Create Interactive Story Generator with NET MAUI and Azure

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Building the Welcome Page
3. Creating a Button with a Gradient
4. Designing the Story Settings Page
5. Developing the Story Player Page
6. Story Generator Service
7. Conclusion
8. Additional Resources

Article

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the step-by-step process of creating an application that generates stories for children using image recognition and artificial intelligence. We will be using .NET Maui and Microsoft Azure to build this application.

Building the Welcome Page

The first page of our application is the welcome page for the users. This page will provide a brief introduction to the application and guide the users through the story generation process. To Create this page, we will use a parallax effect to create a layered image effect. By overlaying multiple images within a GRID, we can manipulate each layer as needed.

Creating a Button with a Gradient

The next step in our application development is to create a button with a dynamic gradient effect. Unlike a static gradient, we want the gradient to move according to the specified gradients. To achieve this, we will create a custom control called "gradient" and use a method called "startAnimation" to Apply the gradient effect to the button. The animation will calculate the angle of the gradient and update the background of the button accordingly.

Designing the Story Settings Page

The story settings page allows users to customize how the story will be generated. Users can specify the main theme of the story, the child's age, and even include the child's name as one of the characters in the story. To design this page, we will use a vertical stack layout to sequentially arrange the different elements. Each element will consist of a label to specify the section name, a border for contrast against the background image, and an editor control for user input.

Developing the Story Player Page

The story player page is where the generated story comes to life. It consists of an image at the top, a custom control to display the Current page of the story, the text of the current page, and a player to control the audio playback. To create this page, we will utilize custom controls such as the progress bar and circle progress control. These controls allow us to display the current progress of the story and control the audio playback.

Story Generator Service

The story generator service is a crucial part of our application. It leverages the Semantic Kernel framework to combine AI services like OpenAI, Azure, and D.E. with programming languages like C# and Python. This service allows us to automate tasks such as text creation, storytelling, and image generation. By using the Semantic Kernel SDK, we can create complex pipelines to generate stories Based on user input.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have seen the step-by-step process of creating a children's story generator application using .NET Maui and Microsoft Azure. We have explored the development of the welcome page, button with a gradient, story settings page, story player page, and the story generator service. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and image recognition, we can create personalized and engaging stories for children.

Additional Resources

• Twitter Handle - Follow me on Twitter for more updates and insights.
• Blog Post - Read a detailed blog post about the creation of this application.
• YouTube Channel - Watch video tutorials and demos related to .NET Maui and application development.
• GitHub Repository - Access additional resources and code samples related to the application development process.
• Semantic Kernel Documentation - Learn more about the Semantic Kernel framework and its capabilities in text generation and image recognition.

FAQ

Q: Can I customize the themes in the story generator application?

A: Yes, the story settings page allows users to specify the main theme of the story. Users can also include the child's name as one of the characters in the story.

Q: How does the story generator service work?

A: The story generator service leverages the Semantic Kernel framework to combine AI services like OpenAI, Azure, and D.E. with programming languages like C# and Python. It automates tasks such as text creation, storytelling, and image generation based on user input.

Q: Can I add my own images to the story generator application?

A: Currently, the application uses pre-imported images located in the resources folder. However, You can modify the application to allow users to add their own images if desired.

Q: How can I play the generated audio files?

A: The story player page includes a player control that allows users to control the audio playback. Users can play, pause, skip to the next page, or skip to the previous page.

Q: Can I download the generated stories as PDF or other file formats?

A: The application currently generates stories in a well-formatted JSON STRING. However, you can modify the application to export the stories in different file formats if needed.