we built it from scratch... how to grow an idea into a mobile app
TRANSCRIPT
We Built It Ourselves …From Scratch --
How To Grow An Idea Into a Mobile App
Nadia J. Lalla, M.L.I.S.Steven Flynn, M.S.I.
M. Carol Shannon, M.P.H.
One Year Ago …
Nadia Lalla Has An Idea
I havean idea!
Brilliant!
Carol Shannon Concurs
Stephen Flynn, Then Student Extraordinaire
Now Emerging Technologies Librarian@ Wooster College
Proposed Timeline
Idea – September 2010
Sketchy plan – early October 2010
Build app for iPhone – November 2010
Test app – December 2010
Submit app to iTunes store – January 2011
Acceptance to iTunes store – 7 days later
Mobile Website vs. Mobile App
• Easier to develop
• Inferior user experience
• Preferred for comparison shopping and research
• Difficult to develop
• Superior user experience
• Preferred for social media and gaming
Mobile Website vs. Mobile App
Developing the Mobile Website
Jonathan Stark - “Building iPhone Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript”
http://building-iphone-apps.labs.oreilly.com/
Google: jqueryui autocomplete tutorial
Developing the iPhone App
HTML & Javascript
Titanium Studio
Objective C in Xcode & iPhone simulator
Finally….
Plain Language Medical Dictionary
iPhone/iPod/iPad App
SearchFilter
BrowseDefine
Proposed TimelineIdea – Sept 2010Sketchy plan – early Oct 2010Build beta mobile website for app – NovQuasi test on iPhones – NovDebug mobile website – NovRebuild app with new program – Dec thru FebBuild app for iPhone – Nov 2010Test app – Dec 2010Submit app to UM Tech Transfer - Feb thru MaySubmit app to iTunes store – Jan 2011Acceptance to iTunes store – 7 days later June 15, 2011
Actual
What We Learned
Selecting the right app software is crucial.
Getting our app into the iTunes store was much harder than anticipated.
There was/is little institutional expertise and support for library mobile apps.
A student programmer is a student … who graduates… and finds a great job.
Build Your Own App
Source: Flickr (gillyberlin)
1. If possible, determine who needs to be involved in the process from creation to app availability
2. Clearly articulate the project goals and objectives and share them with all involved parties.
3. Set realistic time deadlines.
Build Your Own App
4. Don’t underestimate the programming that is needed.
5. Additional skills include marketing and graphic design.
6. Consider hiring a School of Information or Computer Science student. They are eager and willing to spend the time if the payoff is partial credit for the app.
Up Next
After That?
Build a multilingual version: Spanish, Chinese, Arabic
• Challenge: translations in plain language• Challenge: time + $$$
Update the thesaurus
• Challenge: content• Challenge: copyright• Challenge: time + $$$
Plain Language Medical Dictionary
Plain Language Medical Dictionary Widgethttp://www.lib.umich.edu/plain-language-dictionary
Plain Language Medical Dictionary Mobile Websitehttp://www.lib.umich.edu/files/libraries/hsl/plainmed/index.html
Plain Language Medical Dictionary iPhone Apphttp://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plain-language-medical-dictionary/id443405990?mt=8
The Plain Language Medical Dictionary app was developed for the Regents of the University of Michigan
by Stephen Flynn, Nadia Lalla, and Carol Shannon.
Stephen X. FlynnEmerging Technologies LibrarianAndrews LibraryCollege of Wooster1140 Beall Ave.Wooster, OH 44691(330) [email protected]://www.sxflynn.net
Nadia J. LallaCoordinator, Collections & Information ServicesTaubman Health Sciences LibraryThe University of Michigan1135 E. Catherine St.Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2038(734) [email protected]://www.lib.umich.edu/users/nadiamar