Building the Ideal AI Learning Companion (Part 2)
Tags: edtech, webdev, opensource, ai
Published: 2023-03-06 05:50:00

In part 1 of this series, I introduced you to SmartStudy Companions, an AI-powered learning companion app that will revolutionize the way we learn and study. While the idea behind the app is exciting, the project is also a massive undertaking that requires careful planning and execution.

SmartStudy Companions is not only tailored to students, but to all types of learners, including professionals and anyone interested in personal development. Here are some potential problems and target audiences to consider in this broader context:

- Problem: Learners struggle to find personalized learning resources tailored to their specific interests and needs. Target audience: Learners of all ages and levels who are looking for a more personalized and engaging learning experience.
- Problem: Learners often struggle to stay motivated and engaged when studying alone. Target audience: Learners who benefit from social learning and enjoy collaborating with others.
- Problem: Learners may not have access to high-quality educational resources due to financial or geographical barriers. Target audience: Learners who may not have access to traditional educational resources, such as those in remote or underprivileged areas.
- Problem: Traditional educational resources may not be adaptive enough to meet the needs of all learners. Target audience: Learners who may have unique learning needs or who learn at a different pace than others.
- Problem: Learners may struggle to find a balance between learning and other obligations, such as work or family. Target audience: Learners who need flexibility in their learning schedule and access to resources that can help them optimize their study time.

It is important to note that while SmartStudy Companions has the potential to address these problems, there is no guarantee that it will be able to completely solve them. Therefore, it is crucial to design the app in a realistic and feasible way, while leveraging the power of AI technology to create a personalized and engaging learning experience. I need to define the key features of the app and how they will work together to create an ideal user experience. I need to define the key features of the app and how they will work together to create an ideal user experience. I also need to decide on the technology stack that will power the app and how it will be hosted and distributed.

After considering all these factors, I've decided to build SmartStudy Companions as a progressive web app rather than a native app. This decision was made for several reasons, including the ability to iterate quickly and receive feedback in real-time(or near-real-time), as well as the ability to reach a wider audience without the need for app store approval. Building SmartStudy Companions as a progressive web app (PWA) has many advantages over making it as a native app. PWAs are like native apps, but they are made using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. One of the main advantages of PWAs is that they don't need app store approval or installation, since they're accessed through a web browser. This makes them more accessible to users, especially those who don't have app stores or have limited device storage.

Another advantage of PWAs is that they're easily and quickly updated and maintained. Updates are pushed directly to the user's browser, so they always have the latest version of the app. This makes for a better user experience and reduces the need for users to manually update their apps.

PWAs are also faster and more responsive than native apps, thanks to service workers that cache data and resources. This means that the app loads faster and is more reliable, even with a poor or non-existent internet connection. Native apps, on the other hand, need to be downloaded and installed, which can take time and add extra steps to the user experience.

Finally, PWAs are more flexible than native apps in terms of compatibility across different devices and operating systems, since they're built using web technologies. This means they can be accessed on any device with a modern web browser, regardless of the operating system or device type. In contrast, native apps are limited to specific platforms and often require separate development for each platform, which can be costly and time-consuming. Native apps also require users to download and install the app, which can be a barrier to adoption, especially for users with limited storage on their devices.

Overall, building SmartStudy Companions as a PWA is a smart choice, since it offers many advantages over building it as a native app. PWAs are more accessible, easier to update and maintain, faster and more responsive, and more flexible than native apps. These benefits will ultimately result in a better user experience and wider adoption of the app.

To build the app, I will be using Nuxt.js, a powerful framework for building Vue.js applications. Nuxt.js provides a number of benefits, including server-side rendering, automatic code-splitting, and easy configuration of Vue.js plugins.

Now that I've settled on the technology stack, I need to dive into the user experience. An ideal user flow for SmartStudy Companions would begin with a user signing up for an account and creating a profile. The user would then be able to create a companion with their specific needs or interests, or they can browse through a list of preset companions and select the ones that match their interests. The user would then be able to interact with their companions through a chat interface, asking questions, receiving feedback, and sharing resources. This description is a high-level overview of what the user journey will look like. However, [this board](https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVP01_QvM=/?share_link_id=350931423528) will help to to illustrate this process in more detail.

In this part, we talked about the possible issues that the app could tackle and the benefits of developing it as a progressive web app. In the next part of this series, I'll be exploring more about the user experience and creating the key features of the Interface (front and backend) of SmartStudy Companions. Stay tuned to see the progress and the difficulties to be faced in making this idea a reality!