Using Web Analytics for Mobile Interface Development.

Libraries are developing mobile Web sites to keep up with the dynamic landscape of emerging technologies. However, the development of a mobile Web site is not as simple as serving the existing desktop Web site on a handheld device. Library developers can use analytics software to better understand u...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Web Librarianship Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 451 - 465
Main Author: Tidal, Junior
Format: case study pictorial tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Oct-Dec2013
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:Libraries are developing mobile Web sites to keep up with the dynamic landscape of emerging technologies. However, the development of a mobile Web site is not as simple as serving the existing desktop Web site on a handheld device. Library developers can use analytics software to better understand users and to develop a user-centered mobile Web site. This case study explores the use of a library's traditional desktop Web site's analytics information in creating a mobile interface. Although Web analytics can provide a great amount of information about users, data should be used as supplementary information. Usability testing, focus groups, and surveys are other methods that can be conducted to understand users. Analytics cannot be a substitute for these types of user input, yet they may be useful for the initial development of mobile Web sites.