# 15 Mobile technology

WHAT

"MOBILE" What does it mean?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile

Mobile often refers to:

• Mobile phone, a portable communications device
• Mobile (sculpture), a hanging artwork (or toy)
• Mobile may also refer to:
• Technology
• Mobile computing, a generic term describing one's ability to use technology in mobile environments
• Mobile game, a video game played on a mobile phone, smartphone, PDA or handheld computer
• Mobile Magazine, a publication on portable electronics
• Mobile network operator, a company which provides mobile phone network access and services
• Mobile radio, wireless communications systems and devices which are based on radio frequencies
• Mobile rig
• Mobile station, user equipment and software needed for communication with a wireless telephone network
• Mobile Web, the World Wide Web as accessed from mobile devices using Mobile Web Browser

Mobiles. Already considered as another component of the network on many campuses, mobiles continue to evolve rapidly. New interfaces, the ability to run third-party applications, and location-awareness have all come to the mobile device in the past year, making it an ever more versatile tool that can be easily adapted to a host of tasks for learning, productivity, and social networking.

For many users, broadband mobile devices like the iPhone have already begun to assume many tasks that were once the exclusive province of portable computers

WHY?

Why should you care about mobile devices?

• 4.1 billion SMS messages being sent daily
• Over 276 million wireless users (source: CITA Wireless Industry Survey, 2009).
• 32% of Americans have used a cell phone or Smartphone to access the internet this year (source: Pew, April 2009).
• The mobile device will be the primary connection tool to the internet for most people by 2020. (Source: Pew, Dec. 2008).

Examples: see Collected medical library mobile sites/apps

The Library in Your Pocket: Mobile Trends for Libraries

View more presentations from Meredith Farkas

HOW

Anytime, Anywhere, Any Device: Developing a Mobile Website for your Library

View more presentations from Mobile Libraries

Discovery Excercise(s):

• Go to Widgetbox and watch the video. Make an widgetbox account and try out the option to build your App within a few minutes.
• Go to Conduit Mobile,
• Search & Request to Join the Facebook Group Medical LIbrary Mobile (MedLibMob)
• Check the MedLibMob Fan Page and like please!
• Find russian medical App that might be useful for your users
• Have a look at: http://www.netvibes.com/emergingtechnologiesinlibraries#Mobile

Extra to Read:

• http://jeahil.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/ipads-mobile-libraries-and-medical-apps/
• MedicalApps is a public Netvibes page with the most important Medical Apps Search tools in one place. News on New, Free, Pricedrops, reviewed Medical Apps http://www.netvibes.com/medicalapps
• Medical Apps Search (MAPPS) If you are looking for a specific App or topic, try this Google Custom Search MAPPS http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=004308201683882109473%3As7kc4_l-vry
• https://www.facebook.com/Medlibmob?sk=app_4949752878
• A medical librarians special group MedLibMob on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_174021102617943&ap=1
• And last but not least, a Daily Magazine created with tweets focussed on Medical Apps
  “The Medical Apps Daily” http://paper.li/medlibmob/1295104201