Mobile Apps and RSS Mobile Apps and RSS Implementations and development plans

Jason J. Battles

University Libraries Technology Forum 09/2009

Mobile RevolutionMobile Revolution

Ball State University survey of 300 students• 59% preferred text messaging over other

communication methods.

• Email was favored by only 7%.

• 99.7% of those students have a mobile communications device.

Smartphones• In-Stat survey indicates dramatic increase in demand.

• Mobile applications use slated to quadruple in 5 years.

Mobile RevolutionMobile Revolution

Why is this important for libraries?

What are we doing to address the needs of mobile users?• Mobile friendly sites vs. platform specific smartphone apps

• Multiple mobile platforms: iPhone, BlackBerry, Google, Palm

• The MobileEdu vendor option and UA• http://www.medu.com

• Our first steps in development

Mobile RevolutionMobile Revolution

Augmented Reality mobile applications:

• North Carolina State’s WolfWalk Project• http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/dli/projects/wolfwalk/

• Layar application for Google’s Android mobile OS• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b64_16K2e08

• Opportunities for use in our environment

RSSRSS

What is RSS?• It is an acronym for Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site

Summary.

• RSS is data from a web site, database, etc. that uses XML to structure the data. The use of XML also makes the data or “feed” accessible by software aggregators.

• RSS aggregators are built into modern browser like IE7 and IE 8 and Firefox 3. They allow users to view all their feeds in one location.

RSSRSS

Why is RSS important for libraries?

What are we doing to implement RSS into the University

Libraries web presence?• MyBama feeds for new books

• Government Information monthly offerings

• Podcasts of library events

• Drupal integration and news ticker items

• Future expansion of feeds