WKU Mobile Communications Experience Purpose of project -Develop a

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1 WKU Mobile Communications Experience Purpose of project 0 Develop a mobile communications experience that will be able to meet the needs and demands of students as they transverse our educational system. Level 1 0 Students accessing & retrieving informational content from mobile devices (All content will be available for all mobile device users; specifically designed for the lower end devices including your basic and flip phone models). " Create a list server to subscribe to information on a regular basis 1.

Create an emergency notification through a web interface in which students can sign up and receive emergency weather reports or ... more. less.

emergency notification that affects the campus community. Process completed through a company named Rave Wireless by using their system entitled Rave Alert. Students are now able to sign up through TOPNET to be notified about school closings and emergency notifications throughout the main, community and extended colleges. 2. Create an interface where students can sign up for information notification through mobile devices about campus activities, events and channel subscriptions such as WKU content on sports, news, or specialized cchannels d that WKU students can request. a) Develop applications where students can receive a text notifications or destination locations throughout campus 1) Text /web notification of how many computers are available for use on campus (particularly important when final week approaches for students). 2) Text/ web notification of available parking on campus (Can only be used for only gated and new parking structure for WKU). 3) Text/web notification of campus bus arrival times " Develop streaming media content available to mobile device users with internet access. (Due to the many variables of audio formats, mobile carriers, phone applications, etc, it would be in best interest to establish a format that can be reached to a wider audience). For Example, a MP3, MPEG4 or 3GP2 formats for cellular devices. 1. Develop access to other audio and video applications to mobile device users with internet access through our web development group in Telecommunications. (For Example, streaming video and audio of sporting events on campus.) Streaming audio and video through mobile internet access has and will 2 continue to improve as the 3G network and devices are now available in our market. Other ideas to consider: a) uVu Mobile is mobility software and service company that offers content to mobile users such as news, games, & music downloads directly to the headset. (See www.uvumobile.com for details). b) The ability for students to download ringtones, including campus anthems as the cWKU Fight Song d and campus themed screensavers will be important, so working along with 3 rd party vendors and building internal websites, such as a WKU mobile website, will grow in popularity. (The University bookstore could be involved in the marketing process of this). Level 2 0 Students accessing and retrieving informational content through advance mobile devices (This involves only high end Smartphone devices such as a PDA, Blackberry, & Windows Mobile devices) " Creating easy access to WKU systems 1. Establish a working interface with such WKU systems such as Blackboard where students can view their courses, grades, homework assignments, etc. in a mobile atmosphere. 2. Create the ability for students to access all WKU information, including TOPNET, Blackboard, & Webmail, in one convenient area on their mobile devices. a) The use of the WKU Portal will enable access to all WKU systems from one destination and can be simple to navigate on high end mobile devices. b) In order to view web content faster and for quicker page rendering on most high end devices, such as the blackberry devices, it 9s suggested that the mobile user use the newest version available of opera mini as their mobile web browser. (See www.operamini.com for details). c) As for the windows mobile users, the built in internet explorer should be able to render websites including the WKU Portal. 3. Web access, especially WKU 9s official website, should be customized to allow additional functionality to the mobile users. a) The campus directory can be modified for automatic dialing along with the name and number being stored in the contact list on a mobile device. 3 b) The creation of campus maps, either through web based or an application access would be beneficial. c) Using Google web applications such as Gmail, Google Talk, Google Calendar, & Google Docs are beneficial and available for all high end mobile devices. (Google Docs would be especially important for students because most high end devices, except windows mobile, does not carry a built in/free document application.) d) Develop RSS feeds and podcasts that are available to mobile device users with internet access. 1) Podcasting can simplify and mobilize communications outside of classroom setting; it would establish a new direction in distance learning. 2) With the RSS feeds, students can be up to date with campus information such as campus news (Herald) or campus job listings. 4. The creation of websites to interact with the mobile user a) This would involve creating websites that add on to the mobile experience. This would include sites that give mobile information such as cell phone reviews, mobile blogs (see http://blog.wku.edu/mobile/ ) and device informational websites that give detail descriptions of the functionality of mobile equipment (For example, WKU 9s blackberry website 0 see http://www.wku.edu/blackberry ). b) Create lists of top software downloads for the main devices and other productivity software 9s that are available for each device. c) Create Tutorials/Trainings (through the means of video instruction) that show users the functions of their devices. For Example: 1) Creating and then view/listen to podcasts on devices. 2) Video/Audio lists that shows format requirements 3) List of websites with download links(such as Google, Wikipedia, Facebook, etc, that are available for download on mobile devices 4) How to use your device as a note taker 5) How to use the Bluetooth function to not only make calls but transfer content information such as word or excel documents. d) The creation of a forum site where students can give opinions about the mobile project, make suggestions about improvements and gave innovative ideas that would benefit our campus community. This would 4 be an ongoing forum that would bring fresh new ideas as mobile technology changes on a daily basis. Level 3 0 WKU Mobile Communications Project This project will be directed at students that obtain a high end mobile device in partnership with our chosen cellular carrier. Currently, Apple 9s iPhone is one of the most advanced mobile devices to be considered as a device that gives students access to a multifunctional and interactive environment all in one. " Why the iPhone? 1. The iPhone has a full viewing browser a) With the safari browser for the iPhone, you will be able to view websites just as you would on your Mac or PC. b) Popular websites such as Google, Amazon, & MSN are now optimized to improve the mobile layout of their websites; more are currently being modified. 2. The iPhone has the state of the art phone features a) Visual voicemail is a new feature for this device that allows the user to see the callers that have called them and visually choose which calls to listen to or delete. b) Easy navigation through applications, such as your calendar, camera, IPOD, while on your phone. All accessible though a multi touch display by the use of one finger. 3. Built in iPod a) Many students already have access to an iPod and use iTunes on a regular basis, so familiarizing people to this device would be easy. b) By using the iPod, students would be able to access and retrieve their class activities such as downloading class lectures or listening to educational podcasts directly to their phone. The creation of Apple 9s iTunes University would transform student learning a way of obtaining educational materials directly to their phones. 5 " The idea of establishing iTunes University 1. What is iTunes University? a) iTunes University gives colleges the ability for its users to search, download and play course content b) Course content would be available at anytime as long as the user has downloaded the free iTunes software. c) Downloading materials to the iPhone is simple and easy to manage (See www.apple.com/itunesu/ for further information.) " Create applications through Apple 9s SDK iPhone Developer Program 1. What is this program? a) iPhone developer program provides the process of individuals to develop, test and distribute applications exclusively for the iPhone and iPod touch and share for free. b) For a onetime fee, a developer can write applications that can be used in the iPhone for college purposes. (See http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program for further information) 2. How the SDK would benefit in help creating custom applications for WKU a) Gives innovative ideas in developing custom applications for the iPhone that go beyond the standard functionalities of level 1 and 2 . (For example, developing an application where students can download their class schedule from TOPNET straight into their iPhone). b) Another example includes an application to move campus calendar information to the iPhone ( Tests would have been run to see how Microsoft Exchange functions with the iPhone in transferring content.) c) Other applications to consider is creating an application where your iPhone switches from ring to vibrate by knowing a student 9s class schedule on daily basis, developing a library search engine to research documents, create quick access to the user 9s personal folders and the creation of setting up your device to send and receive email. Note: All applications for the iPhone must be written with Apple 9s SDK iPhone developer program ). " Test iPhone capabilities 1. iPhone Enterprise Beta Program 6 a) The program allows specific current iPhone users to download the iPhone 2.0 software that helps integrate the iPhone to the Microsoft enterprise environment (This is particularly important when the campus migrates to Microsoft Exchange and students will be using some of its features, like the push calendar and push email.) The beta program was tested in Summer 2008 with a team from multiple information technology departments 2. Create a website that can interact with the iPhone a) Website would enable users to download information to their iPhone b) Within the website, create blogs that students can use to comment about their likes and dislikes of the service provided to them c) Make suggestions (especially to faculty) on software/applications that could benefit the mobile experience (For example, the use of students using the response system called Turningpoint as a clicker device on their mobile phones 0 see www.turningtechnologies.com for further information. d) Create web links that direct to web applications that the iPhone currently supports. For Example: Google Docs, Google Talk, etc. " Ongoing outline of the iPhone project 0 Please note as mobile technology and capabilities change, so will the outline of the iPhone project. These ideas are subject to change at any time. 1. Create a test group to try the iPhone in a learning environment 2. Start with a focus group of IT employees (one member from each department) and collaborate ideas and innovations in how the iPhone could be used in an educational environment. The group can research and implement ideas such as: a) Creating a mobile version of the WKU website for the iPhone b) Create iPhone tutorials and modify current IT tutorials to be viewable on the iPhone. c) Create an iPhone blog for anyone to subscribe to d) Look into the creation of several applications that can be used by the WKU environment 3. As the IT group tests the iPhone with WKU systems, begin the stages to involve more users of the iphone within the campus community; this can include: a) Students that currently carry iPhones 7 b) Other staff member that carry iPhones and want to share thoughts and ideas on the technology and potentials to the campus body 4. As the iPhone group is branched off into a wider committee, there should be a focus of looking into the following: a) Decide on a WKU program that would benefit and would be interested with using this device in a classroom environment. Create a trial basis to be used by department for an entire semester b) Look at certain staff department on campus and see how the iPhone technology could benefit their work environment (For example, departments have business iPhones and creating applications that would help speed up that department productivity). c) Look into ways to incorporate usability of the iphones for anyone that has a iPhone, such things include: 1) Mapping out the campus and using location based services 2) Using the iPhone as a electronic debit card (similar to a big red card to purchase items 3) Using the iPhone as a emergency notification tool (creation of an application of a panic button) 5. As all elements, from testing to creation, there needs to be a discussion of deploying content to a particular student body, such as freshman. The following would then need to be considered: a) Does the deployment involve incoming freshman purchasing an iPhone when they arrive at school or another type of student body? b) What parties are going to be assigned to the deployment of the device such things as equipment purchases, preloaded information, maintaince, etc? c) Should there be less of a focus of deploying a particular phone such as the iPhone to the campus community and more emphasis on creating only mobile functionality to all mobile devices? Level 4 0 Looking at the future and beyond the mobile experience This would involve looking at the future of the mobile device and the user and how one can look for new means of innovations, Trainings, Marketing, etc. 1. This would involve researching new technologies on a regular basis and how to integrate them to mobile devices. 2. Through the SMS notification interface, the university can create sporadic text notifications to students that they have won special prizes such as free tickets for 8 campus events or special promotions for giving discounts for food items, such as pizza. Please note that students would have a choice to sign up for this service . 3. Future technologies to consider for mobile users a) VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) would be beneficial to student life as it would cut voice costs for students. Students wouldn 9t have to use their plan minutes while on campus, only off campus. b) Create a system where a student mobile device is tied in with campus police when they are in danger and campus security needs to get in contact with them. Rave Wireless already has a system (Rave Guardian) that lets students use their mobile phone to instantly share location and security information through whenever they are in distress 0 see www.ravewireless.com/guardian.shtml for more information about this service. c) GPS system setup for all WKU shuttles. This would be a notification for students on campus when their shuttles would arrive to pick them up; Information would be received on mobile devices as a text message & a visual view of the campus map. d) Future cell phones that can enable two 0 way video conferencing

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