Campus Digest

Innovative apps for developing smart cities

23 Oct 2018

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If an app only provides users with a similar experience to a website they can access on desktop without serving extra or personalised functions, it is not considered a “good app”.
Professor Joseph Ng says with the rapid development of information and communications technology, apps will become an essential part of our life.

It's raining mobile apps. With every public and private organisation seemingly developing new apps all the time, perhaps it’s no surprise that some recent research has found that many apps with low download rates are virtually redundant and often fail to offer a rich user experience. 

 

With so many options available, what kind of apps do we need to help drive the development of smart cities? As an expert in mobile computing, Professor Joseph Ng from the Department of Computer Science is well placed to judge this increasingly crowded marketplace, as well as what’s needed.

 

But while Professor Ng says that there’s nothing wrong with a popular platform developing apps to get the public’s attention, he also finds that with individual organisations launching multiple apps – often for a single service or function – many people are understandably confused by the many different options. This often leads to apps being made redundant as people don't know which one to choose. 

 

"The number of apps within a corporation or group could be reduced through centralisation and integration and the lack of Open Data in Hong Kong really hinders useful apps to be developed by third party developers,” says Professor Ng. “Some popular transport apps like Moovit, Citymapper are making good use of Open Data in some foreign countries. With data from public transport organisations including railways, buses, and ships, users would be able to simply check important information like the route, interchange point and arrival time in one app, allowing everyone to enjoy the convenience of a smart, connected city. " 

 

As Professor Ng points out, with the presence of responsive web design, most websites already have the ability to automatically adjust their interface for easy viewing on mobile devices. Therefore if the existing website content is the same as the app, it is not necessary to spend time and money on something which can already be easily viewed on a mobile device.

 

So what are the key features of a successful app? 

 

"A good app should make use of the unique functions of mobile devices such as Bluetooth, GPS, and maps. By combining this functionality with a simple, clear and user-friendly interface, users can enjoy real time, or regional services, which cannot be provided by websites alone," says Professor Ng.


According to Professor Ng, the value of an app cannot be simply calculated by looking at the development and operation cost, download rate or usage alone. 

 

"It is not easy to measure the value of an app, as what we need or expect from an app is a personal preference. As although the design of an app’s interface and function are key factors which can determine whether it will be successful, different users have different expectations. While one user may find an app useful, that same app may not be as useful to others."

 

Among the apps commonly found on app stores, Professor Ng finds Google Maps particularly useful. A popular web mapping service, Google Maps uses a mobile’s built-in GPS navigation system to provide map information as well as real-time GPS navigation, traffic, and transit information. It can also integrate open data, helping users explore local neighbourhoods and popular spots. He believes these functions can greatly facilitate our travel and help drive the development of smart cities.