Audio App Development & Marketing - ELE00072H

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Module summary

This module introduces students to mobile app development, with a special focus on building interactive audio / music apps for iOS devices, and in their marketing and entrepreneurship.

Related modules

Shared entirely between Y3 BEng / MEng Electronic Engineering with Music Technology Systems and MSc Audio & Music Technology

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2026-27

Module aims

Subject content aims:

• To introduce students to the necessary technology and programming environments to write interactive audio­ processing based apps for iOS devices such as iPad and iPhone

• To enable students to write, debug and test object-oriented software written with the Swift programming language, and to use external software frameworks such as AudioKit

• To provide students with an awareness of the standards and requirements for submitting software to an international company

• To explore the commercialisation of an interactive audio­ processing based App and produce a full business plan for it including market research

• To explore and analyse the resources required, including finances, so as to exploit a potential market for this new App.

Graduate skills aims:

• To develop an appreciation of user-interface design

• To develop the skills to produce documentation to accompany software and to advertise the product on the world-wide web

• To develop the ability to self-assess programming quality

• To develop creativity and use of effective decision making and problem solving techniques

• To develop skills in testing, critically evaluating and synthesising new information based on researched information and writing concise business portfolio appropriate for the target audience.

Module learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Work with the latest industry standard tool and libraries to apply programming techniques (Object-oriented coding, Swift programming, audio coding) to a complex and innovative app (C1, M1)
• Devise their own innovative audio app, formulating their solution during incremental and explorative computer lab sessions. Discuss the issues of commercial exploitation related to an App (C2, M2, C12, M12)
• Research, select, read and critically evaluate technical documentation from a major company (Apple) and from the developers of multiple coding frameworks. Evaluate the impact of apps on the Music Industry (C4, M4)
• Innovate and create user-friendly software to industry standards based on an analysis of user and business needs, taking into account user diversity, cultural and societal limitations and expectations (C5, M5)
• Appreciate and evaluate the societal impact (including Sustainability over the lifetime of an electronic product such as an iPad- its manufacture, distribution, and disposal, Ethical decision making, Equality and inclusion of users, Risk associated with app use and to businesses, Security of user information) of their app and of major companies such as Apple (C7-C11, M7)
• Apply program testing strategies within an industry standard Integrated Development Environment (IDE); Xcode (C12, M12)
• Successfully manage an innovative solution to a complex problem in commercial audio, being aware of legal issues of app development, and adhering to intellectual property rights relating to graphics and media usage (C15, M15)
• Communicate via multiple methods (documented code, technical report, marketing portfolio, demonstration video) to a range of audiences from potential customers to software engineers (C17, M17).

Module content

App development and coding:

• The Apple development environment

• Existing and previous audio apps

• The XCode IDE

• The Swift Programming language

• Object-oriented programming

• Model-View-Controller code design paradigm

• AudioKit library for synthesis

• Storyboard user-interface design

• Swift-UI alternative code-based interface design

• Audio File playback in AudioKit and Apple’s frameworks

• User-interface design for apps (inc Apple’s HIG guidelines)

• Audio effects processing using AudioKit

• SpriteKit interactive graphical library

• How AudioKit works - the iOS coding infrastructure

• Preparing apps for the App Store

• Alternative frameworks for games, augmented reality, location & motion, etc.

• Introduction to Objective-C (for context and legacy coding).

App commercialization and market exploitation:

• Basics of Marketing for App Developers

• SimVenture Validate - Concept Testing tool

• Business Portfolio including customer segmentation, value proposition and resources

• Detailed Financial Analysis for a business concept

• Market Testing and data analysis

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

There are 2 main parts to the assessment:

App development and documentation - worth 75% of the module mark
You are tasked with creating a sound-processing/generation App that will work on an iPad. The app must be self-documenting (i.e., users should require no external instructions). We ask for a demonstration video of your App working, a text file (or PDF) of app information as if for the App Store, and a short report summarising your App’s design, features, and future development.

App Marketing Portfolio - worth 25% of the module mark
To explore the commercial aspects of your App, you will be using an online simulation tool called ‘SimVenture Validate’ which allows you to analyse and create a detailed business portfolio. Is there a market for your App? How will you generate revenue and make your App commercially successful? As part of your App Marketing Portfolio, you will be exploring some of these critical areas in business including market testing.

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments. A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.

The School of PET aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. The School will endeavour to return all exam feedback within the timescale set out in the University's Policy on Assessment Feedback Turnaround Time. The School would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.

Formative Feedback

• Regular labs allow you to engage with the programming material and receive verbal help and feedback on your coding and design.

• Weekly quizzes on the module Wiki page help you to gain feedback on your understanding of the key module material covered in the lectures.

• Emails to the Module Coordinator with Questions / Comments will be answered as soon as possible.

• Questions can also be submitted at any time via the Question Box on the module Wiki page.

• A draft version of your assignment can be submitted to the module coordinator by the end of term, who will confirm whether this is all in the correct format, along with some general written feedback comments, and a series of recommendations for improvement.

Summative Feedback

You will receive a customised feedback sheet, showing the mark breakdown in each of the key areas being assessed (Programming Quality; Product Design; Report and Video quality) along with personalised feedback and suggestions for improvement. The comments not only explain how well you have met the learning objectives, but also give you feedback against industrial standards (i.e. the Apple App Store submission requirements) which should help with your future career.

Indicative reading

As the technology is changing rapidly, along with the most relevant documentation, a web-site will be provided with links to the latest code documentation and 3rd party tutorials.