Report on Prototype 3 of the Weather App
The new version of the weather app includes a feature called browser caching. This is
actually how the app remembers the weather information for a city for 5 minutes after
it's fetched. Now, let's look at the relative strengths and weaknesses of this improved
version:
Strengths:
Smarter User Experience: If the user searches for the weather in a city and returns
within 5 minutes, the application will show him the saved data instantly, instead of
having to reload it. It feels faster and more convenient.
Reduced Internet Usage: Since the app fetches new data only when the stored
information is older than 5 minutes, it uses less internet. This can save users' data,
especially when they are on limited plans or have slow connections.
Useful Updates: Now the app tells you how long ago the weather data was updated.
For example, it could say, "Just now" or "Last updated 3 minutes ago." In this way, it
keeps the user informed about how fresh the information is.
Weaknesses:
Old Data Risk: While caching saves time, the weather information may not be
absolutely up-to-the-minute. This may pose a problem if the weather changes within a
very short period, and the users may see information that is a little old.
Storage Limits: The application makes use of a small part of the browser for storage.
In case too many cities are checked or the browser storage is cleaned, it will have to
fetch everything once again, and hence will slow down.
Device Dependency: The saved data about weather is present only on the device you
used. If you shift to another device, it will fetch fresh data, which might be
inconvenient.
Generally, Prototype 3 enhances speed and comfort in the usage of an app by storing
recent data on weather conditions. On the other hand, that has its limit: older
information could be shown, or the user's device would need to store more. Other than
that, improvements are quite practical and useful.
