Apple Watch first impressions, pt 1: Glances, Apps, Notifications

Apple Watch first impressions, pt 1: Glances, Apps, Notifications

The reason I got an Apple Watch (besides that I enjoy being an “early adopter”) is that I teach courses about mobile apps for librarians and educators. So I’m interested in the future of wearable technologies, how they might be used for education, and how they could make computing more accessible.

unboxing my Apple Watch

Unboxing my Apple Watch. Comes with an extra band.

The watch taps you.

I’m also very interested in what’s happening with “haptic” technology — Apple’s “force touch” is an example of this and it’s explained on their website: (more…)

50 ideas for creative uses of mobile apps in library services

50 ideas for creative uses of mobile apps in library services

App workshops, app guides, librarians + apps

There are many possibilities for using apps in creative ways in libraries. In my online course, “The Book as iPad App,”⁠ one of the assignments is to participate in a virtual brainstorming activity about this topic.

Librarians in my course are from school, academic, and public libraries, and this list is based on the many creative ideas they came up with. Since this course was focused on interactive book apps, the ideas are mostly about those. Feel free to imagine using these ideas for all types of apps.

The list is grouped into these categories: (more…)

Get a free copy of Apps for Librarians in my Goodreads giveaway

Get a free copy of Apps for Librarians in my Goodreads giveaway

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Apps for Librarians by Nicole Hennig

Apps for Librarians

by Nicole Hennig

Giveaway ends April 22, 2015.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

I recently learned that Goodreads has a feature where authors can give away free copies of their books in “giveaways” managed by Goodreads. So I signed up. I have 10 copies of Apps for Librarians to give away.

The contest begins on Monday, March 23 and lasts for a month. On April 22 Goodreads will randomly pick 10 entries from all who entered and send me your name and address so I can mail you your free copy. (USA & Canada only)

They don’t have giveaways for ebooks yet, so this is for a print copy. (list price: $45)

It’s not required to review the book, but if you’re a winner Goodreads will encourage it, and I would appreciate your ratings and reviews!

Enter here (or use the button above) — between March 23 and April 22.

Why everyone who evaluates mobile apps should read Apple’s iOS Human Interface Guidelines

Designing for iOS

 

In my online course, Apps for Librarians and Educators, one of the assignments is to read some of Apple’s iOS Human Interface Guidelines.

These guidelines are for app developers, but it’s also very useful and eye-opening for app users to become familiar with them — especially if you are an information professional or educator who helps others with mobile apps and writes reviews of them.

These are the sections I ask my students to read: (more…)