The theme presented for the Information Technology Practical Assessment Task (PAT) for 2012 had some learners groaning about a boring theme. There are, however, opportunities for creative programs within the theme if one starts digging a little deeper. In fact many opportunities exist for “advanced” programming if one starts adding notable features.
The learner is expected to write a program that could be used as an information system by the staff and/or visitors at any nature-oriented tourist attraction in South Africa
A topical issue at present is the problem of poaching so there is scope for software which will aid the discovery of poachers so that they can be dealt with. A program could plot on a map, all data of poaching to date in a particular area and attempt to highlight hot spots and times when poaching may occur. The program could notify rangers of possible poaching attempts.
A botanical gardens scenario could see a program displaying images and detailed information of plants within areas of a botanical garden. The program could also include a game for correct guessing of plant types or names making the experience of identifying plants more interesting.
The outdoor nature of the theme also provides the opportunity for a mobile component of the program. With the Java Mobile Development Kit (Java ME) it is just as easy to develop an application for a Java enabled device as it is to create a desktop Java program. An “advanced” program could use the network sockets to connect a mobile version of the application to the desktop application in order to retrieve data and images from the Microsoft Access database. This idea could be taken to almost any application developed within this scenario.