Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Are We Killing The Internet In The Process?

Dave KingChris Labelle

Oregon State University

Tell ’em App impact on long-term Net viability Production issues in developing apps

versus browser-based learning modules Options for learners and developers to

consider.

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

From Horizon Report to just looking in your pocket, it is clear we need to move our courses and learning modules to mobile access to remain competitive and available to our learner audiences.

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

What is the impact of the attraction of proprietary applications…?

…such as iPhone or Droid apps…

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Learners expect easy access, but don’t recognize “free” applications vs. Web browser-based access.

Nor do they difference between the Web as an access tool and the Internet as a transport.

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Those of us producing learning apps should take into account the impact of choosing Apps vs. Open Net access.

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

The controversy rages about the true impact of proprietary apps compared to all the other functions for which the Internet provides transport.

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Will these new and proprietary learning applications out-compete browser-based applications?

Will the impact on Internet access long-term be positive or negative?

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Digital world is moving from wide-open Web to platforms or apps that use the Internet for transport

These platforms just work better or fit in our lives…and we’re willing to pay

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Are we driving to a post-HTML environment?

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Web 2.0 is just Web 1.0 that works.

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Constant Power Struggle› Netscape tried to own the homepage› Amazon tries to dominate retail› Yahoo tries to provide basic Web

navigation

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

But Google—working in the open environment—dominates

Why?

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Because they give us what we want!What else does that? Proprietary Apps … Tens of millions of consumers are voting with their wallets

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Horizon Report--Morgan Stanley› In less than five years…much less some

will say…people accessing the Internet from mobile devices will far out surpass those accessing from desktops.

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Smartphones are hard to see and use…but fast beats flexible. 

If we have to pay for what we want…increasingly that seems okay.

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Our consumers…even in education…who “want what they want when they want it” will require us to compete.

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

With Google and Apple dominating, what specifically does it take to compete?

Let’s take a look at our efforts to develop an Apple-acceptable app.› Chris LaBelle and his team

developed the first Oregon State University

mobile app available on iTunes.

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

2010 – The mobile landscape Native iPhone Tree tour application Objective C, SQL, Xcode Lots of work on understanding

interpreting place using mobile device Form factor, user behavior, navigation Software development with high entry

barriers

Definitions Web as the content accessible via our

browser over port 80 (data grid) Definition of “app” has broken down Written in Objective C or Java (native)? Do apps use “push” technology (web

data pushed to device)? Is app “walled” off from others? Are apps focused on specific tasks or

domains?

Mobile Landscape 2011 HTML5, Javascript/jQuery, CSS and APIs Write once, use many times Powerful media queries for form factor Web app: Client-side data storage,

offline activity, bookmarking Native via PhoneGaP /Titanium

(geolocation, accelerometer, sound, vibration)

So, what’s the big deal?

Mobile Landscape Corporate versus Individual Control

(Rushkoff, Shery Turkle) i.e. H.264 versus WebM, iTunes versus

Webapp What is the implication of corporate

control of more web infrastructure for education?

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

This is all part of the “good enough” syndrome.

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Slow YouTube for Free beats the paying Comcast for QoS

Paying a small amount (or nothing) for proprietary access beats the fees to a net “owner.”

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

When it comes to apps that run on the Net, people are starting to choose QoS on an app by app decision

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Can we still use the open Net for Education in this consumer-driven environment?

Can we deliver in the “what I want when I want it” world?

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

Even as the proprietary apps dominate, can we recapture the open Web for Education?

Will HTML5 provide app-like flexibility on the open Net?

Driving Content to a MobilePlatform

 

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/eesc/tools/presentation-

archive

dave.king@oregonstate.edu chris.labelle@oregonstate.edu