Mobile Apps & Mobile Web Ivon Foster-McGowan, PhD Assistant to the Provost for Special Projects & Academic Technology The University of Alabama SACRAO 2013 February 5th, 1:30pm Session T3.1

NOTE: The majority of the session consisted of live demonstrations of the apps noted on each slide. This presentation is intended to provide an overview of the points made and the apps demonstrated. Please send questions to Ivon.Foster@ua.edu.

The difference is narrowing Native Apps vs Web Apps The difference is narrowing Native apps can only work on the platform they were built for, and take longer to develop Native apps can take advantage of hardware: push notifications and smoother look and feel Native apps can include links to web apps Visibility increased thru app stores Updates dependent on user iOS & Blackberry reviewed prior to availability; delays updates Cost is higher, vendor often involved, more time and effort even if built in house Built with standard web technologies Web apps easily used by most devices mobile devices Can be designed to look like native apps Less visibility, do your own marketing No download required Updates automatically More efficient; in house web resources can typically pick up programming easily

Alabama Vendor partner: Blackboard Mobile iOS launched 4/24/11; Android & Blackberry June 2011 Over 110,000 downloads to date 60% iOS 30% Android 10% Blackberry Users in over 150 countries #1 complaint: "Where's myBama & Blackboard?!" Delivered portions of myBama & myTickets with web app and integrated Mobile Learn fall 2012 Future: web app for Places; native e-Accounts (one card); parking??; computer labs??

Caution: Student Developers Brilliant minds with great ideas Must have university involvement Sustainability & enhancements: who develops it after graduation? Who will handle updates & bug fixes "UF Mobile no longer available" - see letter from student developer

Mobile Web Most universities have mobile version of website, at least top tier sites Most libraries have gone to mobile web Giving cannot be done in native app, at least not iOS Many university native apps have mobile web features TransLoc - buses

Bridging Native Apps Accessing a native app from another app Requires download of both apps Stanford is the king of app bridging North Dakota tours

Creative Design OU2GO & GA Tech coolest Texas & Arizona unique West VA very sleek & simple Samford & Seton Hall: no branding once in the app

Functional Design Most univ apps have basics: directory, map, news, video, athletics, etc Parking! OU2GO Purdue & North Dakota - labs feature myUCR (CA Riverside) - requires sign or create acct??? Didn't bother Loyola - beautiful, but took a second to figure it out Ole Miss - NEWS!! Hard to find app features

Maps & Buses Apple iOS 6 - Killed Google Map Kit - see Alabama and Vanderbilt, no buildings or labels Custom map - Arizona None work without network! TransLoc integration

Admissions Apps Better to have independent admissions app or unified institution app?

Conclusion Benchmarking is essential Involve more than IT, need user community Consider your developer options: in house, vendor, students....in any case, there must be a responsible party If vendor, don't hesitate to push the limits, get them out of their box Always think about sustainability and enhancements Unified app or independent apps

Thank You! Ivon.Foster@ua.edu