[sims] Emerge Alternative

[FN-GM]

Hi,

 

We are trailing Emerge (sims on mobiles and ipads), but the management isnt much good. You also need another password it wont use sims permissions etc.

 

Does anyone know anything else thats out there.

 

Thanks

[tombry]

our SLT just recently got ipads, and were going to go with Emerge - which is what our PE department uses on their iphones to take registers. I set them up with Remote Desktop, and so far they all seem happier with that.

 

I'm waiting for them to use it for a couple more weeks and then hoping to get a full report back from them on how useful it is.

[Kyle]

We use Emerge here without any problems. PE use iPods and we have 30 staff using iPads for registration and all works well. Yes they do need another password (we use 4 digit code) but if set up correctly this works well. It does know the Sims permissions and will only let you access what your permissions give you. Granted a lot is read only but you can view a great deal of information. Hopefully they will develop a the ability to add behaviour and achievement via the App.

[FN-GM]

The fact you have another username and password is a pain.

 

We are trailing it now just want to know what else is out there.

[GREED]

Are you looking for dedicated apps, because many a system works well via browser connection on any device? Groupcall's Emerge is obviously the big one (as the app). Schoolcomms for messaging is also very good. Web based MIS systems give you access to a lot more data than is available in bolt on apps... but that is another story

[vikpaw]

...Hopefully they will develop a the ability to add behaviour and achievement via the App.

They have and it's already in beta, if not finalised now. Works really well, and you can even record and upload a video as part of the incident. Pretty cool.

 

I see the issue with username and password being a pain for many users. I suppose it could link to AD for auth, but i think it stores it on the device for offline use, so it's not just a case of doing an ldap query, it would need to store it which might not be that good. I'll see what they think though.

[Zenden]

Bromcomm webfolder has an addon product for ipod touches. my old school had every teacher doing registers on their ipod touch and it worked great. Uses sims account to login too!

[FN-GM]

Will bromcomm allow you to take registers externally say on a 3G iPad please?

[Zenden]

Will bromcomm allow you to take registers externally say on a 3G iPad please?

 

its just a website so yeah as long as you publish it externally and setup your firewall rules etc.

[FN-GM]

ah its a website? hmm i would like an app really. That way we can download the content and take registers offline and sync back when there is a connection.

[Zenden]

ah its a website? hmm i would like an app really. That way we can download the content and take registers offline and sync back when there is a connection.

 

you may be stuck with emerge then i am afraid. Having said that, I left the school with bromcomm about a year ago so things may have changed/advanced. The user on here who is at that school now is AChandler, he may be able to give you more info!

[vikpaw]

I'm pretty sure that with bromcom webfolder you can cache the data offline for later use, even though it's not an app.

[Bromcom_John]

If you are taking the register on a phone then the WeFolder portal will provide the link to the schools data. So you're able to take the register wherever you can get a phone signal.

[Bromcom_John]

Will bromcomm allow you to take registers externally say on a 3G iPad please?

 

3G being the operative term here..

Yes webFolder will allow you to do this.

Single secure connection from our hosted server to the schools database.

The remote device connects to teh hosted server, authenticates against the schools security and enables the remote retrieval and marking of the register.

 

We've had schools use the system to continue taking registers whilst on field trips, furthest afield was a trip to Berlin IIRC.

 

John

[zag]

I know what you mean about the management side of Emerge, I had a moan to the dev guy at BET this year. Its a crazy amount of administration to get a device up and running.

 

But the actual Ipad app is superb and well worth getting. We have 15 ipad users in school taking registers everyday in seconds.

 

The cost however is expensive! I guess they know they have a monopoly on the Registration app market right now.

 

Lets hope TASC and Bromcom get their acts together and actually write an app instead of using old web technology. It would bring good competition to the market I hope.

 

I also heard rumours of a parent app coming soon as well from Groupcall, now that would be amazing!

[GREED]

There are a lot of exciting things coming from those guys over the coming months

[vikpaw]

The behaviour / achievements app popped up for upgrade yesterday, so that's live now.

 

I asked about linking to AD, but as i thought, it's not easy, and would involve, storing / sending the passwords. The locally used password is used to encrypt / decrypt the data on the device.

 

You could match logins to whatever you use in SIMS, and possibly even get the user to come and enter the password for first time. They could make it match if they wish. I don't know many people that enforce changing of SIMS passwords, unless it's through trusted authentication.

 

Another recommendation is to get users to add a passcode lock on the device, especially if it's going to be used off site.

[jamesmay]

The behaviour / achievements app popped up for upgrade yesterday, so that's live now.

 

I asked about linking to AD, but as i thought, it's not easy, and would involve, storing / sending the passwords. The locally used password is used to encrypt / decrypt the data on the device.

 

You could match logins to whatever you use in SIMS, and possibly even get the user to come and enter the password for first time. They could make it match if they wish. I don't know many people that enforce changing of SIMS passwords, unless it's through trusted authentication.

 

Another recommendation is to get users to add a passcode lock on the device, especially if it's going to be used off site.

 

Hasn't show up on the UK app store yet.... (if we are talking about emerge HD)

[FN-GM]

@vikpaw other people have managed getting cached AD credentials, personally i think its lazy development.

[zag]

I don't mind so much about the lack of AD integration. But having to:

 

- Load the loggging app

- Get the person to pop over with an ipad

- Get the person to type in an IP, then their user/pass

- Tell the user that the error message genenerated is a "good thing" because now you can see it on the server

- Look at logging app to copy and paste random long line

- shorten line in text editor to find out the iPads UDID

- Add new user to Emerge Admin app

- Find out password by asking user

- Assign them Initials in Sims

- Add new device

- Add GUID of device

- Assign user to device

- Get user to log in again

- Explain to user that they now need to create and remember a pin code

 

Is a bit long winded to setup a simple iPad!!!

Edited July 11, 2012 by zag

[vikpaw]

Hasn't show up on the UK app store yet.... (if we are talking about emerge HD)

 

Maybe HD is still being updated / approved. It was my phone that i got an update for last night.

[vikpaw]

What on earth is all that for?

 

Tell user to download app to device then give to you.

Email UDID to yourself using whatever built in is configured to email or copy value and use web. (Click settings then About Emerge).

Copy emailed UDID into Groupcall Emerge management under a new device.

Add user to Groupcall Emerge management and link to SIMS account. You specify password

Assign user to device.

 

Done.

Or get them in to specify the password.

 

Optional: Explain how they need to make a pin, and also enter the password if they have been away from app for too long. show them all the funky options.

 

I don't mind so much about the lack of AD integration. But having to:

 

- Load the loggging app

- Get the person to pop over with an ipad

- Get the person to type in an IP, then their user/pass

- Tell the user that the error message genenerated is a "good thing" because now you can see it on the server

- Look at logging app to copy and paste random long line

- shorten line in text editor to find out the iPads UDID

- Add new user to Emerge Admin app

- Find out password by asking user

- Assign them Initials in Sims

- Add new device

- Add GUID of device

- Assign user to device

- Get user to log in again

- Explain to user that they now need to create and remember a pin code

 

Is a bit long winded to setup a simple iPad!!!

[vikpaw]

@vikpaw other people have managed getting cached AD credentials, personally i think its lazy development.

I know, was just reporting back. Yes it would be useful, but i guess it's an extra level of complexity. I think it works on the basis that the system at either ends knows the password, so it's like the shared key. It's not easily replaced with the AD password, as you'd actually need to read it and know it. I guess it would take a big change to how the system work.

 

Hasn't show up on the UK app store yet.... (if we are talking about emerge HD)

From the newsletter that just went out:

 

Please note: This release is only currently available for schools using SIMS with the native iPod and iPhone version but will be available for the iPad HD and Android versions soon. You can run the iPhone version of Emerge on an iPad to take advantage of the new features in the interim.

 

We would like to roll out the new version to some schools before the end of term, so if you would like to be one of them, please let us know by replying to this email and we will be in contact with you.

[Theblacksheep]

ah its a website? hmm i would like an app really. That way we can download the content and take registers offline and sync back when there is a connection.

 

Surely a website is better so it can be used on any device?

[FN-GM]

Surely a website is better so it can be used on any device?

 

We will be using a set of school aproved devices. Download the content for offline usage is something we want.