Specify Droid is a prototype field data entry application written for mobile phones running the Android operating system. Specify Droid, like the Specify WorkBench, was designed for mobile, field data entry. Like the Specify WorkBench it allows researchers to define data entry fields, facilitates field data entry, and then uploads collected field data, georeferences and images into a Specify repository.

Specify Droid was created particularly to support biological inventories and surveys, but it could be used for general biological collecting. Specify Droid has been designed to support both observation and collection data. It has features that enable biologists to easily capture data and even retrace previous field trips.

How Specify Droid integrates with the Specify WorkBench

A Specify user exports a WorkBench (WB) DataSet definition and an optional Taxonomic file that can be used with data acquisition in the field. Like the Specify WB, the DataSet definition is used to select data fields and design the data entry form on the Android phone.

The user goes out into the field and collects specimens or makes observations. The field data, geo-coordinates and any images are stored in a database on the phone.

When a researcher returns from the field, she uses Specify Droid to export the data from the phone to a desktop or laptop computer. The Specify WB imports the data which can then be validated and uploaded into primary Specify database.

A Walkthrough with Specify Droid

The following screen images walk though the current functionality (Nov 2009). They were captured from the Android emulator, but the application runs identically on an Android phone. It was developed on a HTC G1 phone. The emulator does not have a built-in GPS so the last screen shot was taken as a photo of the application running on the phone.

Screen Shots of using Specify Droid
	The opening screen when the phone is started. The user starts by clicking on the SpecifyDroid icon with their finger.
	SpecifyDroid starts and presents the user with several options: Satellites - Shows a screen with all the active GPS satellites and their signal strengths Compass - Shows a compass to aid in terrain navigation. Collecting - Displays a list of Collecting Trips Trips - Displays a list of previous Collecting and Observation trips Observations - Displays a list of Observation trips
	The user wants to check the availability of satellites. The GPS has not been turned on and the user is notified.
	Once the GPS is turned on the screen displays an icon for each available satellite and a bar indicating its strength.
	The user clicked on the 'Trips' icons to see the trips they have taken. Since no trips have been taken the user clicks on the menu to add a trip.
	This screen shows an empty Trip data entry form. The user can enter the trip specific information and then save it.
	The 'Configure Fields' button enables the data fields for the trip to be added or removed.
	Once the trip is completely defined it will appear in the list.
	The user clicked on the 'Lawrence Area' collecting trip. On this screen we see all the actions that can be taken for a trip. Mark Location - Creates a new collecting point by capturing the current Latitude/Longitude and displaying it in a data entry form. Browse - Browse all the collecting points for this trip. Take Photo - Creates a new collecting point by capturing a picture and the current Latitude/Longitude and displaying it in a data entry form. Export - Exports the trip to a CSV file and writes it to the removable SIM card in the phone. The SIM card can be accessed when the phone is attached to a computer via a USB cable or through wireless syncing. Map - Shows all the collecting points on a map. Config Trip - Allows the user to configure the trip by adding or removing user defined columns. Delete - Delete the trip.
	This is a data entry form dynamically created from the fields the user defined in the 'Configuration' screen. Note that the Latitude and Longitude have been automatically entered directly from the GPS embedded in the phone. The user can now fill in the remaining fields.
	The Browse screen enables the user to 'step' through all of the items in the trip.
	When the user clicks on the 'Map' icon for the Trip it displays all the collecting points on a map. The map can be switched between Satellite or Street Map mode. The user can then click on any of the 'pins' to get more detailed information about that point.
	The satellite view of the map.
	The user clicks on 'Export' and the trip is written as an CSV file onto the sdcard. The file can then be easily be imported into Specify using the WorkBench.
	A 'long click' on a trip in the list displays a context menu that enables shortcuts.
	The SpecifyDroid 'About Box'
	SpecifyDriod has been localized to: Spanish Portugese German Italian French
	Spanish Localization