Keynote speaker Jason Griffey, author of a recent book, Mobile Technology and Libraries, gave compelling statistics on why libraries must “go mobile”.
- 4.1 billion people on the planet have cellphones.
- In 50 countries, there are more cellphones than people.
- (But not yet in Canada: cell penetration rate is 67% (2/3 as many cellphones as people – Canadian Wireless Technology Association 2010 Wireless Facts & Figures)
- Texting is by far the most popular communication channel: twice as many people text as use email (Pew Internet Research September 2009)
- People expect to be able to access an organization’s services from their mobile device.
How should libraries reach mobile users?
Developing applications for a specific device is a popular strategy. BUT the marketplace changes rapidly. Currently Apple dominates -- 490,000 use the iPhone platform. But Google's Android smartphone is outselling iPhone, due to its wider coverage over multiple carriers with multiple devices.
Amanda Etches-Johnson (below) advocates designing (differently) for mobile - slightly different approach.
What's ahead? "The future is already here, it's just not evenly distributed" - William Gibson
- Griffey showed us some cool devices, e.g. Autonet Mobile, which turns your cell signal into WiFi in your car, and MiFi, which turns your cellphone into WiFi -- you become a walking WiFi hotspot!
- 4G networks will move the world on to mobile. 4G capacity is 100-350 Mbps (our fibre network delivers about 55 Mbps, our wireless around 15 Mpbs, our Rogers around 1.5 Mbps) compared to 3G which is around 5Mbps. 4G is available in parts of Vancouver; Verizon is building a 4G network in the US. HTC EVO is a 4G smartphone cum WiFi router.
- Tablets will take off.
- Touch interfaces will take over, especially once antiglare, dual screen displays like those available from NotionInk become widespread (you can read your screen just as well in bright sun as indoors)
Breakout sessions provided a choice of “how we did it” sessions on GPS and Ebooks (morning) and mobile audio and implementing mobile services at Ryerson University (afternoon).
Ebooks at University of Toronto (Dan D'Agostino) and Toronto Public Library (Joanne Lombardo)- Ebook reading style differs greatly depending on whether it's loaded on a PC (people scan it, like they do a web page) or on a E-reader (they read it continuously, like they do a hard copy book)
- Google editions is "disruptive technology" (meaning it will change the way we do things, in the same way wikipedia was a disruptive technology for the print encyclopedia business)
- Google editions, and Google's ebook store cuts out the middleman, in this case libraries (and bookstores). An example of dis-intermediation.
- TPL offers Ebooks from many providers: OverDrive, NetLibrary, Safari (technology books), TumbleBooks
- Challenges: trying to support multiple devices and platforms; deciding which format[s] to offer a work in
- TPL is interested in the Blio eReader, because it can switch from text to audio
- considering Copia, eReader software which provides a collaborative eReading experience
Implementing Mobile Services at Ryerson University
- surveyed Ryerson students in 2008 and 2009
- many had smartphones, but weren't using them for Internet due to data charges
- thus free WiFi (on campus) is very important
- two programmers + a graphic designer built first mobile site May-Aug 2009, planning took from February to April
- mobile services, e.g. webpage, catalogue, must be Fast, Obvious, Easy
- remember hands come in all sizes -- don't make buttons too small
- strip down to only the relevant information
Two 10-minute “thunder sessions” provided quick looks at emerging technologies – augmented reality and QR codes . Two other thunder sessions focused on early library adopter’s learnings: designing for mobile web devices and mobile reference.
Augmented reality (Fiacre O'Duinn, Hamilton Public Library)
- Layar - augmented reality browser you can use on your mobile device
- Fiacre O'Duinn showed very cool app where images of historic photos appeared in the "real" streetscape, as you viewed it through your cameraphone
- QR = Quick Response codes = two-dimensional codes
- can store large amounts of data, e.g. URLs, phone numbers, textual info
- can be easily read by mobile devices with free software
- ideas: put QR codes on signs which link back to blog or library website
- codes are easy to create
Designing for Mobile (Amanda Etches-Johnson, McMaster Library)
Need to design differently for mobile users (of library website, catalogue, etc). Consider
- size - very small screens
- bandwidth - data transfer rate is slow, much slower for mobile than PC. So design elements must be light
- data plans - unlike Europe where unlimited download is the norm, most Canadian plans have caps
- UX [User Experience] - think about interaction, usability. Get down to essentials
- simple design
- functionality
- be selective - don't everything from your regular website on your mobile site
- clickability - need big type, big buttons, most people won't have high motor control. Save keystrokes
Sample mobile library sites which demonstrate good practices. Many of these automatically detect if user is coming to site via mobile. (Since I wasn't, I'm not sure if I have linked to the most up to date version.)
- RULA (Ryerson)
- University of British Columbia Library
- New York Public Library
- Oregon State University Library
- North Carolina State University Library
- Ball State University Library
Consider the user. There are three types: 1) repeat user = very important user, needs must be met; 2) urgent - if has a bad experience, will never return = very important user; 3) casual
Protyping is huge. Test, Test, Test.
Mobile Reference
To meet a Stephen Lewis Foundation Dare, MLIS students at University of Toronto I-School developed an on-the-street reference project (and fundraised from students and faculty to support their efforts).
- Set up a table outside the ROM, took iPhones and other smartphones, and offered to give free answers to questions, for people passing by.
- Good way to raise awareness of what librarians offer -- most people had no idea they could get free answers from a library.
- Could be a cool service for us to offer at fairs, Wellesley Home Show, etc.
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