//create application entities
            var armListener = new ArmListener(new UsbConnection(this), new SimulationConnection());
            var connection = new ConnectionVM(armListener);
            var settings = new SettingsVM();
            var modules = new ModulesVM(connection, settings,
                new ModuleVM(null, typeof(Menu)) { Transition = TransitionType.Right },
                new ModuleVM("Build Instructions", typeof(BuildInstructionsControl), typeof(BuildInstructionsVM)) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Green, IconName = "appbar_tools" },
                new ModuleVM("Flash Firmware", typeof(FirmwareControl), typeof(FirmwareVM)) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Teal, IconName = "appbar_lightning"  },
                new ModuleVM("Calibration", typeof(CalibrationControl), typeof(CalibrationVM)) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Purple, RobotRequired = true, IconName = "appbar_axis_three" },
                new ModuleVM("Motion Studio", typeof(MotionStudioControl), typeof(MotionStudioVM)) { LargeTile = true, RobotRequired = true, CalibrationRequired = true, BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Orange, ImageName = "Record.png" },
				new ModuleVM("Robot Settings", typeof(RobotSettingsControl), typeof(RobotSettingsVM)) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Blue, RobotRequired = true, IconName = "appbar_cogs" },
                new ModuleVM("Testing & Troubleshooting", typeof(TestingControl), typeof(TestingVM)) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Purple, RobotRequired = true, ImageName = "Testing.png" },
				new ModuleVM("Record & Playback", typeof(RecordAndPlaybackControl), typeof(RecordAndPlaybackVM)) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Teal, ImageName = "RecordAndPlayback.png", RobotRequired = true, CalibrationRequired = true },
				new ModuleVM("Learning & Education", null) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Green },
                new ModuleVM("Program with Scratch", typeof(Scratch), typeof(ScratchVM)) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Blue, ImageName = "Scratch.png", RobotRequired = true, CalibrationRequired = true },
                new ModuleVM("Simulator", typeof(LaunchSimControl), typeof(LaunchSimVM)) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Blue, ImageName = "Simulator.png" },
                new ModuleVM("Maestro", null) { LargeTile = true, BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Blue, ImageName= "Maestro.png" },
                new ModuleVM("Sketch Artist", typeof(DrawingControl), typeof(DrawingVM)) { LargeTile = true, BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Orange, ImageName = "SketchArtist.png", RobotRequired = true, CalibrationRequired = true },
                new ModuleVM("Tic-Tac-Toe", null) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Purple },
                new ModuleVM("Sock Puppet", null) { LargeTile = true, BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Teal, ImageName = "SockPuppet.png" },
                new ModuleVM("Program with If-Then", null) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Purple },
                new ModuleVM("Pick & Place", null) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Purple },
                new ModuleVM("Virtual Reality", null) { BackgroundColor = ModuleColors.Purple }
                );
            App.Instance = new MainWindowVM(this, connection, settings, modules, new StorageUI());

            //databind
            this.DataContext = App.Instance;