Transcript Get Started with Mobile Web Applications

Get Started with Mobile Web Applications
OIT Lunch & Learn
Jason Casden, Digital Technologies Development
Librarian
David Woodbury, NCSU Libraries Fellow
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When to Make a Native App
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Charging for it
Creating a game
Using specific locations*
Using cameras
Using accelerometers
Accessing the filesystems
Offline users
* Actually available to web-based applications
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The Case for Mobile Web Apps
“I believe that unless your application meets
one of these native application criteria, you
should not create a native application, but
should instead focus on building a mobile web
application.”
— Brian Fling, “Mobile Design and Development”
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WolfWalk, Two Ways
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Our mobile
services
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Locations & Hours
Computer Availability
Book & Article Search
Room Reservations
GroupFinder message board
Reference Services
News & Events
Webcam Feeds
Link to campus mobile site
Locations & Hours
Computer Availability
GroupFinder
What to mobilize?
• What services are currently available?
• What services are applicable on a mobile
device?
• What services translate well to the mobile
environment?
• What tools can be created easily?
• What would be fun to see?
Don’t mobilize everything
11 links vs 100 links
Mobile is not just shrinking the page
Use only essential, relevant content
Use only essential, relevant content
Reduce options, simplify
Limit data to mobile context
Limit data to mobile context
• For time oriented data,
we assume current day
& time
• We assume action
oriented
Expose hidden, useful content
Our tools
• Mobile website
– XHTML 1.0 transitional
– CSS
– non-essential JavaScript and AJAX
• MIT Mobile Web Open Source Project
• Leaned on pre-existing web services
• Targeted higher-end devices
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No developers?
• Tools that require only HTML knowledge
– WordPress, iWebKit, iUI, jQTouch, Dashcode…
– Good for static content
• Rapidly becoming more sophisticated
– Can help to build or prototype a mobile site very
quickly
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No developers?
• Vendors
– Boopsie, Terribly Clever…
– Can manage mobile development process for you
– You may lack control over the final product
– May be expensive
– Doesn’t develop internal expertise
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Content Adaptation
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Testing
CC BY-SA 2.0:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfryer/3929189
482/
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Testing
• Simulators and Emulators
– Apple iPhone/iPhoney simulators
– Android emulator
• Internal listserv
• Guerilla Testing
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Recommendations
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Be Agile
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Rapid development cycle
Think iteratively
Adjust to change quickly
Avoid paralysis
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Play
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Collaborate
• Campus efforts
• External projects
• Steal what you like
– Improve it, so it can be stolen back
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