Toolbox Activity 7: Exploring the mobile web

Written by: Jonathan Briggs

November 19, 2008 [2623 views]

This activity is in a new area, mobile, and I hope you will find it interesting.

In this activity I want you to start to explore the mobile web and in part 2 to build your own mobile web site. This part 2 is particularly straightforward and so I recommend it for those looking to maximise their module marks.

Deadline: Tuesday 25th, November, midnight

During this activity students will

Research what is happening within the mobile web
Use an emulator (or their phone) to evaluate some mobile sites
Consider how mobile web services differ from other web sites
Design their own mobile site using a site builder

Part 1

Research the mobile web making a note of some of the changes that are coming. Here are some links to help you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_web
http://www.opera.com/products/mobile/
http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/index.html#internet
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec07/google_11-20.html
http://code.google.com/android/
http://tmobile.modeaondemand.com/htc/g1/

If you have a mobile that connects to the web then you can try Part 1 using your own phone but most developers use an emulator on the web. Your first task is to make sure that you can run the emulator. If you are on a PC this may require you to install the Java Runtime System which is worth installing anyway (just follow the instructions and trust the people behind it).

Here is an emulator for a Nokia mobile.

http://mtld.mobi/emulator.php?emulator=nokiaN70

Have a look at the following sites using this emulator and then answer the questions below:

www.bbc.co.uk (notice that the bbc automatically knows that you are on a mobile)
www.jonathanbriggs.com/toolbox
www.kingston.ac.uk
www.tfl.gov.uk and wap.tfl.gov.uk (compare the difference)
www.amazon.co.uk
some of your favorites

Questions to answer (make notes as you go through these)

Which of the sites you have looked at provided a reasonable/good experience for the mobile user?
What was wrong with the sites that did not work well? (be as specific as you can be)
Why is the mobile internet different from the normal web? (mention as many differences as you can)
Describe the types of services that people might want from the mobile internet?
What changes must site developers make to their sites to make them useful on the mobile?
What is likely to change over the next few years in relation to the mobile web?
What technical or business questions do you have about the mobile web?

Here is a link for feeding back your answers to part 1

Part 2

Now that you have explored some mobile sites you should design one for yourself using a service from Mobisitegalore.

http://www.mobisitegalore.com/

1. This is a bit like building your blog in wordpress and needs some thought and planning first.

2. You should decide on a structure such as

Main menu, About me, Latest news, Favorite things, Useful links

3. Sign up for Mobistesgalore and build your site (at least 6 pages)
4. Extend you site with images, links and perhaps a form. Make sure that you experiment enough to be able to demonstrate that you have really understood how to build a mobile site: that means at least 6 pages!
5. Check your site using the emulator or your phone

Answer the following questions

What is the URL of your mobile site?
What difficulties if any did you have with this exercise and how did you overcome them?
How would you like to expand your site?
How useful would a site like this be to a small business?
What other aspects of mobile would you like to explore?
What questions were raised by this activity?

Here is a link for feeding back your answers to part 2