How to Build Social Mobile Applications
As I work on my MobiChange application for the second round of Knight News Challenge 2009, my thoughts return to two recent posts on building social mobile applications.
Ken 'Kiwanja' Banks wrote a great post last week on the mistakes techies make in developing social mobile applications for the emerging world --
Progress in the social mobile field will come only when we think more about best practices in the thinking and design of mobile projects and applications, rather than obsessing over the end products themselves. By then most of the damage has usually already been done.
Ken gave some great advice, based on his own FrontlineSMS experience: understanding the need gap before entering development, learning from other tools/ players, prototyping early and cheap, partnering with grassroots non-profits, staying lean, being flexible, encouraging local customization, focusing on text and voice, starting small, working closely with early users, and building conversations and community over time. My own approach to MobiChange is similar and I'll try to follow most of Ken's advice in the months to come.
It reminded me of another great post in which Russel Southwood critiqued the social mobile space (via Katrin Verclas) and raised several important questions around usability, impact, scale and sustainability --
So if it’s such an obviously good idea, why can’t I name more successful, long-standing projects that have begun to change the fundamentals of communication or the lives of people?
The immediate and seemingly reasonable response is that many of these projects are in their early stages. There did not seem to be a single project I spoke to at the (MobileActive '08) conference that was not a pilot: in other words it will be funded for a year to three years and then may disappear. However, the early pioneers stretch back further and few have found their financial feet or scaled up in such a way that they have made a significant major impact. Indeed one might ask: with so many pilots around, when are we going to see some flying?
Russel argues that a social mobile project will work if it communicates more effectively with a group of people and/or it is more cost effective. I'll add to that and say that a social mobile project will work if it follows a commercial-social hybrid model, like the Prakelt Foundation in South Africa.
I have some thoughts on how to apply these learnings to MobiChange, but that's another post.
rotts
RVs
sports
chihuahua
news
puppies
canine
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by sarah@ratelines.com on March 10, 2010 - 4:05pm.I really enjoy reading this post.Thanks for blog.
rocky boots
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by Adam on March 10, 2010 - 11:01am.r These kind of info. is always inspiring and I prefer to read quality content so I happy to find many good point here, thank you. video to ipad converter**ipad video converter
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by decomo on March 10, 2010 - 2:04pm.buy generic viagra online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on March 9, 2010 - 12:56pm.buy generic cialis online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on March 1, 2010 - 3:49pm.MP4 to MP3 Converter for Mac,
DVD to iPhone Converter,
iPhone To Computer Transfer
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bony on February 28, 2010 - 10:22pm.buy generic cialis online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on February 26, 2010 - 1:05pm.If you have an MP3/MP4 player that supports AMV video playback, then you will need the Free AMV Converter to convert videos to AMV file so it will be playable on your player. This version can now encode .AMV files at 128X128 resolution as well. The AMV Converter supports the converting of the following video file formats: AVI, asf, wmv, MPEG1, rm, mov, vob.
3G iPhone Ringtone Maker is an excellent choice for you making ringtone for 3g iPhone, it is really a wonderful 3g iPhone Ringtone Maker. This ringtone maker is an easy-to-use tool lies that it can help you trim or clip audio from your favorite audio or video files, then convert it to iPhone Ringtone format. With this program, you can make your own iPhone ringtone from any music you love.
The SWF to MP4 Converter Mac can not only convert SWF video to MP4, but also can convert between a wide range of video and audio files, including AVI, MP4, MOV, MKV, WMV, DivX, XviD, MPEG-1/2, 3GP, 3G2, VOB and HD Video (TS, MTS, M2TS), MP3, AAC, and AC3 etc. What' more, it enables you to edit the output files. With it you could trim or crop the video/audio, merge two or more files into one, as well as adjust the effect. And it provides you the preview of the output files.
MOD File Converter is a powerful .mod converter tool to convert video file format MOD to all popular video formats like AVI, MPG, WMV, FLV, MP4, MOV, etc. It can also function as JVC MOD converter to convert JVC MOD files. If you are looking for free MOD converter download, or wonder how to convert MOD format, this MOD Converter will be your best choice.
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by niuniu2012 on February 26, 2010 - 2:59am.Such a funny game. They can make it big just develop the game.
article directory
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by yasi on February 25, 2010 - 5:08pm.If i look in Indian arena, Except smsgupshup.com , No one come close.
womens leather jacket
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by yasi on February 23, 2010 - 1:45pm.buy generic propecia online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on February 22, 2010 - 9:35am.buy generic propecia online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on February 21, 2010 - 2:21pm.There is a good source to help your business grow and profitable things in favour of it.
Trade Show Flooring
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by naveena on February 21, 2010 - 7:31am.buy generic cialis online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on February 18, 2010 - 9:48am.buy generic viagra online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on February 17, 2010 - 11:55am.This is really a good collection from bookmarkingsite. Collection of hand-picked and tested themes for Nokia smartphones and other mobile devices are important in nokia.
easybookmarking
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by Blog commenting... on February 17, 2010 - 6:20am.buy generic cialis online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on February 16, 2010 - 10:36am.buy generic levitra online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on February 15, 2010 - 2:48pm.Great post really informative
Vimax | Vigrx | Penis Enlargement Pills
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by gitenjit on February 14, 2010 - 11:27am.Yeha very Useful information , this is both good reading for, have quite a few good key points, and I learn some new stuff from it too.
kanji tattoos
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by yasi on February 18, 2010 - 12:28pm.buy generic levitra online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on February 9, 2010 - 10:04am.buy generic viagra online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on February 6, 2010 - 11:33am.order sumycin online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on February 1, 2010 - 9:28pm.order generic accutane online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on January 30, 2010 - 8:54pm.Yeha very Useful information , this is both good reading for, have quite a few good key points, and I learn some new stuff from it too, thanks for sharing your information.
Buy low and sell high. There is a good source to help your business grow and profitable to buy handbags at wholesale handbags prices from our best designer handbags online stores.
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by Daisey Matt on January 29, 2010 - 10:50pm.buy zithromax online
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by bodymax47 on January 28, 2010 - 7:38pm.The revolutionaries fought and died for their freedom and sovereignty from elite plutocratic power. Corporations are non-democratic plutocracies. One vote for every share held versus our democratic republic which is one vote for every citizen. This country was founded on a revolt against tyranny and centuries of rule by a structurally degrees | computer science degree | psychology degree | criminal justice degree | Corllins University
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by rashoodollison on January 27, 2010 - 12:00pm.A developer mindset think logically and logical minds see the problems and solve them using present set of tools.
However for bringing change in communication techniques, We need to redesign the basic system, i.e the method with which a user interact.
If i look in Indian arena, Except smsgupshup.com , No one come close. The best thing about smsgupshup is that most of their users don`t even know about the existence of smsgupshup online model, They are just subscribing to a number for updates.
But this system bring back communication to stone age, We need better thinking in terms of user interaction through mobile technology.
How ?, It`s still a question. Would appreciate people coming in and pitching up some thoughts.
PS: I am a namesake of the original author , So readers please don`t confuse between me and original author
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by gauravmishra on November 21, 2008 - 9:17pm.There is a good source to help your business grow and profitable things in favour of it.
5.11 tactical pants
- Login or register to post comments
Submitted by Adam on February 8, 2010 - 5:11am.