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SOCIAL NETWORKING ON MOBILE DEVICES How social networking can be used as a tool for public relations and customer retention. “A new study by research firm, comScore, says 64.2 million U.S. citizens use their mobile devices for social networking, with more than half of them doing so almost every day.” The Importance of Mobile Presence for Museums and Cultural Institutions Museums and cultural sites have started adopting applications to highlight their collections and exhibitions. These apps are appealing to a modern crowd, particularly those who are actively involved in social networking. They provide a variety of functions, including: interactive map and search features, interactive gaming features, and even social networking capabilities (3 out of 4 of the most popular application features used on smartphones.) First, providing visitors with a unique and interesting experience is the best way to provoke positive word-of-mouth from visitors. (A custom iOS or Android application is

Fast ‘App’ Facts: Over 500 million Android phones have been activated. Over 300 million iPhones have been activated. In just over 3 years, over 20 Billion apps have been downloaded between iOS and Android devices. 10% of Internet traffic comes from mobile devices. One half of all local searches are performed on mobile devices. On Average, Americans spend 2.7 hours per day socializing on their mobile device. 91% of all US citizens have their mobile device within reach 24/7. The top 4 features accessed on smartphones are games, weather, Maps/Searches, and Social Networking. It may come as no surprise that the cellular phone industry is modernizing and the accessibility of smartphones is greatly increasing. According to the Research firm Gartner, worldwide smartphone sales have increased 46.9% since last year (115 million at the end of 2011 to 169 million today.) As the smartphone industry flourishes, so will the demand for

A Very “Engaging” Audio Tour, Indeed! “Meet me at the clock”has been a refrain for generations of New Yorkers. Sitting atop the central information desk at Grand Central Terminal, this large brass clock serves as a point of rendezvous for families, friends, and lovers. Adam and Erica were no exception. More than 700,000 tourists, commuters, and New Yorkers pass through the beloved structure, Grand Central Terminal, every day. How many eyes have looked into the face of that clock? It’s hard to say, but it is possible that none have been more full of love and anticipation than those of Adam Goldberg on September 30, 2012. This is the special place and day that he would propose to the woman of his dreams, Erica Friedman. More than two years ago, after their successful first date, they met again the next day for breakfast at the terminal. This is when Adam

Museum Apps with Interactive Games and Activities October 10, 2012 Why Use Interactive Gaming Apps in Museums? Museums provide their visitors a small glimpse into the past. They contain preserved artifacts and priceless artwork that can certainly not be handled or played with. So we ask: how can they be fully appreciated by all the kinesthetic learners in the world? Museums for Play Games give players the opportunity to do things that aren’t possible in the real world; they provide engaging experiences that players can cherish and enjoy. They can bring history and science to life through a virtual platform. Kinesthetic learners can relish in the interactive experience provided by these tools; however, they are not the only ones who enjoy a stimulating game. As of June 2011, the Entertainment Software Association published that 72 percent of the American population plays video games- and this number is on the rise.

Interactive Maps and Floor Plans October 2, 2012 Who Are They For and Why Are They So Important? Museums often utilize this technology to create interactive floor plans (typically with multiple stories.) POI locations are displayed on the floor plan, and visitors can simply find their location on the map and enjoy the supplementary information provided in the App. Cultural & historical sites can also benefit from interactive maps on their premises. For open-air sites, like gardens and zoos, interactive maps can highlight features along the visitor’s path. MyOrpheo Blurb: “All of our interactive map applications provide visitors with unique features that can be embedded into POI’s on the map (for example, interactive games & quizzes, audio & video, augmented reality, etc.) When a visitor presses on the small coordinate marker, they will be directed to one of these customized features.” For Small Sites, Internet Connectivity is Not Necessary For

iPad Apps for Education, a Revolution ! September 2012 APPS. Made popular by their pocket-sized convenience, their impact on the world has been anything but compact. Apps are HUGE. No matter how hard you try to think of a new idea, odds are it’s already published in the iTunes store. Never fear, however, for our reviving market provides new opportunities and consumer demand for apps everyday. Thank You, Apple. As in typical Apple style, they are meeting demands that consumers never even knew they had. Only this time, it specifically impacts an entire generation of young students. Apple has pushed to get their technology in schools for several years now, and it is finally catching on. San Diego schools reportedly dropped $10 million on 26,000 iPads intended for K-12 students throughout the city. And they aren’t the only ones catching the Ipad fever… Educational Apps in Classrooms. Some may question

History of QR Codes ! The QR Code is a form of two dimensional symbol created by DENSO WAVE (established under the name of DENSO) in 1994, with the primary objective becoming a “code read easily by the scanner equipment”. Quick Response (QR) code back in 1994 to track parts in vehicle manufacturing. Unlike some other 2D symbologies that require a license to use the 2D code the QR Code is free to use by anyone. These type of codes can store more information compared to an ordinary bar codes. They can store URLs, telephone numbers, SMS, contact cards, geographic information, plain text and images as well other information. How QR Codes work ? To use the QR codes, we need to have a mobile phone with camera and internet connectivity. Then we need QR code readers or scanners. There are hundreds of QR code readers’ apps available on different app