Delivering Content to Mobile Devices
Andrew McCreathExec Director of IT&CommunicationRobert Gordon University, Aberdeen
A touch of context
• HEIDS “above campus” IT Services Study 2011– Collaborative tools highlighted. Such tools include:
• Email • Shared calendaring; • Shared documents and document storage; • Communications tools such as instant messaging, Voice Over IP,
(VOIP); video conferencing, Twitter and Facebook; • Conferencing and bulletin boards such as like Ning or Elgg; • Shared and secure file management such as Sharepoint /
Google Docs, Sites and Office365; • Content Management systems such as Drupal, Joomla and
Wordpress;
http://www.heids.ac.uk/reports/HEIDS_Shared_IT_Services_Study_Report.PDF
StirlingNov 2011
What Collaborative Tools are of
Interest?
Telford CollegeFeb 2012
SharePoint
Lync
Office 365+ Telford’s Mobile Apps
+ Lunch at ZeroOne
CreatingMobileApps
UWS, HamiltonAug 2012
O365 EventDundee
UWS – Hamilton, 24th August
• 3 Contrasting Approaches.• All delivered access to information, and
selected services.• Edinburgh Telford College
– App developed by third party, 1st release Oct 2011• Edinburgh University:
– Ombiel app• Stirling University
– Decided to develop a “web app”
Edinburgh Telford College
• Engaged with students to determine design and functions
• Key functions – personal timetable, interactive diary, absence recording, contacts for key departments
• Cost savings from not printing student handbook• Winner of Jisc I-tech award in 2012 for support to
learner services• App developed by Smartphonehttp://www.slideshare.net/mccreatha/mobile-app-development-telford-college
Edinburgh University / OmbielU@Ed
• Providing access to the data and underlying services is the key challenge more than the App availability.
• Ombiel find a number of services are commonly requested by Institutions - Library services, VLE access, availability of PC's. For staff, access to finance and student records.
• “If it's on a database, it can be pushed onto an app”.http://www.slideshare.net/mmorrey/ued-mobile-app-for-the-universi
ty-of-edinburgh
Student Survey
Stirling UniversitymStir
• Quick access, bite size, time sensitive information well suited to mobile access situations. Not just replicating the web site.
• Webkit engines can create a very good "app" experience on mobile devices
• Creating app was relatively straight forward• Getting accurate data from back end systems onto the
app was main challenge• Printer & PC availability – high demand• Developing “Library Anywhere”
bit.ly/mstirheids
UWS Hamilton – Action Areas
• Procurement• Sharing of Expertise / Knowledge• Collaborate to define external data feeds• Collaborate to create a national survey
Open Source?
Commercial Development
Resource
CommercialSolution
Developer
Institutions
Suppliers & External Organisations
BespokeCommercialApp
SharedCommercialApp
BespokeInhouseApp
SharedCommunityApp
Shared Procurement of Services & Solutions
1
Community of
Practice
Sharing of
Expertise, skills
& knowledge
2
Common
Definitions of
data feeds /
web services
3
Shared National Survey of Learners 4
SCURL Community of Practiceon Mobile Devices
• A survey will be composed and designed by some members of the Mobile Devices CoP.
• It will be circulated to– SCURL members (incl National Museums of Scotland)– FE College Librarians – HEIDS– The Public Library sector
• Issued inDecember 2012 with analysis of the responses to be completed by mid January 2013.
Survey Contents• Existing activity amongst SCURL member libraries/other Scottish libraries, particularly
in relation to (but not excluding other areas): resource discovery, delivery of content (using own or vendor tools), showcasing collections, location based and transactional services, orientation and education, skills to support m-library developments;
• Approaches being used e.g. in house developments, 3rd part supplier, mixed economy;• Are developments cross-organisation or at library/department level;• Any insights into user behaviour in relation to the consumption of m-library
services/resources;• Use of specific technologies including SMS services, QR codes, augmented reality etc;• Priorities for future m-library developments;• The range of approaches to developing m-library services/resources e.g. App or mobile
web or both;• Areas for potential collaborative development, delivery or licensing;• Any potential role of 3rd party suppliers in any collaborative approach.
Questions?