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UWeng Mobile App

UWeng Mobile App. Erick Engelke Director Engineering Computing. Need. Students request/demand mobile access 85% have a mobile device:phone /tablet/pc MacLeans and others judge us on points like this Regular web pages don’t cut it these days Mobile: one has to start somewhere.

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UWeng Mobile App

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  1. UWeng Mobile App Erick EngelkeDirector Engineering Computing

  2. Need • Students request/demand mobile access • 85% have a mobile device:phone/tablet/pc • MacLeans and others judge us on points like this • Regular web pages don’t cut it these days • Mobile: one has to start somewhere

  3. Technologies • Many available technologies • Reviewed them, tried some • Most people write for one brand (Apple, Android, Blackberry, MS Phone) • Chose open technologies: HTML5, Javascript, AJAX which work on all phones • Embarcadero framework helped a lot

  4. Organize Content • Places – eg. maps, parking, food • Ref – Reference Material – dictionary, etc. • Happens – current events, blogs, eating, weather, etc. • Courses – course related • Other – semi random: games, etc.

  5. Result: UWeng • Is a web page, could also be native app • Is highly modular • Subscreens can be any technology,+ back btn • Subscreens can be iFrame – load in window • Or can be entire screen, eg. google scholar • Screen can be navigated with thumb • Relatively intuitive

  6. Problems • Many devices have small incompatibility with Internet standards. Coded around most of these issues before beta. • Different devices have different screen dimensions, people have different sized fingers. Android demands larger buttons. • Only discover issues by having testers

  7. Schedule • Feb. 1, 2013 – started • Apr. 12, 2013 – beta released (test server) • Issues discovered (some bugs, some compatibility issues, some inter-app issues) • Apr. 15, 2013–production hardware arrives • Apr. 19, 2013 – second beta • Apr. 29, 2013 – production release

  8. Data Sources • WatIAM’sUWdir extract • Various open data feeds on api.uwaterloo.ca • Some other applets depend on Internet

  9. What does it mean? • Anyone can create mobile apps from same backend data • As long as they don’t store the data, it remains current… not stale • Can cache data for 1 day simply for speed • We can have a variety of interfaces • Akin to GM, Ford, Honda, etc. different feel, different market, same essential functionality

  10. What UWeng Means • Open standards for maximum portability • Usability on variety of topics - small screen • Proves useful mobile systems can be produced relatively quickly – 1-2 months • Emphasizes need for Open Data and Open Enterprise Data – enable developers

  11. What UWengMeans Part II • Pick your least favourite application (Fore) • Make select RAW data available (require permissions, ACLs, etc.) • Enlist other people on campus to do the GUI design… AND platform choice… after all, why would IST bother doing mobile for Fore… but many profs would like it. • IST can concentrate on core, let others do supposed fringe, but don’t stop us.

  12. What Open Data Means • Lose some control of data • Central orgs often resist • Requires some sanitization to remove confidential data • People allowed to access for one reason but often come up with better ideas later, but very different from original • Allows mashups – combining two or more sources of information to do new things • Eg. user defined thresholds on accounts could generate Email alerts for spending, available funds, etc.

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