From technological specifications to beta version: The development of the imprint+ web app

Abstract

Ecologically responsible behaviour and commitment to a sustainable development should be fostered among citizens. The IMPRINT+ project, co-funded by Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, intends to promote an ecological reasoning at an European level, supported by the participation of local communities and particularly by young people.Based on ICT use (smart-phones, tablets and websites) and using a gamification strategy, the IMPRINT+ project aims to encourage young citizens to become aware of the global environmental impact of their everyday actions and to encourage them to act and participate in a local context. This paper aims to answer the question of what requirements, functional and non-functional, are appropriate to an app designed to engage young citizens, to be aware of their ecological footprint and to contribute, within different levels (individual, familiar, community or even national), with actions to its compensation. The paper describes the development process of the app, in terms of its specifications, requirements and system architecture. Preliminary tests suggest that the options made to develop the app were appropriate to promote the engagement of young people within the projects’ goals.