Center for Mobile Research & Innovation

Mobile Connections: QR and NRC in Higher Ed

Michael Taylor — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:11:12 +0000

This post provides an overview of the Experience IT session presented at the EDUCAUSE Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference by David Middleton and Michael Taylor on January 12, 2012 in Baltimore, MD. It is meant to provide resources for use by participants during the session, as well as a source of extended resources for use after the session.

There are many good QR code apps, and it is worthwhile to play around with a few to find the one that will work best for you. If you need to install an app for use in this session, we suggest you download the suggested app for your mobile OS provided.

QuickMark (Android) (Windows Phone)

Barcode Reader for iPhone (iOS)

QR Code Scanner Pro (BlackBerry)

As with mobile QR apps for barcode scanning, there are a myriad of online QR Code Generators, with varying feature classes. We are using the following examples in our session.

QuickMark Barcode Generator - a basic code generator with a full set of general features

Kerem Erkan’s QR Code and 2d Code Generator – a more customizable generator with advanced features

QR Code Resources

Desktop QR Reader - an Adobe Air powered application that uses your webcam to scan QR codes

Snap-Vu - QR code service that allows users to update/change code targets and tracks the number of times a code has been scanned

Review of Mobile QR Code Scanners – a nice collection of links to scanners across mobile OS

Grid-in-Hand – a video showing mobile attendance taking using NFC-enabled id cards and a smartphone

NFC Resources

Near Field Communication on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_field_communication

NFC Forum – About NFC - http://www.nfc-forum.org/aboutnfc

NFC World

Out of the rubble: Haitian Need Sparks Innovation

David Middleton — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:12:19 +0000

Out of the immense tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti, some light through innovation, and the recognition that simple tasks to coordinate aid efforts has led to more creative applications of mobile technology. Basic SMS messaging and other inherent mobile technologies were valuable for coordinating relief efforts, and when enhanced through smartphone capabilities, have fostered innovative uses of mobiles for public health, commerce and mLearning have emerged.

This clip does a nice job providing an overview of what has transpired.

Click here to view the embedded video.

(via @m4Ed4Dev)

mLearning Assessment Project

David Middleton — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:20:57 +0000

While mLearning continues to evolve and grow, it is natural that questions will continue to be posed regarding exactly what it consists of, its efficiency, intent, effectiveness etc. As a fervent believer in the potential of mLearning to complement formal and informal teaching and learning opportunities, we have been very interested in the strategies, approaches and protocols being used to assess mLearning projects. The challenge, however, is that mobile initiatives, both smartphone based and tablet based, are still emerging, and as such are most frequently in the “pilot” phase of implementation or development.

For this reason, the Center for Mobile Research and Innovation is launching a new project wherein we hope to establish a basis for developing effective strategies for assessment and/or project evaluation that can be utilized for various types of mobile projects in higher education. Whether formal/informal learning, curricular/extracurricular, or administrative/engagement focused, we’re looking to collect and analyze similarities and differences among approaches to mobile implementations, and to provide some organization and collaboration among Universities. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to conceptualize and create a tool (or series of tools) that can be used to assess the use of mobile devices across a variety of applications/projects/pedagogical strategies. Over the next year, we will be reviewing assessment strategies, protocol and mechanisms used in as many projects as possible, covering a wide variety of objectives and goals. This project will then extend into a second year, wherein we launch an assessment mechanism for mLearning at willing participating institutions in order to determine its effectiveness.

The first step of this is obviously to begin collecting information about institutions that have launched pilot or full projects in the mLearning space, or the more broad mobile/tablet devices space, and then following through that into examining how these projects and efforts are being assessed, as participants are willing.

Some questions:

Are you, or is your institution, currently or planning to launch mLearning or mobile/tablet pilots, projects or initiatives? If so, do you have an assessment mechanism in place for evaluating the project that you are willing and able to share? This is very broad and intended to be….assessments could be on the learning that takes place, the effectiveness of the project and so forth.

If not you personally, is there an individual at your institution to whom you could refer me who might be able to help?

We are hoping to collect some information to begin the review and analysis by mid-September, but of course will begin the process as documents, sample protocol, draft focus group questions or whatever data begins to filter in.

If you are interested, or have resources, documents, contacts or insights you think might be valuable for this project, we’d be thrilled to hear from you in the comments below. You can feel free to email us also at cmri@shu.edu.

Picture thanks to Richard Dorman who has quite the collection of Nokia devices!

What Do Kids Say Is The Biggest Obstacle To Technology At School?

David Middleton — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:48:34 +0000

iPads. Interactive Whiteboards. Netbooks. Video games. Although educational technologies are being implemented more and more in classrooms across the country, we don’t often stop and ask students – or their parents – what they think their technology needs are. But the newly-released Speak Up 2010 survey has done just that.

The project surveyed almost 300,000 students (along with 43,000 parents, 35,000 teachers, 2000 librarians and 3500 administrators) from over 6500 private and public schools last fall about how they’re using – and how they want to be using – technology for learning.

The results are pretty fascinating, as they show great adoption of technology among even very young students, but lingering resistance on the part of school administrators to sanction some of those tools into the classroom.

The two major obstacles that students say they face at school: filters that stop them from accessing the websites they need for homework and bans on using their own mobile devices (namely cellphones) at school.

via diigo.com

Doing Good with Data – Data Without Borders | jake.porway

Michael Taylor — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:17:21 +0000

We live in a data rich world, where access to high quality and timely data sets has become much easier. While access has become more democratized, the ability to analyze and use this data remains a barrier for many. Jake Porway has suggested a clever and innovative way of making sure that the value of this data age can be harnessed for social good.

As we all know, the world is inundated with data about practically everything we do, from where we are to who we know to what we eat, and it’s an extremely exciting time to be working in a field trying to make sense of all of it. However, as I and others have pointed out, there’s a lot of effort in our discipline put toward what I feel are sort of “bourgeois” applications of data science, such as using complex machine learning algorithms and rich datasets not to enhance communication or improve the government, but instead to let people know that there’s a 5% deal on an iPad within a 1 mile radius of where they are. In my opinion, these applications bring vanishingly small incremental improvements to lives that are arguably already pretty awesome.

On the other hand there are lots of NGOs and non-profits out there doing wonderful things for the world, from rehabilitating criminals, to battling hunger, to providing clean drinking water. However, they’re increasingly finding themselves with more and more data about their practices, their clients, and their missions that they don’t have the resources or budgets to analyze. At the same time, the data /dev communities love hacking together weekend projects where we play with new datasets or build helpful scripts, but they usually just culminate in a blog post or some Twitter buzz. Wouldn’t it be rad if we could get these two sides together?

To bridge this gap between the people with data and the people who know what to do with it, I’m proposing a sort of Data Without Borders program (or something snappier sounding / less trademarked. Suggestions welcome.). The plan is to round up data folk who want to do something meaningful with some of their spare time and match them up with non-profits / small companies who need data services. Need a statistical analysis done? We’re there. Are you launching a new service and want to collect data on it but don’t know how or what to collect? We’ve got you. Are you an NGO who just doesn’t have any idea what data’s out there or what data you already have? We can help you out.

via jakeporway.com

To get involved, or to just keep abreast of the project, you can follow Data Without Borders on Facebook or follow @DataNoBorders on Twitter

Apple iPhone Patent a Huge Blow to Rival Smartphone Makers | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

David Middleton — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:59:11 +0000

“This patent covers smartphones that allow a user to manipulate the display of a Web page with finger gestures using different fingers and/or combinations of fingers, so it appears broad enough to cover all modern touchscreen smartphones because they all allow you to use one finger to move the Web page left or right, and a combination of two fingers to zoom in and zoom out of the Web page,” the source said.

There are a few ways the awarding of Apple’s iPhone patent could play out in the coming days, said the source.

Apple could conceivably restrict makers of touchscreen smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices from selling their products in the U.S. More likely is that Apple would reach a settlement with such competitors and start licensing its patented technology for a tidy new income stream.

If Apple does decide to play hardball and squeeze out rivals rather than set up cross-licenses, the source said, it’s entirely possible that a court could find it in the public interest to scrap the patent rather than allow a monopoly on what has become a defining interface for an entire category of consumer devices.

via pcmag.com

Mobile Security Risks

Michael Taylor — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:42:35 +0000

MobileActive has posted a fantastic overview of the security risks associated with the use of mobile devices. While the primer is geared towards activists, journalists, and rights defenders, it is a great introduction to the inherent privacy risks for all cell phone users.The primer can be found here.

Activists, rights defenders, and journalists use mobile devices and communications for reporting, organizing, mobilizing, and documenting. Mobiles provide countless benefits — relatively low cost, increased efficiencies, vast reach — but they also present specific risks to rights defenders and activists.

Additionally, information about other mobile uses, such as your photos or video, your data, the Internet sites you visit from your phone, and your physical location, are stored on your device and often logged by your mobile network. (The above graphic shows a schematic overview of the layers of the mobile networks to give you sense of the different elements that make up communications between two phones.)How much is this putting you at risk? This Overview will help you evaluate your level of risk in regard to your mobile communications.

Part I describes security vulnerabilities associated with mobile phone technology and the risks they pose to you – the information held by your mobile network operator (MNO or operator), the information stored on your phone, and the risks related to unauthorized use.

Part II discusses common phone capabilities – voice, SMS/text messaging, web browsing, mobile email, mobile photos and video, and smartphone apps. We describe the safety risks these pose for you and give you tips on how to minimize them.

via mobileactive.org

The Decade of Gaming?

Michael Taylor — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:47:13 +0000

Seth Preibatsch of SCVNGR believes we are leaving the decade of social and entering the decade of gaming. That is, the decade where mobile and web services move beyond the role of connecting people, and begin to influence behavior through the use of various interactive game dynamics. He provides a useful taxonomy of four types of game dynamics and how they have been used in traditional video games, along with examples of how they can be layered over our current social networks to influence the behavior of consumers, students, and citizens in the near future.

Click here to view the embedded video.

(Via TED)

Google Mobile Search Now Featuring Places Integration – Lifehacker

David Middleton — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:20:13 +0000

The Google Search mobile landing page got a change overnight that deeply integrates Google Places, making it easier to find nearby restaurants, coffee shops, and bars directly from the front page. Other Places directories, like ATMs, fast food, and gas stations, can be searched locally with just one more tap of the finger.

via lifehacker.com

Sometimes a simple change can make a huge difference. This slight enhancement will prove to be incredibly valuable for quick searches, travel etc. It would be nice if ultimately, through your Google account, you’d be able to customize which shortcuts you want on your mobile search home page, as in iGoogle.

A Vision of the Future of Medicine

Michael Taylor — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 04:29:27 +0000

Daniel Kraft provides an interesting vision of the future of health care. Among other insights, he provides a summary of the increasing role of sensors, mobile connectivity, and remote monitoring in emerging participatory medicine networks.

Click here to view the embedded video.

(via TED)