Maghesh Rajan M Assistant Librarian Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam, Kerala

1. Perception and Use of Mobile Technology for Qualitative Research by the Scholars in Mahatma Gandhi University: A Case Study Maghesh Rajan M Assistant Librarian Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam, Kerala E-mail: maheshkukku@gmail.com

2. Hearty Indebtedness to NACLIN 2012 Organizers • Special Warm Thanks to Dr. S H Kaul And Dr. Sangeetha Kaul to given me a chance to be a part of NACLIN 2012.

3. Abstract • This paper attempts to bring out the need for and paradigm shift to use of Mobile Technology (MT) in Digital Library Environment. • The role of MTs in research, learning and education comparing the profit making industries use MTs for making business more prosperous, and shift of MTs to Library environment for quality research and education.

4. Continue……… • The role MTs in interaction, access, exchange and collaboration towards scholarly activities. • And how best the scholars in the M G U campus use the MTs for their research purpose.

5. Introduction • The use of communication devices called Mobile phone increased to 3.3 billion connectivity which is half of the total population • Of which more than 70% of people have smart phone connectivity with GPRS facilities of mobile internet use. • It does not limit only on entertainment alone but the thrust of information seeking attitude as they have an increasing demand for quality of information for research and learning by integrating access to e-resources.

6. Introduction • The ICTs, Intenet and www etc brought out impact in providing digital library and information services and proved the efficiency of Access, Flexibility and Availability of information resources. • The another milestone in the ICT application to provide e-resource services to the user groups is the MTs • The various phases of development in MTs and its application and use of web has also brought out a greater influence in providing information services.

7. Introduction Nelson Mobile 2010 rightly says .. Analogue Phones to 2G phase and 3G with device to allow the voice, data and advanced services were opened new world of data services which can also deliver scans of primary documents, audio-visual materials and even scholarly analysis to enhance the understanding of the URL of service providing organizations. So MTs promote education, research and learning and acting as a learning support device in information search process.

8. Mobile Technology by Lippincott, J K As the word “mobile” derived from Latin word “mobilis” means to move freely and the mobile device is a wireless or cellular phone – either a portable, handheld communications device connected to a wireless network that allows users to make voices calls, send text messages and run applications used for publishing, certification, air interface, data bearer, mobile UI, deployment, packaging etc

9. Mobile Phone in Digital Era

10. Mobile Phone in Digital Era • Mobile phone revolution in ICT influenced and become portable and compatable mobile web to keep the users more up-to-datedness, and breaking barrier of access to information by time, space and other infrastructure. • It has been more accredited with digital environment through the stages of its developments

11. Development and capabilities of MTaccommodatesemerging digital environment • Voice to Ringtones • Monochrome to text graphies • Speakers to WiMax • UMTS W-CDMA to EDGE • EDGE to RFID

12. Types of Mobile Phones with advanced capabilities PDA Palm Handhelds Organizers Smartphones Blackberry Pocket-size computers

13. Continued… • Mobile phones have more features and advanced capabilities made easy the information access more conveniently and timely from the comfort of their own work place to home or any where the user is moving (Hyass, Anna & Myer, Sue, (2008). • These devices and services offer tremendous flexibility both business concerns and non-profit organizational services from libraries. • The present 3G connectivity enables the high quality based services like e-book access and multimedia content form any local library to the handheld devices. • Google and Apple having been giving more importance to developing mobile devices first than the Desk Tops by the developing mobile web sites to access the web resources more potentially.

14. Mobile Web (MW) • MW is nothing but more than the www – facilitates to access the www resources and the total entirety of internet through mobile devices • The mobile websites are in small screen in size and needs special version to adjust with the screen limit. • The use of scaled-back versions give quick access to content • And the transcoded websites help to readily viewable on the phone display • The transcoding is a technology which converts and brings the regular websites and reformats it to display on the small screen

15. Website providers Google, ConvertWebsites Skweezer, mobify Mowser, onbile, mobiSiteGalore, Mobile AppAmerica mofuse, MobStac bMobilized… are some of the website converters and mobile web site providers.

16. The Mobile Only Websites are another category • Provide mobile websites more freedom in design, content and structure of portable web pages. The Wireless Markup Language and XHTML-MP programming language allow developers to create more robust mobile websites. • Zinadoo and dotMobi are the mobile site builders in which the interface provides front page of websites more compatible as good as the desk top websites. • It ensures the constant connectivity with around the clock in access to the internet, the Global Positioning System (GPS) makes to ensure where the user is present ie the location awareness, ensure unlimited access and the interactive capabilities with content creation, share and exchange data, comment , blog posts writings and social networks.

17. Mobile Based services • Email • Text Messaging • Instant Messaging Music and Radio software • Social Networks Social Mapping Networks Media Sharing Social Networks • Search facilities Multimedia Search Local Search and Shopping Search Visual and Camera Phone Search Voice Search • Mapping

18. Continue…….. • Widgets • Audio books • E-books • Browesers News Online • Travel information and Routing • Blogging • RSS Feeds • Microblogging • News Video Clips • Mobile Web QuickPicks • iPhone Only Applications • iPhone QuickPicks

19. Mobile Technology Based Library Services: • Real-time service of library resources are now available over internet and the mobile library service applications allow the users to access by real time, anywhere, and any time connectivity services through user’s mobile devices. • Location Service is an information service where the geographical barrier are broken

20. Continue….. • Personal Services allow the users to collect all favorite parts of mobile library service in one place like personal interests, provide new information, alert users of services according to their chosen profile, and to collect the user’s favorite content in one place.

21. Continue…. • The Library notice on SMS and MMS from libraries over latest news and notices. So the users get informed instantly on dues, reminders, library event etc. • Use of mobiles for in-house search over the OPAC, integrated search and original document search are possible • MyLibrary provides charging and discharging inquiry and information, interlibrary, loan requests, SDI service application, e-mail service of academic journals, database use education application, etc. My library is a personal library space where users can find information and resources of their choosing. Users can read alerts, check records, renew resources, request items, track interlibrary loans and document delivery requests, set up email notices of new books and journal articles, set up preferences for catalogue searching, etc.

22. Continue…. • Library Guide provides information about library to the users, question-answering services, library statistics of its content etc for the best use of resources and directed them to contact with librarian for fast response via mobile devices for appropriate information needed. • E-Contents of the library offers various means of access to databases, digital online resources, web databases , e-resources and article databases etc and the scholars are answered instantly whenever needed e-content search through mobile devices. • Other mobile services like mobile student identification card, academic affairs administration, individual service, community, campus life, multicenter, usage guide, etc

23. Continue…. • e-Learning Media via mobile devices are now very easy medium of communication by introducing e-Learning media products, such as virtual classrooms, computer- aided assessment, blogs, online community, wikis, discussion boards etc. • Mobile Database • SMS References • Mobile library circulation • Mobile audio tour

24. MT services for Teaching, Learning and Research • The Information resources and the access to these resources are very essential to the academic community and the research scholars in the University education • The university libraries provide keen attention on content of electronic resources like e-books, ETDs, e-journals, multi-media, interactive learning programs and other web resources with easy access techniques for research. The new emerging access techniques aim to provide cost-effective high-quality delivery of library and e-information services to their user groups ( Fox, Megan K, (2010).

25. Continue…… • Mobilizing content • Mobilizing services and system • User interaction while they mobile

26. Methodology • A structured questionnaire method adopted and which is consisted 20 questions were circulated among the scholars in the university on various discipline and some of them were interviewed. 28 questionnaires were circulated among the research scholars out of whom 24 were received. The data so collected has analyzed and presented in the findings and the possible suggestions were made accordingly.

27. Data Analysis • Majority of Scholars are women by 54% out of 24 found as the respondents • 22 scholars by 92% have their personal mobile devices with GPRS connectivity • Of 22 having GPRS connectivity, 17 scholars ie 85% is regularly using internet • The knowledge of using, connectivity and activation among scholars is invariably less than 59%

28. Continue… • Remaining 9 scholars 41% acquired m-literacy by their own • 91% of scholars do not depend the institutional infrastructure for the use of internet which means the effective access to internet is possible by MTs • 83% of scholars use MTs for scholarly access to resources than e-mails, e-shopping, film & songs and SN etc. The remaining 2 spend more for enetertainment

29. Continue… • In total, 81% of the scholars agree the role and importance of MTs in research is inevitable, remaining 4 feel good. • Since the MTs are not introduced in the M G U, the present services cover like alert of overdue charges, reservation of new arrivals, alert for ready for circulation, and information on new addition etc. • As these are not coming under MT services, 86% of scholars shown their dissatisfaction and 14% feel good with present services.

30. Continue…. • Asking about mobile literacy, half of the population does not aware of present emergence and acquired the knowledge by their own task. • More than 95% feel good in accessing e-information through the MTs as they always depend MT for internet resources • The mobilizing web content and more interaction is recorded by 86% scholars more positively for the research purposes.

31. Conclusion • Mobile technology is here to stay • Mobile technology is another vehicle for • information • Mobile technology is another way to • meet our users where they are at • Our content should be portable or have • the ability to be ported