Mobile Apps at NCSU Libraries

Custom Mobile Applications at NCSU Libraries Cory Lown NCSU Libraries October 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 Usage
Pew Internet & American Life Project

http://pewinternet.com/Reports/2011/Smartphones.aspx

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 Edition
The 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 Edition
The 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)
Locations & Hours
Computer Availability
Search
Catalog
Article Database
Ask Us
Room Reservations
GroupFinder
News & Events
Webcams
WolfWalk
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/24250620 http://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)

Mobile Apps at NCSU Libraries

by Cory Lown

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