Innovative audiology kiosk application development
Introduction
About the product
The BeHear Kiosk is an innovative audiology kiosk application designed to provide users with a quick and efficient hearing check. This Express Hearing Check application allows visitors to assess their hearing capabilities in just a few minutes and receive immediate results.
How it works
Start the Test:By following simple on-screen instructions, users begin the hearing test.
Audio Assessment:The application plays a series of tones and sounds at different frequencies and volumes to evaluate the user’s hearing range.
Immediate Feedback:Once the test is complete, users receive immediate feedback on their hearing performance.
Comparison and Recommendations:The results include a comparison of the user’s current hearing with what they could potentially hear, along with recommendations for further action if necessary.
Client’s objectives
- Development of the Android mobile application to support various BeHear Bluetooth devices and versions.
- Providing a range of options and settings to configure and control all types of Bluetooth devices.
- Providing a comfortable UI with charts and audiograms.
- Ensuring that all user data is handled with the utmost confidentiality and security.
- Giving users educational content to help them understand their hearing health and the importance of regular hearing checks.
Technical challenges
- Handling audio PCM data.
- Implementing audio enhancement algorithms.
- Developing a custom tablet PC application.
- Implementing the Kiosk mode.
- Video Integration
- Audiograms and Charts development
- C-Code Integration
Modules and Functionality
Android UI:
- XML-based layouts that are visually appealing and easy to navigate.
- Interactive Elements such as buttons, sliders, and other user controls.
- Features such as larger text and voice guidance cater to the diverse needs of users.
Android Business Logic:
- Managing tone sequences and recording responses as a part of the hearing test logic.
- Analyzing audio data to assess hearing ability.
- Producing clear, user-friendly reports.
C-Code Audiology Algorithms:
- Improving clarity and quality of test sounds.
- Efficiently processing PCM audio data.
- Enabling smooth interaction between C-code and Android app components.
Delivery approach
1. Requirements Analysis
- Defined the primary business goals and identified target users
- Specified functional requirements — hearing tests with audio tones, instant audiogram display, and support for multiple BeHear Bluetooth devices.
- Outlined non-functional requirements — performance, kiosk mode, offline use, privacy/security, and accessibility.
- Aligned with Android tablet hardware and OS constraints.
- Delivered a requirements specification and initial project timeline.
2. Proof of Concept (POC) Development
- Verified audio processing, PCM handling, and Bluetooth communication with BeHear devices.
- Built a UI prototype to test kiosk usability.
- Validated C-code integration for efficient audiology algorithms.
- Confirmed low latency and real-time performance for tone tests.
3. Studying the Custom Android Tablet
- Analyzed device specs (CPU, audio, sampling rates, APIs, Bluetooth).
- Identified hardware limits and non-standard Android components.
- Optimized audio pipeline for PCM performance.
- Tested Kiosk mode restrictions and stability.
- Ensured a stable, optimized product for the custom hardware.
4. Development of the Solution Architecture
- Adopted MVVM for maintainability and separation of concerns.
- Designed modules: UI, Business Logic, Data (Room + Retrofit/OkHttp), and C-code integration.
- Defined data flow, API endpoints, and data models.
- Implemented security measures for privacy and secure communication.
- Outcome: architecture-guided development, ensuring scalable and clear code.
5. Environment Setup
- Configured Android Studio with proper SDK/NDK and integrated libraries (Retrofit, Room, OkHttp, Lottie, MediaPlayer, JSON, XML).
- Set up Git repos, branching strategy, build pipeline, and test devices/emulators, including the custom kiosk tablet.
- Prepared API test environment and CI processes.
- Ensured consistent, reliable developer setups for smooth collaboration.
6. Implementation of Business Logic and UI Components
- Designed an intuitive, large-button interface with XML layouts, accessible navigation, real-time charts, and audiograms.
- Developed hearing test workflows, integrated C-code audio algorithms, managed BeHear Bluetooth connectivity, and applied audio enhancement for accurate assessments.
- Performed functional, integration, and performance testing on the custom tablet.
- Addressed hardware-specific issues to deliver a fully working, reliable application.
7. Deployment
- Prepared the app for production by packaging a signed APK.
- Configured Kiosk mode.
- Performed client acceptance testing and conducted a pilot rollout.
- Provided user documentation, maintenance guides, and ongoing support.
- The BeHear Kiosk app was successfully deployed.
Issues we encountered
The primary challenge we encountered during the project was the target device itself. It was a custom Android tablet, maintained by our customer exclusively for the Kiosk application. This was not a standard marketing device, as it had specific, non-default Android components and performance characteristics.
Deliverables
Successful Release
The BeHear Kiosk application was successfully developed and released, meeting all the initial project requirements and objectives.
User Adoption
The application has been well-received by users, with positive feedback highlighting its ease of use and the quick, reliable hearing assessments it provides.
Support and Updates
The application continues to receive support and updates, ensuring it remains functional and up-to-date with the latest audiology standards and technologies.
Benefits
- Promotes hearing health awareness through quick, accessible checks.
- Provides immediate feedback for timely action and early detection of hearing issues.
- Offers a simple, user-friendly, and accessible design suitable for all users.
- Ensures complete privacy and security with anonymous measurements.
Specialists worked on the project
- 2 Android developers
- 2 Backend developers
- 1 Business Analyst
- 2 QA Engineers
- 1 Project Manager
Technologies applied
- Development Framework: Android SDK/NDK
- Library: Room
- HTTP Client: Retrofit, OkHttp
- API Design: REST
- UI Library: Lottie
- Media Playback: MediaPlayer
- Data Format: JSON, XML
- IDEs: Android Studio
- Architecture Patterns: MVVM
- Web development: C
- Mobile development: Java
Selenium, Appium, XCTest, Espresso
Jenkins, GitHub Actions, CircleCl
- Databases: PostgreSQL, MysQL, MongoDB
- Database Management Systems: Amazon RDS, Firebase
- Data Integration: Apache Kafka, Apache Spark
- Data Storage: Amazon S3
