mobile apps at ncsu libraries
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given at a workshop organized by Recreation Resources Services on Oct. 5, 2011. Discusses examples of mobile applications for cultural organizations, mobile initiative planning, and future directions. Presentation is adapted from prior presentation by my colleagues Tito Sierra and Jason Casden.TRANSCRIPT
Custom Mobile Applications at NCSU Libraries
Cory LownNCSU LibrariesOctober 5, 2011
Recreation Resources Services
Outline
• The Mobile Opportunity• Case Studies at NCSU Libraries• Mobile Website• WolfWalk• Mobile Exhibits
• Planning a Mobile Initiative• More App Ideas
The Mobile Opportunity
http://pewinternet.com/Reports/2011/Smartphones.aspx
“In its first standalone measure of smartphone ownership, the Pew Internet Project finds that one third of American adults – 35% – own smartphones.”
— Aaron Smith, Smartphone Adoption and UsagePew Internet & American Life Project
http://pewinternet.com/Reports/2011/Smartphones.aspx
http://pewinternet.com/Reports/2011/Smartphones.aspx
http://pewinternet.com/Reports/2011/Smartphones.aspx
http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2011
http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2011
“As more people choose to reach for a mobile rather than sitting at a desk to access the Internet, our views and behaviors about that access are shifting.”
— The Horizon Report 2011 EditionThe New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative
“The sheer power of these devices is what makes them interesting, and that power derives from their ubiquity, their portability, the wide range of things that can be done with them, and their ability to access the Internet nearly anywhere.”
— The Horizon Report 2011 EditionThe New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative
Why Mobile for Libraries?
Mobile technology enables new forms of interaction that can enhance the user experience with library services and
collections.
Kinds of Apps
Mobile website apps
Native mobile apps
Case Studies at NCSU
“MobiLIB” at NCSU (2007)
NCSU Libraries Mobile (2010)
1. Locations & Hours2. Computer Availability3. Search
• Catalog• Article Database
4. Ask Us5. Room Reservations6. GroupFinder7. News & Events8. Webcams9. WolfWalk10. Reserves
WolfWalk
WolfWalk Concept
Provide a user-friendly way for people to learn about the
history of NC State, while exploring campus.
Albums from UA023.005 Campus Views and Facilities Sub-Group, NCSU Special Collections Research Center
Jason Casden, lead developer for WolfWalk, at the NCSU Memorial Tower
WolfWalk 1.0
• Released March 2010• Location-aware• Two flavors• Mobile web• iPhone/iPod Touch
WolfWalk 1.1
• Released June 2011• Location-aware• Three flavors• Mobile web• iPhone/iPod Touch• iPad
Mobile Exhibits
NCSU Libraries Special Collections Research Center Gallery
Mobile Exhibits Concept
Augment the exhibit user experience by integrating
additional content from the archives.
NCSU Libraries Special Collections Research Center Gallery
Untitled Image Layout
QR Code connecting users to the 4-H Mobile Supplement
QR Codes
Image source: Flickr user inju
4-H & NC State
• Released Jan 2011• Mobile website only• QR code integration
Planning a Mobile Initiative
Basic Questions
Do you have the resources to develop a custom app?
Basic Questions
What makes your app mobile?
Content
Designing for a mobile optimized experience often involves developing
new or modified content. Do not assume you can just reuse what you
already have!
Implementation Choices
Do you build a platform specific “native app” (e.g., iPhone App, Android App), a
mobile website that works across a range of devices, or both?
Native Apps
• App store visibility / can charge for it• Access to hardware• Graphics, cameras, offline access
But…• Development environment (Objective-C)• Developer license• Updates require user updates
Mobile Web Apps
• Cross platform• Less specialized development• Release can be as easy as a web page
But….• Network reliance• Fewer hardware features• Cross browser/platform testing
jQuery Mobile
• Touch optimized interface widgets at low cost
• Cross platform support• Familiar HTML /
JavaScript development
Practical Considerations
How robust is the wireless connection in your environment?
Practical Considerations
How do you deliver high-quality media (images/audio/video) without
compromising the user experience?
Geotagging Issues
How do you geotag very large digital collections in a scalable way?
Expect the Unexpected
• iOS Developer License issue• App Store market advantage• Network issues• QR code integration
The Future is Bright
We've only scratched the surface of what is already possible technologically, let alone what will be possible in the next
year or two.
More App Ideas
Interactive Exhibits
http://www.qrator.org/about-the-project/
Hyperlocal History
http://www.historypin.com/tours/
Hyperlocal History
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.historypin.Historypin
Location Aware Audio
http://vimeo.com/24250620http://bluebrainmusic.blogspot.com
Location Aware Audio
• Interpretive tour audio content• Oral histories and interviews• Recorded music (time period, genre)• Field recordings and soundscapes
Start small.
Try things.
Learn from others.
Thanks!
More information:http://go.ncsu.edu/mlibprojects
Credits:Tito Sierra & Jason Casden (http://slidesha.re/r9H6j7)
Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)