# VA Mobile Development

> Extended VA healthcare applications beyond desktop, adapting workflows for mobile and other form factors.

Canonical URL: https://debye.io/projects/va-mobile-development/

Timeline: Mid-2010s

Type: implementation

## Role

Front-end / UX Engineer

## Overview

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mobile Applications Phase Two (MAP2) project included multiple healthcare applications with different business owners, workflows, and user groups. The effort focused on extending VA healthcare services beyond desktop-only experiences by adapting provider and Veteran-facing workflows for mobile and other form factors.

## Challenges

VA healthcare providers across different locations lacked a consistent way to collect health-related information from Veterans. The project also needed better ways to share trusted resources, including mental health information, drug facts, emergency contacts, and other VA-approved content across the VA community.

## Process & Solution

- Collaborated with business owners, business analysts, project managers, and developers to identify user needs, application requirements, technical constraints, and project limitations.
- Created and presented wireframes based on stakeholder input, then iteratively refined the designs through daily scrum discussions and monthly client reviews.
- Designed multiple responsive web applications, including [Ask a Pharmacist](https://veteran.mobile.va.gov/aap-web/) and [Genetic Diagnostic Testing](https://news.va.gov/39764/va-testing-mobile-app-that-helps-tailor-care-based-on-each-veterans-genetics/), to support use across desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones.
- Developed front-end application features using existing VA technologies and project infrastructure.
- Followed Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 guidelines to support accessibility and compliance.

## Technologies & Tools

- Front-end Backbone.js, Marionette.js, jQuery, HTML5, CSS3, Sass, Bootstrap
- Backend & Data Tomcat, MongoDB, RESTful web services, JSON Web Tokens
- Build & Delivery Grunt, Bower, Maven, Docker, Fortify
- Design Balsamiq Mockups, Adobe Photoshop
- Accessibility VoiceOver, NVDA, Level Access AMP, WebAIM Color Contrast Checker