Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

iOS

Posted by Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas
10,910 Points

Where can I find a list of what an iOS app can do?

Hey,

I made a responsive web site for a dentist and now they want me to build them an iOS app.

I told them that an app isn't really what they need since their website is already responsive, but they are adamant that they absolutely must have an iPhone app in the store in order to appear tech-savvy.

The question now is what will the app do? Surely it has to do something, it doesn't make sense to just make a replica of the website.

Their site already has google maps integrated. My only ideas so far are;

  1. Enable their customers to use Apple Pay

  2. Enable customers to opt-into receiving push notifications of the latest offers

Any ideas guys?

Mike

Arthur Rubio
Arthur Rubio
4,657 Points

Did you figure out what you wanted to do for making an app? Was the whole thing just scrapped and they stuck to the website?

Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas
10,910 Points

Arthur Rubio - I ended up doing this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hYHG1gRlbk

Arthur Rubio
Arthur Rubio
4,657 Points

It looks cool. The only thing that I thought of when I originally came across your post was to make the app have more of an impact with the customer/patients care. This would take the form of having some of the patients records, copy of dental x-rays, dentist's notes on recommendations for care(you know, whatever the law allows). This would help the patient have a more informed view of their dental care and add more responsibility in between dental visits. I'm sure my teeth would be in better shape if I could use an app that could point out my trouble areas. The user/patient would need a login to keep their personal information private. In creating an app with these functions it'll separate itself from the website/web-use because you'll be getting more out of it than a few google searches could do. The new app functions will probably need more work from the dental office itself because they will need to upload those files to a database to make them available for view on the app. You could make a web interface for the office to use so the files are uploaded through it with just a few clicks. They did say it doesn't matter the cost. Go make some bank off of this.

Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas
10,910 Points

Arthur Rubio - Whoa! Thanks man, that sounds cool! This would be a real challenge to sink my teeth into. It sounds like a real problem too, like you said you could have benefited from having this. I'm going to show this to them and see what they think. Thanks again!

Arthur Rubio
Arthur Rubio
4,657 Points

The other cool thing about this is you can make it scalable. With a few minor UI touch ups and an app icon change you can reuse the same infrastructure for more dentists offices to use. Each dentist office would have a personalized app to match their color schemes and style. You'll only have to maintain one backend system and can make UI changes to the different apps upon request.

4 Answers

Peter Kullmann
Peter Kullmann
14,267 Points

Personally, I would prefer the website-only solution simply because of its broader range: Everyone with a browser and internet access can use it.

This might be depending on the dentist's clients - in case they all use iOS devices and will continue to do so in the future (I'd love to see that dentist), an iOS app will be the perfect solution.

However, I consider the value of using only a website - designed responsively and in a device-agnostic way - significantly bigger than making iOS folks add yet another app to their devices, both in regards to development/ maintenance costs and number of users.

If I were you, I would definitely discuss this matter more deeply before deciding to go for the iOS app. There are things more important than appearing tech-savvy.

You can absolutely achieve your ideas without a stand-alone app:

  1. Use a third-party payment partner that offers paying via Apple Pay
  2. Make a newsletter with the latest offers.
Russell Warwick
Russell Warwick
1,601 Points
Russell Warwick
Russell Warwick
1,601 Points

Here is an idea, my dentist does it. So basically each time you go to the dentist they add points onto your account, like a loyalty card. So once you get a certain amount of points you can get a discount and like tooth brushes and dental products. Ask them and see what they say ? <p> Just an idea :) </p>

Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas
10,910 Points

Ah, ok, so maybe I could have a the app keep record of their rewards.

Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas
10,910 Points
Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas
10,910 Points

Hi Peter

Thanks for the feedback. Believe me I've told them repeatedly that there is no real point in having an iPhone app since the site is already responsive. They said they love the responsive site and they still want an iPhone app in the store as well.

They said we don't care how much it costs we just want it in the app store so that we can display 'download our app' on the leaflets. They're obsessed with Apple. The first thing you see when you get to reception are two 27 inch iMac 5Ks on the desk!

I just need to decide on what it will do.

Mike

Peter Kullmann
Peter Kullmann
14,267 Points

Too bad. I do not know of any dentist with an app, but judging on my own experiences, here are two ideas for the app:

  • Integrate some kind of scheduling functionality: Simplify making appointments and add notifications for upcoming ones.
  • Inform users about their dental health such as showing them recent x-rays or displaying additional information about future surgeries/ their tooth problems in the past so that the dentists' work is more transparent and patients can understand their work more easily.

You obviously have to consult someone about the legal constraints of sending that kind of data. Depending on your skills and whether the budget really is unlimited, adding a web-counterpart to the app will be a delight for clients outside of the Apple world. If the task is not too urgent, you might want to check out the MailChimp API here at Treehouse for the newsletter part.

This might result in a lot of work on your side (fortunately paired with monetary reward) which is why I, if I were in your spot, still would try to convince the dentists to not choose an iOS app. I am not trying to talk down Apple, but in the dentist context, it does not feel like "the right thing to do" to me.

Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas
10,910 Points
Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas
10,910 Points

Hi Peter

yea I know it's weird, I've been doing some research and already found 3 dentist apps in the store, but they're rubbish, they're basically just a rehashed version of their website, crazy.

Thanks for the suggestions I'll be having a think about it.

Kind regards, Mike