How Mobile Apps Help Businesses

Dr. Gita Phelps

Minority Youth in Business (June 2014)

IntroductionSpeaker: Dr. Phelps

Associate Professor of Computer Science Information Systems and Computer Science DeptHometown: Fort Valley, GABS: Computer Science (Georgia College)MS: Computer Science (UGA)PhD: Computer Science (UGA)20 years teaching at GC

Types of Mobile DevicesComputing on the Go!Mobile Computers :

Notebook/laptopTablet PC (digital

pen)Mobile Devices

Handheld, industry-specific

PDAs: organizerssmart phones –

internet enabled phone with PDA capabilities

What is a Mobile App?Applications that run on smartphones and other

mobile devices.Helps users

Stay Connected (Email, Instant Messaging, Twitter, Facebook, Skype)

Stay Informed (GPS, Weather, News)Stay Productive (ToDo Lists, Calendars, Job Related

Apps)Stay Entertained (Games, Books)

Features of Mobile PhonesCameraGPSMicrophoneTetheringPush messagingWeb Browsing

How Can Mobile Apps Help Businesses? Enhance profit, reduce paper and printing costs,

have greater staff efficiency and better customer service.

Connect with Customers and EmployeesStay Productive

There are apps available to meet nearly every business need, from word processing to remote access, so you can continue doing the job at hand.

App: Square

At Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco there are no cash registers!

The coffee shop does all its transactions through the iPad.

Card reader plugs in to audio port

https://squareup.com/ Accepts credit card payments

App: VagaroThe Beauty Room, a

beauty salon in Minneapolis uses this app to schedule client appointments

Syncs with stylists iPhones and iPads

http://www.vagaro.com/iPhone Appointment Book

App: Pro Prompter

WXFL, a television station in Albany, Georgia has given its news anchors iPads to replace paper scripts.

The station states that it can save $2,000 a month on printing, paper, and repair costs.

http://www.bodelin.com/proprompter/ Accepts credit card payments

App: FedExhttp://www.fedex.com/us/solutions/mobile/iphone.html check the status of your shipments

App: Zappit

QR code (Quick Response code)

Popular two-dimensional barcode

The information encoded may be text, URL, or other data.

The QR code was created to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.

Common in Japan

http://zappit.co/download Scan QR and bar codes

App: BuzzTablehttp://www.buzztable.com/ Guest Management

Havertys: Follow The Truck

• Driver’s • Picture • Current

Status• Expected

Time• Ability to make

comments

Where Can You Get Mobile Apps?

Apple - http://www.apple.com/iphone/apps-for-iphone/

Android - https://play.google.com/store/appsBlackberry -

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/

Find Mobile Apps That Would Be Helpful To Your Business

Think of a BusinessVisit app stores online and find apps that would

enable you to:Connect with CustomersConnect with Employees Stay Productive

Design Features• Users interact with apps for a few seconds• Limited screen resolution (320X480)• Design for Touch (not keyboard, mouse)• Simple/Uncluttered, well organized interface• Address a specific need --Do one thing very well

Design Your Own Mobile App

Why Study Computer Science?

Computer Science is an exciting, growing, and challenging field that impacts most aspects of everyday life. Medicine Communications Entertainment Forensics Education

There is an application of computer technology for all areas of businesses.

There are still many new computer applications to be discovered.

Become involved and be a service to humanity.