Best Practices for Mobile Web Design

Mobile Web
Image sources: apple.com & samsung.com

Today’s Agenda
• Know 3 innovative library mobile website designs.
• Understand how HTML, CSS, and JavaScript work together to
build mobile websites.
• Know what a mobile framework is and why they are used.
• Know 3 existing mobile services/apps that can be included in
library-created mobile websites.
• Know the best practices in mobile Web development.
• Have a step-by-step guide for implementing a mobile website.

Quick Poll
Does your library have:
Mobile-optimized Website
Native App (iOS, Android etc.)
Nothing yet, but considering an app
Nothing yet, but considering a website.
No plans; it is too expensive/complex!

<p><a class="call" href="tel:17273417177" accesskey="0">Call the Library</a> | (727) 341-7177<br />
<a href="wtai://wp/ap;+17273417177; SPC%20Library">[Add to Phone Book]</a><br />
A simple mobile-optimized Website can work on all devices!

Learn and borrow from sites you like.
http://m.novarelibrary.com/

Or you can build something using HTML, CSS,
and JavaScript that acts like a native app!
Built using jQTouch Built using jQuery Mobile

jQuery Mobile is …
a unified, HTML5-based user interface system
for all popular mobile device platforms.
Source: http://jquerymobile.com/

jQuery Mobile is well-documented and
there are great demos to get you started

Best Practices for Mobile Web Design

Advanced Example (Web SQL Database stores data within user’s
browser. No cookies!) HTML5 has offline storage capabilities!
Favorites List
Favorites Found: 4
Conference Committee,
Friday, 8-9am, Azalea A
Building the Next Generation
of E-Govt, Thurs. 1-2pm,
Jasmine
Opening General Session,
Wed. 9:15-11:15am, Floral
Ballroom
http://novarelibrary.com/FLAmobile/ Note: this URL is not a best practice. More later.

Although Web SQL Database worked on this Web app, the W3C recommends these
storage-related specifications: Web Storage and Indexed Database API.
http://www.w3.org/TR/webdatabase/

What is HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
and how do they all fit together?

Source: http://goo.gl/kWzET
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the skeleton.
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are the skin, clothes, cologne etc.
JavaScript is the personality. The character. The pizazz!

Native Apps vs. Web/Browser Apps
Issues Native apps Web apps
Internet access Not required Required, except for apps written in
HTML5 (offline capabilities)
Shareable content (Twitter etc.) Only if it is built in to the app Web links can be shared. Social API’s
allow 1-click posting
Access to hardware sensors Yes: camera, gyroscope, microphone,
compass, accelerometer, GPS
Access thru browser is limited.
Geolocation works!
Development Build app for target platform (Android,
iOS [Objective-C] etc.)
Write/publish once using standard Web
technologies, view it anywhere with
URL. Speedy debugging and
development.
Distribution Most app stores require approval. No hassles.
Source: http://goo.gl/zSeDU

Source: http://http://goo.gl/y8CFb

Rapid Prototyping for jQuery Mobile
Try it at http://codiqa.com/
Codiqa is not free anymore,
but it is a great tool!

Try it at http://jquerymobile.com/themeroller/

jQuery Mobile
ThemeRoller Demo
Web Design tools

http://www.gale.cengage.com/apps/

QR Codes etc.
Watch for Near Field
Communication (NFC) technologies!

QR (Quick Response) codes can help guide mobile users in
your physical spaces come visit your digital library spaces.

Check with your vendors to see if
they have apps and/or mobile-
optimized resources.
If they don’t, put some pressure on
them to build something quickly!

“Fundamentally, 'mobile'
refers to the user, not the
device or application.”
Barbara Ballard Designing the Mobile User Experience

Take an emulated look at your desktop site.
Mobile Site Desktop Site

Small Screen Rendering (260 px) using the
Web Developer add-on in Firefox
Desktop Small Screen

Note: you can determine how your
user’s are accessing your Web site (e.g.,
mobile devices, carriers, browsers , OS’s,
screen resolution etc.)
In-page Analytics

Some Best Practices
• Follow the "m" convention (m.novarelibrary.com OR
lifeonterra.com/m/)
• Keep categories (directories) short. Remember that you are creating a
page that people touch without much typing
• Limit image and markup sizes
• Limit HTML pages to 25KB to allow for caching
• "Minify" your scripts and CSS (JSLint, CleanCSS)
• Link to Full Site
• Sniff for User Agent – Detection (allow the user to decide where to go)
• One Column Layout with some whitespace
• Mobile refers to the user!

Redirecting Mobile Users
<script type="text/javascript">

</script>
1.
2.
<span><script type="text/javascript">

</script>
</span>
Note: http://www.user-agents.org has an extensive list.
<link rel="stylesheet" href="screen.css" media="screen"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="handheld.css" media="handheld"/>
3.
<? if (
stristr($ua, "Windows CE") or
stristr($ua, "Mobile") ) {
$DEVICE_TYPE="MOBILE";
}
if (isset($DEVICE_TYPE) and $DEVICE_TYPE=="MOBILE") {
$location='YOUR-MOBILE-SITE.com/index.php';
header ('Location: '.$location);
exit;
}
?>
4.
Using WordPress? http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-mobile-pack/
Source: http://goo.gl/Amfj2

Other mobile development tools/frameworks

The Future of Mobile Web App/Site Development? Responsive Web Design?

Testing and validation
Test Page Speed in Firebug
http://getfirebug.com/

W3C mobileOK Checker
http://validator.w3.org/mobile/

http://ready.mobi

Editors and Tools
• You can use a simple text editor (e.g., Notepad) or a more sophisticated application
(e.g., Dreamweaver).
• Adobe Device Central is part of Adobe’s CS.
• iUI: http://code.google.com/p/iui/ for iPhone.
• MIT Mobile Web Open Source Project
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mitmobileweb/
• Device detection? http://detectmobilebrowsers.mobi/
• To see your browser's HTTP Headers. Works on mobile browsers.
http://rabin.mobi/http
• Web Developer Toolbar in Firefox: Select Miscellaneous >>> Small Screen
Rendering (260 px) >>> the layout will be reformatted to simulate rendering by a
mobile browser.

Emulators/Simulators:
• Cowemo Mobile Emulator: http://www.mobilephoneemulator.com/
• dotMobi Emulator - http://mtld.mobi/emulator.php
• Opera Mini Simulator - http://www.opera.com/mobile/demo/
• Mimic - emulates European and Japanese models: N400i and N505i. http://pukupi.com/post/2059
• Android Emulator - http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/emulator.html
• BlackBerry Device Simulators -
https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/entry.do?code=060AD92489947D410D897474079C1477
• iPhone Dev Center: http://developer.apple.com/iphone/
• Palm Pre - http://developer.palm.com/
• Windows Mobile - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsmobile/default.aspx
• JAVA ME - Java Platform Micro Edition was termed J2ME. It is considered one of the most ubiquitous
application platform for mobile devices.
http://java.sun.com/javame/reference/apis.jsp

http://www.slideshare.net/chadmairn
@cmairn
at: http://goo.gl/NZAeGReal-time notebook powered by
Some nice tools to check out: http://goo.gl/dl06LJ

Virtual Petting Zoo
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hangout?
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Best Practices for Mobile Web Design

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