My AQT practice Android App

[Eighty]

Hi all,

My name is Scott and I'm from Northwest Indiana. I've attended a couple of great Appleseed Marksmanship Clinics (both in Nappanee) but have yet to shoot rifleman. After my latest shoot, I came home looking for ways to improve my practice and preparation for try 3. The following week I started development on an AQT trainer app.

The app (generically called AQTrainer for now) helps you practice each of the four stages of the AQT by providing a timer for each stage, along with some optional settings to jazz the experience up a bit (stage description/course of fire, prep time prior to line commands/fire, audible announcement/countdown of remaining stage time, etc).

Since this thread is useless without pics...



edit: and video demo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyZSjKZBU3w

I haven't made it available on the app store yet, but I do hope to do that once it's been tested/messed with by some folks other than me, who hopefully provide suggestion on how to improve it.

If you're interested in checking it out, my project is available for review on Github, and the APK (Andriod installer, basically) is available there (aqt.apk) too. Direct download link below.

Important info:
Minimum Android software version: Lollipop 5.0 (API level 21)
Should work on most devices, various phone and tablet sizes, as well as Andriod TV (no watch support yet, lol) - this is where it would be helpful to have folks test it out
APK download (from my Github account)
How to install an APK

Some other things I could use help with:

It would be amazing if you could tested it out and provide feedback (in this thread is prefect, but PMs welcome too, or even emails - scott.neitzel@gmail.com) on any issues you run into (try and include device type and, if possible, Andriod version, and what led up to the issue) or suggestions you have for improvement.

Also, right now the app uses text to speech synthesis to generate the voices/audio. I'd love to get one of you smooth talking, loud barking, shoot bosses to record audio clips for the stage descriptions and line commands, etc.

Any volunteers?

Thanks all!

Updates:
09/13/2017 - AQTrainer version 0.1.04 - Fixed line command for stages 2 and 3, added improvements to memory usage, small tweak to how the Announce Stage Time interval is calculated and read aloud

[scuzzy]

Sounds pretty cool. I'll have to take a look at it.

What permissions from the phone does it need to run? Hopefully none other than installing.

[Eighty]

What permissions from the phone does it need to run? Hopefully none other than installing.

Yep, no permissions other than installing. No network access required to run, no in-app purchases (hehe)

[scuzzy]

What permissions from the phone does it need to run? Hopefully none other than installing.

Yep, no permissions other than installing. No network access required to run, no in-app purchases (hehe)

Good. I usually keep wireless turned off anyhow.

Turned wireless on last night to check a website I'm working on to see how it looks in Android. While wireless was turned on the phone decided to do an update - one of the kind where it doesn't ask if you want it or not. I just happened to catch it - if I wasn't looking hard I'd have never seen this message:

Downloading English (US)
Offensive speech recognition data

Did a search on "Offensive speech recognition data" and found this website:

https://data.world/crowdflower/hate-speech-identification

I wonder if they are now going to try and block websites at the level of the phone? Or for reporting on us when we use offensive phrases?

[Eighty]

That's interesting (and potentially aggravating). It sounds like that could be related to an app/feature called Google Now (or some other google search type product). I don't see it on my phone (Google Pixel) and can't find any settings related to it as described in that article, though.

Anyway, thank you for taking a look at my app. Please let me know if there's any better places here to post it. I registered after my last Appleseed event with the intention of posting in our after action report and mentioning that I was starting work on an app, but haven't really been active other than lurking here and there, so I truly am a Newbie. I'm hoping it becomes a good practice resource for folks like me, still working toward the patch.

[Lomshek]

I have an iPhone so can't help test it out but I do have a question.

Is this an app that could run a shooter through a simulated Stage 2 & 3 (the "toughest" stages for many folks) using scaled down targets (or a single target of appropriate scaled size for each stage) for however many feet the shooter is away from the phone?

Say I tell the app I'll be 10 feet away from the phone so it automatically scales the target down to the correct size and displays it on the screen then runs through the range commands and calls out time remaining every 10 seconds or so.

"Shooter your 2 minute preparation period begins now." (maybe allow the shooter to set the prep period length)

"Shooter your preparation period has ended." 

"With flag in and safety on...STAND!"

"Is the line ready?  Ready on the right...ready on the left...all ready on the firing line.  FIRE!"

"45 seconds to go, 35 seconds to go, 25 seconds to go, etc"

"Cease fire!"

Just practicing getting into position, loading and verifying NPOA in 10 - 15 seconds would greatly improve a person's performance.  Dry firing or even just simulating trigger presses and reloads while verifying NPOA will help folks.

If you can set it to run things like reload drills it would really help shooters.

[Eighty]

It does exactly all of that with the exception of providing a scaled target to use. The targets in my app (in the screenshots above) are pretty much just illustrative for the stage description. However there are resources here - https://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=9833.0 - for scaled targets which is exactly what I use along with my app to practice just like you describe.

I like the idea of providing properly scaled targets in the app, though! Hrm...

No iOS version yet, sorry. Maybe someday.

[Eighty]

Just made a quick demo video of the app:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyZSjKZBU3w

[Charles McKinley]

That looks interesting.  I'm not very tech inclined and have no idea what version of android my goofy Amazon Fire phone uses.

For 10 meter targets photo copy our regular targets at 40%.  This is what I do for airgun targets.

I'll ask FullMetalRifleman about getting you a wave file.

Chuck

[Fullmetal Rifleman]

Hello!
Allow me to begin by congratulating you on this marvelous idea. Judging by the video, the app is well thought out and a useful tool for learning the AQT.
I was told you needed a wave file for the line commands. I am a voice actor, and so I have a clear microphone on hand, as well as experience running the line. PM me if you would like me to give it a try.
Again, amazing idea! I look forward to seeing the final product.
-Fullmetal Rifleman

[scuzzy]

Just made a quick demo video of the app:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyZSjKZBU3w

On the video, which demos stage 2, there should be no load command given - just the fire command.

When the fire command is given the shooters go from standing to sitting and then have to load.

It is understood that you need to load in order to fire.



List of Line Commands

"Shooters! Your Preparation Period Begins Now!"
"Shooters! Your Preparation Period Has Ended!"
(Given during Stages 2 & 3 of the QDAQT Only) "Safeties On!"
(Given during Stages 2 & 3 of the QDAQT Only) "Stand!"
"With X Rounds, Load" (Not to be given during Stages 2 and 3 of the QDAQT)
"Is the Line Ready?"
"Ready On the Right?"
"Ready On the Left?"
"All Ready On the Firing Line!"
"Fire!"
"Cease Fire! Cease Fire! Cease Fire!"
"Unload and Clear!"
"Is the Line Clear On the Right?"
"Is the Line Clear On the Left?"
"The Line Is Clear! The Line Is Clear!"
"Shooters You May Proceed Downrange To Check/Post/Score Your Targets!"

[Eighty]

Just made a quick demo video of the app:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyZSjKZBU3w

On the video, which demos stage 2, there should be no load command given - just the fire command.

When the fire command is given the shooters go from standing to sitting and then have to load.

It is understood that you need to load in order to fire.



List of Line Commands

"Shooters! Your Preparation Period Begins Now!"
"Shooters! Your Preparation Period Has Ended!"
(Given during Stages 2 & 3 of the QDAQT Only) "Safeties On!"
(Given during Stages 2 & 3 of the QDAQT Only) "Stand!"
"With X Rounds, Load" (Not to be given during Stages 2 and 3 of the QDAQT)
"Is the Line Ready?"
"Ready On the Right?"
"Ready On the Left?"
"All Ready On the Firing Line!"
"Fire!"
"Cease Fire! Cease Fire! Cease Fire!"
"Unload and Clear!"
"Is the Line Clear On the Right?"
"Is the Line Clear On the Left?"
"The Line Is Clear! The Line Is Clear!"
"Shooters You May Proceed Downrange To Check/Post/Score Your Targets!"

Thank you! I did the scripts from memory and had a feeling I may have messed a few up. I'll fix this.

[Eighty]

Hello!
Allow me to begin by congratulating you on this marvelous idea. Judging by the video, the app is well thought out and a useful tool for learning the AQT.
I was told you needed a wave file for the line commands. I am a voice actor, and so I have a clear microphone on hand, as well as experience running the line. PM me if you would like me to give it a try.
Again, amazing idea! I look forward to seeing the final product.
-Fullmetal Rifleman

Awesome! I'm going to get some stuff together and PM you in the next few days.

Thank you!

[Eighty]

AQTrainer version 0.1.04 (link in main post updated as well) - Fixed line commands for stages 2 and 3, added improvements to memory usage, small tweak to how the Announce Stage Time interval is calculated and read aloud

[Leadlined]

Interesting app.  I think it would help me practice in solo range time.

But I'd like you to consider an enhancement: instructor mode.
Instructor mode would suppress voice prompts and give the user direct control of prep time start/stop and shooting start/stop.

You see, instructors will typically use a stopwatch to time each phase, and many (like me) just use our phone timer for that.  This app, if a bit less automated, would be perfect for that. 

Add in support for Australian style AQT (stage order 4,3,2,1), and it's perfect.

[Eighty]

But I'd like you to consider an enhancement: instructor mode.
Instructor mode would suppress voice prompts and give the user direct control of prep time start/stop and shooting start/stop.

You see, instructors will typically use a stopwatch to time each phase, and many (like me) just use our phone timer for that.  This app, if a bit less automated, would be perfect for that. 

I LOVE this idea. I'd likely implement it as a separate app. I'm thinking both timer utilities like you describe, and then maybe an AQT scoring tool as well.

Hrrmm...

[Eighty]

So here is a prototype of an AQT scoring tool app. For each stage, you simply mark the number of 5's, 4's, 3's, and misses, and it calculates the score.

I wonder if this would be something instructors might find useful when sitting in front of a stack of AQTs needing to be scored, or is this just a solution without a real problem?

The image loops:

[Leadlined]

Sounds good!  Anything that keeps me from writing out equations with a .22 for a pencil is good stuff.

[Nashville Stage]

So here is a prototype of an AQT scoring tool app. For each stage, you simply mark the number of 5's, 4's, 3's, and misses, and it calculates the score.

I wonder if this would be something instructors might find useful when sitting in front of a stack of AQTs needing to be scored, or is this just a solution without a real problem?

Interesting idea!
- If you need to salvage some screen real estate, you could remove the "misses" counter, since those are ignored anyway.
- Personally, I normally use a calculator app. I find that the 0-9 number pad is faster to enter numbers, and faster is good. The AQTs for scoring can pile up in a hurry. I'm not sure how the layout would look, but if you cold figure out a way to put a big, fat number pad on the screen for fast entry, that could be a useful variation on your wheel-based design.

P.S. "EnlightenedDeliciousGrunion"? Is there a story behind that?

[DrRichP]

For the training app, can you change the icon on the screen from '76' to the Appleseed logo? If so, I can get you a good copy of the current logo.

There used to be a AQT scoring app called "Appleseed AQT Score" developed by c4v3man (lateniteit@gmail.com). I don't know if it is still available for Android, but if so you may be able to get some ideas from it.

• http://m.mobomarket.net/free-download-appleseed-aqt-score-4294300986.html
• http://appleseed-aqt-score.soft112.com/

In Liberty,

Dr Rich P
AOC Member, National Coordinator
Project Appleseed
drrichp@projectappleseed.net
Cell       404.428.4837

[Eighty]

For the training app, can you change the icon on the screen from '76' to the Appleseed logo? If so, I can get you a good copy of the current logo.

Absolutely. I regarded the current logo as a kind of placeholder ('75 would have made more sense, *grin*). Please do forward a good copy of the Appleseed logo and I'll be happy to update it -
scott.neitzel@gmail.com.

Thank you!

[baddarryl]

Awesome work man. Both the trainer and the score calc idea. I will be following this.

[Vinnie]

Great Work!

Ideas For the scoring App:

1. would be good to have a "Stage Reset" button for each stage.  Quite often when scoring I lose count, or get distracted, and have to start over counting a particular stage. 

2. for the tumblers on the scoring app, can you roll backwards to get to 10, or 9 quickly, without having to spin through 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, 8... ?

3. maybe more space between the tumblers, for fat fingered folks

Looking forward to trying this out  Vinnie

[KG5JIV]

Is this app still a work in progress? I just downloaded it and look forward to checking it out. I like what I see so far

[Eighty]

I haven't worked on the app recently and I haven't add it the app store yet, but I do still plan to do both. Life and all that...

[DanT]

I haven't worked on the app recently and I haven't add it the app store yet, but I do still plan to do both. Life and all that...

Life gets that way sometimes... has it let up any lately & allowed you to do something with the app?  I once had another that is no longer available and would very much like to try yours out.