Tim NekritzDirector of Web Communication

SUNY Oswego

Note: This presentation complies with all Canadian content laws

“By mapping the world, we have mapped ourselves.”

— James Burke The Day The Universe

Changed, 1985

Mobile services tied to your smartphone that allow you to interact with your physical environment and other users.

The fastest-evolving area of social media.*

* So fast, this presentation evolves on a weekly basis

Location-based services have enormous potential to connect people to places, places to people, and people to people in places.

-- Tim Jones, North Carolina State University

Fast-growing yet fragmented market. Increased adoption among consumers.

Potential value-added for higher ed.

Basic geosocial platforms Foursquare Gowalla SCVNGR Facebook Places Loopt/Loopt StarAdvanced/augmented reality Yelp LayarCustom mobile apps?

UsefulnessUsabilityUser interactivitySharabilitySustainabilityBONUS: Critical mass

I’m hereAbout meLeave tips/recommendationsGaming (mayor)Specials

“Hey, it’s meWhat a big surpriseCalling you upFrom a restaurant ‘Round the bend.”

-- “Bad Timing”Blue Rodeo

“I want to draw you a floorplanOf my head and heartI want to give directionsHelpful hints.”

-- “Floorplan”Tegan & Sara

“Two-fifty for a highballAnd a buck and a half for a beerHappy hourHappy hourHappy hour is here.”

-- “Little Bones”The Tragically Hip

“I’ve never been to AlaskaBut I can tell you thisI’ve been to Lincoln, NebraskaAnd hell, ya know it ain’t worth s***”

-- “Coming Home”City and Colour

Are we moving beyond check-ins?

Biggest community Gaming aspect (mayor, badges) Specials available Interactivity of tips Easy creation *College partnership program

Can be slow, buggy (I’m not at Tractor Supply)

Spammy sharability backlash The points don’t matter

* In fairness, some of these are common to many geosocial applications

[They did … within hours]

Easy startup Super sharable Trip/tour creation Passport function

Modest user base Navigation issues Poor data hygiene

Good news, bad news

Good news: Lots of clicks

Bad news: Not much interaction

Navigability/engagement lacking

Traveling Gowalla show?

Easy creation of … everything Tips/clues/scavenger hunt Points system Multifaceted possibilities Can incorporate multimedia

Still low user base Gaming data loss Data hygiene/duplicates

21 tasks Meet folks, see offices, get facts Randomized (preferably) Google Maps based Set up quickly (could have done more) Paid for contract (for expedience) Not yet made sustainable

Why two apps?

Loopt Star: Can add actual digital

rewards Cool satellite

view/pins interface

Loopt: Events: Searches for

happenings around you

Clunky interfaces Can you fit the

users in a phone booth?

Did I mention there were two separate apps?

Incentivized attending Commencement Week activities

Reward: MP3 of fight songs, college performers

Goal of sustainable platform

http://blog.loopt.com/tag/stanford/

Huge Facebook user base Appeals to casuals (not another app) Reasonable functionality Anyone can create venues

Anyone can create venue Many users = many duplicates Poor data hygiene No value-added Facebook hates your brand

The University of Kentucky seems to like it

Alas, poor Whrrl … Built great system Low user base Bought,

cannibalized by Groupon

Monocle = augmented reality Reviews/ratings Sharability Interactivity

Limited monocle availability Phonebook-oriented Lack of mobile functionality Underadopted

Pros: App store within an app Brings together Twitter, Gowalla, more Links time, space

Cons: Ever-changing user interface Poor usability Limited user base

App store within an application

Pros: Rich experience Not limited by platform Build own user base (marketability)

Cons: Cost Complexity Updating?

Chancellor’s interactive tour WolfWalk NC State on Campus

NC State Chancellor’s Statewide Tour

WolfWalk: NC State Historic Tour

Integrates sources including Facebook Places, Foursquare, Gowalla

Share videos, photos, comments Rewards/promotions to users Greater connectivity

It also aggregates friends lists from the idea that it’smore important to find and connect with your friends than it is to know what service they use to check in.

-- Tim Jones, NC State

Increased location-based marketing via Email Tips “People like you …”

“All these thingsThey will passIt’s the good onesThat will last.”

-- “The Ballad of the RAA”Rural Alberta Advantage

Be present Know if your users are present Goals, then tools Students can be your social media secret

weapons … get them involved Moves pretty fast

Contacts:nekritz@oswego.eduhttp://www.twitter.com/TimNekritzhttp://insidetimshead.wordpress.comhttp://www.slideshare.net/TimNekritz