GET OUT AND ABOUT WITH APPS

Transcription

1 GET OUT AND ABOUT WITH APPS App Development from FWDP Prepared by Mark Woolmer October 2014

2 And So Our Journey Begins... The development of an App can be a simple or complicated affair. As the functionality of Smartphones evolves, new features are constantly becoming available to make the user experience ever more engaging. But we must be careful, for the more features we add the larger the App becomes and this can extend download times, memory usage and user appeal. Apps are a great way to reach new audiences, improve access to information and make exploration fun and interactive, and let s face it, we are living in a digital world where we expect everything to be at our fingertips. We would recommend Apps are developed for both Android and Apple platforms as these make up the vast majority of users in the marketplace today. The following gives an overview of some of the features we can include in your new App and is designed to simplify the App development process. Some features are essential, some are site specific, but all will help create an exciting App for everyone to enjoy.

3 Icons Icons form part of the identity for your new App. They are designed to give a feel of what the App is about and capture the essence of the content. The icon will appear in the App stores, generally Google Play and App Store, and once downloaded will sit in the App section of your phone for ease of selection. As part of the design process, we will consider the subject and target audience and present to you a couple of options that we feel best represent the location, content and purpose of the App, but will also stand out as a recognisable symbol in the App stores. Recognisable icons on your phone and in the App Stores

4 Splash Page The Splash Page is a branded page that appears very briefly while the App is being downloaded. Its purpose is to fill the holding screen while the App is being loaded to the phone and the length of time it displays will be entirely dependent on the size of the App and download speed. The Splash Page is also an essential marketing tool and can be used in supporting marketing material to promote the App and act as a recognisable advert to encourage downloads.

5 Home Page The Home Page is all about you. It s the first page that appears every time the App is opened and is designed to give background information on your organisation, your site and your App. This is a general overview page that gives a taste of what the user can find within the App and what they will discover when they finally go exploring. As with most of the pages within the App, it is in a scrolling column format and can contain a considerable amount of information, including text, pictures and links. This is ideal for when users first download the App and is our chance to get them excited and encourage them to go out and explore.

6 Menu Page Here s where users can really start getting their teeth into your App. It will list all the available categories and allow users to start navigating the App and decide what they want to do right now. The ability to go back to the Menu Page will be available on all subsequent pages, allowing users to easily navigate back to the main menu and change their activity. Menu options could include: Maps Places of Interest Walking Trails Spotters Guide Scrapbook Information Feedback Home Return to main menu tab available on all pages

7 Maps Using the in-built mapping technology available on all Smartphones users are able to safely and confidently identify their location and navigate pre-defined routes. GPS (Global Positioning System) will accurately pin point their location and follow their progress on the map as they traverse your site. GPS has a strong signal strength and is therefore more readily available in remote areas and more reliable than a mobile phone signal. GPS positioning can also be used to trigger information within the App when users approach a specific location, giving access to details of what can and cannot be seen. More detailed maps can be produced to overlay the phone s inbuilt map, if a site benefits from walks and trails that may not otherwise be shown and interactive pins can be added to allow users access to more information, even if they are not at that location. Pinch and zoom mapping features with interactive buttons

8 Places The Places of Interest feature gives more detailed information about what can be found at your site. By selecting this option you are taken to a listings page of all the available points of interest at your site. By subsequently clicking on a Place of Interest the user is taken to a detail page, where text and pictures explain in more detail the significance of that landmark. The Places of Interest section can be accessed a number of ways, either simply by clicking through from the menu bar or clicking a pin if in the mapping feature. It could also be triggered by GPS positioning or by users interfacing with an on-site information post and QR code. Scrolling menu bars aid navigation When in the Places of Interest detail page users can also choose to See on Map, which will take them through to the mapping feature, highlight the position of the Place of Interest and show its location relative to their own. QR codes can be positioned throughout the site to access site specific information

9 Trails The Trails section is for sites that want to pre-define walking trails, enabling users to follow pre-set routes to ensure they get the most from their visit. From a list, users can choose what type of trail they wish to follow. This could be categorised by feature i.e. History, Heritage, Wildlife, or by length e.g. 2 mile walk, 5 mile walk, or perhaps by accessibility, surface/ unsurfaced paths. By choosing one of the Trails from the menu bar you are taken to a detail page that describes the walk, the features you are likely to see, distance etc. Users can then make an informed decision before embarking on their Trail. From here users can click directly through to the mapping function, where the full extent of the walk is clearly displayed and GPS positioning shows their current location and where they need to go. Wtitten directions with interactive map feature

10 Spotters Guide The Spotters Guide adds a discovery element to the App. It encourages users to look around them, find things and tick them off their list. It adds a fun element to the App that would appeal to families and groups, but it also encourages users to look up from their phone, take in their surroundings, find objects of interest and learn more about them. Users are presented with a list of things to find, these could be buildings of interest, flora and fauna or even man-made features such as sculptures, and when they find them they can click through to more detailed information about that feature and tick them off their list. Tick off your finds as you go along

11 Scrapbook The Scrapbook is another fun area where users can actually take pictures and store them within the App. They are presented with a Scrapbook page that has a number of windows to fill with their own pictures. But it s not just a question of taking any picture you like, you have to find things that relate directly to the challenge being posed. For example, if we are working in a countryside site, it might be Find something Spiky or Find something Smelly, but if we are working in a town or a city it might be Find the Cross of St. David. This interactivity once again encourages exploration, but it also encourages repeat visits as users attempt to complete the Scrapbook. Additional features can include sharing on Social Media such as Facebook and Twitter, with pre-populated messages like I found something smelly at Daws Heath Woodland, encouraging other users to visit the site and undertake the challenge. Tell your friends about your great day out

12 Information This area is general information about who is behind the App. It gives you a chance to mention funding partners and stakeholders and provide a little bit more information about yourselves, your objectives and how you might be contacted.

13 Feedback As with any project, the people that use your product can provide the most valuable insight into how useful it is or how it might be improved. Give users a chance to feed back on their experience and you never know what wonderful insights you might receive. This is usually done through and the App will connect users directly with their account. We can pre-populate the target address and subject line, so you can filter feedback and relate it directly to a single project, and then give users a chance to voice their opinion.

14 Audio A Smartphone has many excellent features, we have already utilised GPS and the phone s inbuilt camera, but let s not forget it has a speaker. A great addition to any App is Audio; pre-recorded narration, sound effects, bird song or historical recordings can all add a new dimension to your App, accessed through links within the copy. By interviewing local experts or employing the services of professional voice over artists, we can create audio recordings that bring a story to life. Brief sound bites that can transport users back in time or allow them to hear first hand from the people that really know their subject. Wildlife recordings can support detailed information about a species and afford users the opportunity to experience sounds that they may not otherwise encounter on their walk. A scripted version of oral recordings is available to view for those hard of hearing. Audio takes information to a whole new sensory level

15 Research and Copywriting Content collation can be a pain. If you need help in putting together the content for your App, we offer a complete research and copywriting service. We will take the time to understand your site and subject, speak with local experts and trawl the archives, compiling informative copy and images that communicates the right message to your target audience.

16 Marketing Don t expect your App to sell itself. Although it will be available through the App stores it doesn t mean it will be found. Marketing is key to the success of your App and to maximize downloads. We are able to provide a number of marketing extras to encourage users to grab your App and head off for a great day out. These can include: Promotional video second video that can be run on digital displays throughout your visitor centres and uploaded to YouTube for linking through websites Pop Up Banners and Posters Leaflets Adverts For display in high footfall areas For inclusion in relevant magazines or dedicated mail outs For inclusion in relevant magazines or newsletters And don t forget to promote the App through you own websites and partner sites. The more people who hear about the App, the more will download it.

17 Technical Support As with all things digital, the world is constantly changing. The launch of new handsets brings about new operating systems and it is important for the life expectancy of your App to monitor these changes and make adjustments where necessary. SMAs (Service Maintenance Agreements) generally run on a year by year basis and offer a minimum number of updates to your App per year. This will ensure your App continues to function even when new operating systems come on line. You also have the comfort of knowing, should your App downloads encounter any problems, you have technical support on hand to rectify any problems. There may also be information within the App that requires updating and your SMA will cover you for this.

18 Prepared by M a r k W o o l m e r Managing Director Fitzpatrick Woolmer Design & Publishing Ltd Unit 7 Lakeside Park, Neptune Close, Rochester, Kent ME2 4LT Tel: Fax: info@fwdp.co.uk Web: Fitzpatrick Woolmer 2014 All concept ideas, products and designs outlined in this document remain the intellectual property of Fitzpatrick Woolmer until such time as we are appointed contractor.