Kristian Norling discusses the development of mobile intranet applications for Region Västra Götaland, emphasizing a standards-based approach over traditional app development. The presentation outlines strategies for creating HTML5-based intranet apps that operate across multiple platforms, while advising against native app development due to cost effectiveness. Key considerations include focusing on mobile first, utilizing open standards, and avoiding outdated technologies like Flash.

1. A standards based alternative to
'the app way'
J.Boye 11, Aarhus, 9th November
Kristian Norling
Findwise
KristianNorling

2. Region Västra Götaland
Public sector
50.000 employees

4. © Region Västra Götaland

5. Abstract
Working hard on mobile intranets/web as well. We have
choosen to not going the app way, rather building on
html5 first then "compiling" the web site for app
market distribution. A killer combo. After a decade of
developing for the desktop, the new frontier for the
Region Västra Götaland (VGR) intranets is mobile.
Kristian will present how VGR has solved a few of the
problems associated with mobile development. A
practical hands-on presentation on how one
organization is developing apps for their mobile
intranet.

6. Agenda
• Developing mobile intranet apps, our
thinking on the subject
• Developing for many platforms at once, is it
even possible?
• How to develop intranet apps
• Things we think will happen in the (near)
future
• Do's and don’ts

7. “8. In both internetworked markets and
among intranetworked employees, people
are speaking to each other in a powerful
new way.”
The Cluetrain Manifesto

8. We think mobile...
• Simple to use
• Simple in design
• Simple technical architecture

9. Developing mobile intranet apps
• The default standard browser we use is...
ancient
• We have to support standards only
• NO plug-in technology
• We have standardized on Android and iOS
for mobile
• WebKit is IT

10. Developing for many
platforms at once
• New, dual strategy for intranets:
Mobile targeted first - Desktop second...
• Forget about developing native apps as a
priority - not cost effective in the long
run...
• Open Source - lots of good stuff
• Stick to the HTML5 standard (and others
by W3C
• do not EVER consider Flash etc.

11. How do we develop
intranet apps?
• We eat our own dog food
• Developing accordingly to our reference
architecture (SWE)
• We do clean HTML5 front end apps - on
top of...
• Nice robust REST / WS based backend
• Use (something like) PhoneGap to make
“native” apps for distribution.

16. Check out the prototype
http://vgr-portalramverk.dev.netrelations.se/mobile/home.html

17. Things we think will happen
in the (near) future
• Notifications
• GPS
• Kamera
• Bluetooth
• The Phone is the Security Device
• Thoughts on a mobile phone enhanced
intranet (SYS 64738 blog post)

18. Do's
• DO consider a dual strategy - or even
better focus on...
• DO mobile primarily
• DO use HTML5
• DO use PhoneGap or other similar options

19. ... and don’ts
• Do NOT develop for the lowest common
denominator - skip IE7 and IE8
• Do NOT use plug-in technology
• Do NOT develop native apps
• Do NOT listen to me... make up your own
mind

20. Questions?

21. Thank you!
kristian.norling@findwise.com
findwise.com
sys64738.se
twitter.com/kristiannorling
www.slideshare.net/kristiannorling
www.linkedin.com/in/kristiannorling