Showcase Review: Compounds
In 'Showcase' reviews, the reviewer is the developer. No claim of objectivity is made, but it’s a chance for the developer to show off his/her app. Here, Corey Floyd presents Compounds, an iPhone/iPod touch application that can be used to solve chemical stoichiometries.
Too often in our work, we are forced to use tools that perform functions we require, yet
werenʼt specifically designed for our exact purposes. A calculator, with itʼs fixed
interface, is a great illustration of this fact. It is a great all-purpose device, but in many
cases, makes the user jump through hoops to accomplish a specific task.
How is this relevant to my review? I believe the iPhone presents a remarkable canvas
for developers to produce focused apps for professionals in specialized fields.
Compounds is our first app that leverages the iPhone in this manner.
A Lab Companion
Compounds, is a highly focused Stoichiometry application which solves the following
problem set:
If I have “x” grams of compound A, how many grams of compound B do I need for my
reaction?
On the surface this is an easy problem:
1. Look up some atomic masses from the Periodic Table.
2. Add the masses together.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each compound.
4. Perform a few multiplication/division operations.
A simple process, but for one, it is tedious. Sometimes, you want to adjust numbers
after the fact, but then must recalculate several figures. You must transcribe values
from the Periodic Table, which you may have memorized, but could still lead to errors.
Admittedly, these are small problems, but I can see value in performing these
calculations faster and in a less error prone way.
The Compounds Solution
Here is how Compounds streamlines this process:
1. Enter each molecular formula.
2. Enter the associated coefficients.
3. Manipulate either the mass or amount in moles of any compound. The other
compound attributes are updated immediately.
This looks good on paper, but what about real world use:
Is it worth pulling out your phone, launching an app, and typing in formulas?
If you answer no, then Compounds becomes another app lost on the 6th screen of your
iPhone. To overcome this, we constantly rethought the interface to provide a fast and
easy experience.
How Compounds Gets Out Of Your Way
Compounds provides an interface familiar to anyone who works in a lab or is studying
Chemistry. We use a beaker with distinct molecules to provide the user with an
immediate understanding of the app. Touch a molecule to edit it. Shake the iPhone to
mix and molecules are replaced by liquid.
Compounds greatly improves the experience of entering compounds. Many apps
require the use of the standard keyboard. This works, but can be slow, tedious and
error prone.
Compounds provides the entire Periodic Table as a keyboard. To activate the keyboard,
just rotate the iPhone. To dismiss, rotate back. One touch per element, no shift key, no
multiple letters. If you touch the wrong element, simply slide your finger to the correct
element before lifting it from the screen.
Too Much Information
Although these Stoichiometry problems are small, they contain a lot of information to
present on the iPhone screen. To improve clarity, we divided the entry and display of
data into separate screens.
Conclusion
I see a great future for focused scientific apps such as Compounds. A small
improvement in your workflow for a small price. A specialized interface built for a niche
audience.
I encourage you to give Compounds a try. Additionally, drop us a line if you have
another workflow we might improve with a similarly focused app.
Compounds is available now on the App Store for $1.99 at the link below.
iTunes Store Link
