We had a chance to speak to Joy Deep Nath, the Co-founder at Splash Math about the Splash Math app
Could you share a challenging factor of the development or marketing process?
Back in 2010 we chose HTML5/CSS3 to power our content, aiming to make the apps universal. However, the hardware and browsers of the day did not fully support it and we had to bend our backs to give the users a smooth performance. While Facebook, LinkedIn and other big companies withdrew their HTML5 apps, but we persevered. This finally paid off when we launched our Android and web-based programs a couple of years later as it enabled us to make Splash Math a truly multi-platform program.
Do you plan on releasing your app to other platforms as well?
Splash Math is a multi-platform program. Apart from the iTunes App Store, our apps are available on Android- Google Play and Amazon Kindle Stores, and accessible on Desktops and laptops via splashmath.com.
We plan to launch it for the Windows Mobile store sometime in the near future.
If you could describe your app in ONE word, what would it be and why?
"Effectively-delightful"
Ok, that's two words, but it captures it all --- Kids need fun and engagement, they have to be constantly delighted, else they stop using an app. Parents/teachers want to see real progress made on the syllabus so that they know that "iPad-time" is being used effectively. Having gamified math practice with fun rewards for kids and building comprehensive reporting for parents in the app, we have made Splash Math a successful math program that effectively delights both the user- kids, and the customer- parents and teachers.
Were there any unexpected surprises post-release of your app?
Splash Math was intended for homeschooling parents to begin with. However, soon after the launch in early 2011, we started seeing the classrooms teachers adopting Splash Math apps. These classrooms, were piloting iPads and they would install Splash Math on all of them. This was a pleasant surprise-- we had won the educator's approval. It got us working more closely with our teacher-users to increase the educational value of our apps.
What features do you hope to roll out to your app in the future?
We have a bunch of new features coming up in early 2015-- diagnostic tests, leaderboards for based on geolocations, to name a few. There are some game-changing features coming up for parents and we'd like to keep them a secret ;)
What is the coolest or most innovative feature of your app?
"Adaptive Algorithm". The app personalizes practice sessions according to the child's individual needs. This ensures that the child is consistently motivated to master math skills-- cruising from easier to harder levels.
This makes Splash Math a truly self-paced program. Kids can keep practicing math and constantly improve their math skills, with least amount of teacher/parental intervention.
What is your favorite mobile app to date and which have inspired you?
We love DuoLingo! Their UI/UX is simply amazing, worth emulating.
What was your main objective or motivation for creating your mobile app?
In 2010 when iPads had just been launched, we quickly identified that tablets were the future for engaging learning experience for K-5 kids. Also, there were no curriculum aligned apps available then. So, we wanted to create an iPad app that was fun and engaging for the kids and at the same time would cover the entire depth and breadth of curriculum for the grade level... the aim was to strike the right balance between fun and rigorous curriculum with our app.