mobile apps at ncsu libraries

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)