We are all doing Apps...but why?

We are all doing apps.. but why?

This article is published in the Khoroni Newsletter : Volume 3 No 6 March 2014, written by Nomusa Keninda- Mpumalanga ICT CLUB Founder. She is also a member of the South African Association of Science & Technology Centres SAASTEC 

who attended the 2014 Science Centre World Summit in Belgium from 17-20 March 2014 funded by the Department of Science and Technology  

While others were presenting their Pecha Kucha, expanding their ideas and perspectives for new and innovative ways to engage a broad and diverse set of audiences in the Yellow Room, others were in the Blue Room asking today's big question. "We are all doing apps..but why?

The speakers selected by the Science Centre World Summit 2014 together with their audience in the blue room were to have a robust debate looking into mobile apps to see if they can really serve as powerful bridges between science centres /museums, universities and the public. Whether apps can encourage visitors's reflections on how scientific thinking can promote knowledge with sensitive or social implications. 

The debate wasn't simple. Battles of innovative ideas and questions fought to get a space in the room. Some arguing about the different operating system on mobile devices such as iOS, Android and windows phone, and whether to develop apps that can cover all multiple platforms. The question of costs and Return on Investment(ROI) couldn't be ignored. The cost of designing quality and engaging apps with 90% reach can be costly.

Immediately, a question was asked, "Does this mean we shouldn't do apps?" The debate continued until the speakers decided to compare between mobile apps and mobile websites. Another angle of discussion discovered that people don't go to app store when looking for information, they go to Google and they are likely to land on your mobile site. And that mobile website works on all smartphones. At the end of all the factors shared, a science centre should decide if it wants to reach users across more than one platform. Whether science centres go with a mobile website or mobile app-or both- science centres will probably benefit.

Many questions remained unanswered- hence the debate will always go beyond the summit session to various platforms in our institutions. Costs, security, data and user's choice formed the centre of the debate. The fact of it all is that Mobile technology is really taking off. Science Centres should begin to develop online mobile strategy that can be simplified as WEBSITE>MOBILE SITE(if necessary)>MOBILE APP(if necessary)=REACH