In June 2007, Apple officially launched its groundbreaking iPhone. Despite making a deliberate decision, the firm opted for a walled garden approach in their new iPhone app store. An iPhone user wouldn’t be able to set up custom functions that Apple hasn’t explicitly approved, as any unauthorized modifications would likely violate Apple’s terms of service.
Despite that enterprise decision, however, educational institutions were effectively frozen out. Without any existing technique to integrate cellular software development into daily life, educators were struggling to bring this essential skill into the classroom. A youthful researcher may opt to sideload an app onto their device, which involves manually installing software outside of the official App Store or Google Play. This method can be employed if the app is not approved for distribution through these primary channels, thereby circumventing traditional review processes.
While on sabbatical at Google, MIT Professor Hal Abelson was present when the company deliberated on a response to Apple’s move to dominate the mobile hardware and software landscape. In recognition of Apple’s increasing limitations on young developers, Abelson conceded that the restrictions were necessary; meanwhile, Google identified a growing demand for an open-source alternative operating system, which eventually gave rise to Android. As developers noticed the potential for a tool that would make creating mobile apps accessible to everyone, they seized the opportunity to turn App Inventor into a reality.
“According to Abelson, Google launched its Android initiative as a direct response to Apple’s revolutionary iPhone.” “And in the past, I was part of the team that explored innovative education tools developed by MIT, including software programs such as and . I remember thinking, ‘What an incredible opportunity it would be for kids to create mobile apps too.'”
Mark Friedman, a software program engineer at Google, offered to collaborate with Abelson on the project that ultimately evolved into “Younger Android,” later rebranded as Google App Inventor. Like Scratch, App Inventor uses a block-based language, allowing developers to create programs by dragging and dropping visual blocks representing different code elements rather than learning complex programming syntax.
For its era, Friedman deemed the innovation noteworthy in terms of its impact on cellular advancements, particularly in making it straightforward to develop uncomplicated mobile applications. He clarifies that it referred to a web-based application, where everything was accessible online, eliminating the need for external tools, with a straightforward programming framework, intuitive drag-and-drop interface design, and block-based visual programming. As such, a program created through this online interface could be installed on an Android device.
App Inventor scratched an itch. With the explosive growth in smartphone usage and the unprecedented accessibility of App Inventor – now available at no cost and under an open-source license – more than 70,000 educators rapidly adopted the platform, empowering countless students alongside them, as Google provided the critical backend support to ensure its continued success.
During our conversation, Friedman recalls being tasked by his Google supervisor to estimate the customer base we could expect to achieve within the initial 12-month period. “I estimated it would be around 15,000, although I recall thinking that was probably too rosy.” Having once been off by as much as 10-20 elements, Friedman quickly acknowledged that the app’s predictions exceeded his expectations. “It’s fair to acknowledge that while some of the project’s success stemmed from the instrument’s exceptional quality, it’s unrealistic to underestimate the significant influence of its association with Google and Hal Abelson’s reputation and network.”
Developed by a group of entrepreneurial teenagers in Nigeria, some pioneering apps took the bold step of embracing App Inventor’s innovative approach with remarkable success, echoing the spirit of “Discardious” – a testament to the power of youth-led innovation and disruption. Discarding Solutions assisted entrepreneurs and individuals in eliminating waste from communities plagued by unreliable or cumbersome disposal options.
Before apps like Discouraged appeared on the scene, the group was aware that Google’s assistance wouldn’t remain unconditional. To prevent disrupting the academic community’s success with the tool, around 2010, Google and Abelson negotiated to transfer App Inventor to MIT. While the transition allowed primary contributors to recreate App Inventor without reliance on Google’s proprietary software, MIT needed to collaborate with Google to ensure continued access to community resources and maintain App Inventor’s availability for the global community.
Despite its massive user base, Abelson remained apprehensive that the entire endeavor would collapse in the absence of Google’s direct involvement.
Friedman agrees. I will admit that I harboured some trepidations. With a technically complex architecture comprising multiple programming languages, libraries, and frameworks, App Inventor’s development involved around 10 dedicated experts throughout its tenure at Google.
However, it was not solely Google’s funding that facilitated the transition. According to Friedman, Hal’s expertise played a crucial role in the switch’s ultimate success, as he possessed detailed knowledge of the system and genuinely shared enthusiasm for the vision and product.
Jeffrey Schiller, a pivotal figure at MIT, spearheaded the development of the institution’s computer network and subsequently became its leader in 1984. He also played a crucial role in preserving App Inventor after its transition, leveraging his expertise to introduce technical innovations that ensured its accessibility and long-term viability. He spearheaded the integration of the platform with net browsers, simplifying access by enabling WiFi connectivity, eliminating the need for cumbersome USB attachments. This move also paved the way for supporting older devices, acknowledging that many customers cannot afford to upgrade to the latest models.
The cumulative efforts of these collaborations and contributions have ultimately yielded App Inventor’s most valuable asset: a vast and dedicated community of users. As it expanded, so did the expertise of volunteer coordinators, thanks to collaboration with local community leaders. More than a decade since its inception and four years following its belated introduction to the Apple App Store, App Inventor recently achieved several significant milestones, with the most notable being the creation of its 100 millionth project and the registration of its 20 millionth user. Innovative architects are now empowered to create unprecedented structures thanks to the cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence. Researchers at a faculty college developed an innovative approach, dubbed “”, where customers can utilize their smartphone cameras to detect mosquito larvae potentially harbouring the dengue virus. High school and college students recently collaborated to create “, a pioneering journaling app that leverages artificial intelligence for emotional intelligence tracking. In Kuwait, a determined mother recognized the need for a trusted ally to navigate the daunting experience of modern motherhood after returning to work, thus creating the innovative chatbot “MamaBot” – a judgement-free zone where women could freely discuss their struggles and receive personalized support.
The future viability of App Inventor relies heavily on the newly established App Inventor Foundation, established in 2022, which will focus on nurturing its resources and further promoting its widespread use. The organization is headed by Government Director Natalie Lao.
In the App Inventor community, Lao emphasized the inspiration’s commitment to equitable access to educational resources, which necessitated a swift pivot towards AI-driven learning – yet one that harmonized with App Inventor’s core tenets of being a free, open-source, and user-friendly platform for mobile devices. “Our mission is multifaceted: not only do we aim to democratize access to technology, but also to cultivate a culture of innovation and digital literacy.”
Within MIT’s academic sphere, App Inventor is currently housed under the purview of the RAISE Initiative – Accountable AI for Social Empowerment and Education, spearheaded by Dean Cynthia Breazeal for Digital Learning, Professor Eric Klopfer, and Abelson. Together, they can merge App Inventor into an increasingly diverse array of communities, events, and financing channels, yielding innovations such as the inaugural gathering held on July 24-26 this summer. The summit will embody awards for winners of a , whose roughly 180 submissions used App Inventor to create AI instruments in two tracks: Local weather & Sustainability and Well being & Wellness. By drawing upon various aspects of RAISE’s key initiatives, participants were motivated to share experiences and insights from their own curricula, including the organization’s most recent programs.
“The past year has seen a staggering proliferation of opportunities in cellular app development, thanks to the integration of AI,” Abelson notes. “The prospect for App Inventor and MIT lies in democratizing the opportunities for emerging innovation, empowering younger generations – and indeed everyone – with a fresh source of inspiration and creative potential.”
