USE OF MOBILE APPLICATIONS TO IDENTIFY PLANTS

Abstract

One of the main principles of effective learning is the principle of «corresponding to nature», ie providing the environment in which the child learns should be familiar to him. For the modern child, the environment of gadgets has become a natural environment. That is why the use of mobile applications is a very promising method of learning. Software that can be used during the learning process in the application of STEM technology can be divided into desktop applications, mobile applications, and web-oriented technologies. The paper is devoted to research mobile applications used during the STEM-classes and can be used to identify plants. There are 10 mobile applications that are plant identifiers worldwide. These applications can be classified into three groups, such as plant identifiers that can analyze photos, plant classification provides the possibility to identify plants manually, plants-care apps that remind water of the plant, or change the soil. The following mobile applications were analysed: Flora Incognita, PlantNet, PlantSnap, PictureThis, LeafSnap, Seek, PlantNet regarding ease of use and identification accuracy. PlantNet is the easiest app to install. Also, pretty easy to install are LeafSnap and Flora Incognita. Apps LeafSnap, Flora Incognita, and Seek to have the simplest interface. PlantSnap, PictureThis, and PlantNet are characterized by the most uncomfortable process of identification which can be complicated for teachers. Seek is the interesting application, which provides detailed instructions for students on research. This application also has tools to encourage students and offers participation in international research projects. It has been proven that Flora Incognita and PlantNet have the most user friendly and most informative interface of plant identification programs. Flora Incognita provides correct identification of 71% of plants compared to 55% provided by PlantNet. For comparison, this figure for Google Lens is 92.6%. However, they were significantly less accurate than the Google Lens results. Therefore, Google Lens is the most recommended app to use. Talking to account, results of usability analysis, and quality of analysis, for those students and teachers who do not like Google Lens app, it is possible to use Flora Incognita, but PlantNet can’t be recommended to use due low accuracy which may provide up to half of incorrect analysing results. Although Flora Incognita identifies species of local (aboriginal) flora with higher accuracy. A detailed experimental study of Google Lens and its comparison with other mobile applications allow us to recommend Google Lens for use in the lessons when applying the STEM approach.