Minimum device requirements
Our mobile apps demand a few technical requirements; what's required depends on the type of activity you're participating in as well as the device you're required to use. Read more below or choose one of the following options that best describes you:
Minimum device requirements for Android mobile devices
In order for dscout to be compatible on your Android device, your phone must (1) be running on an operating system (OS) no older than Android 7.0 Nougat and (2) have a working camera and microphone.
If you don’t know what OS version your mobile device is using, try following these steps to figure out what version your Android device is currently running on:
- Open your mobile device’s Settings app.
- Search for a section called System.
- Find and tap on the section named About or About phone.
- Look for a field that says Android version.
If your mobile device isn’t on at least Android Nougat (7.0) or doesn’t have a camera and microphone, you won't be able to download the dscout app.
Note: Since not all Android devices are the same, the steps mentioned above are generalized. You might have to do some extra digging to figure out your phone’s operating system.Minimum device requirements for iOS mobile devices
In order for dscout to be compatible on your Apple device, your phone must (1) be running on iOS 14.0 or higher and (2) have a working camera and microphone.
If you don’t know what OS version your iPhone is running, you can follow these steps to find out:
- Tap on your phone’s Settings app.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on About.
- Scroll down and look for the information next to Version.
If your operating system is not iOS 14.0 or higher or if your iPhone doesn’t have a functioning camera and microphone, you won't be able to download the dscout app.
Desktop for Live, Diary, and Express Activities
As a scout, your interaction with dscout will primarily be on your mobile device using the dscout mobile app. However, you may occasionally be asked use your desktop or laptop computer for completing a Live desktop session (our video-conferencing tool) or desktop activities for Diary.
Live
If you're participating in a Live Desktop mission (specified in your mission invite and mission overview in the app), your computer must (1) be a desktop or laptop computer, (2) have a working camera and microphone, and (3) have Chrome version 72 or higher downloaded. Before your session, we'll run a system check to be sure your device meets these requirements; read more about the Live pre-test here.
Desktop Diary + Express Usability Activities
If you're participating in a Diary or Express Usability mission that includes a desktop activity, your computer must (1) be a desktop or laptop computer, (2) have a working camera and microphone, and (3) have Chrome version 57 or higher downloaded. You'll also need to be able to download the dscout Chrome extension.
Can I use a tablet to participate on dscout?
In short, it depends on what you're doing with dscout!
The dscout app is designed for mobile phones; since the dscout app is optimized for mobile phones, we can't guarantee a seamless tablet experience. That being said, you should be able to complete applications and participate in mobile Diary missions on an iPad or Android tablet if you don't have access to a mobile device! You can access the dscout app for iOS here and the Android app here. Keep in mind that your tablet will still need to meet the Android or iOS tech requirements specified in the sections above.
At this time, dscout Live (both desktop and mobile missions) is not compatible with tablets.