning, he asked for money. I gave him money. He bought a warm drink. It was all good.
That was yesterday. This morning, he was cowering in fear of a smack dealer, whom he owed money, and was coming to rough him up.
I gave him the money to pay him off and keep himself alive. He went and bought more drugs with it. Then he complained about having no food. I gave him a sandwich. He threw it away and complained about wanting drugs instead.
I hate this little homeless man. Hats off to Depaul for putting up with them.
So, the review seems a little scattered, but I?ll round it all up for you. If you want a challenge, go for it. The app is interesting, to say the least, so it gets a thumbs-up from me.
it makes sense i guess! but its still annoying... smart idea, and it seems to have reached the younger generation and engaged them which is hard to do. so kudos to depaul UK