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On the remediation of Wikipedia to the iPod

Jim Hahn (Undergraduate Library, University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA)

Reference Services Review

ISSN: 0090-7324

Article publication date: 14 August 2009

2427

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a usability study of information search on mobile devices, seeking to understand mobile computing best practice in the design of library services.

Design/methodology/approach

Three second‐year undergraduate students took part in this semester long study. They are loaned iPods with a Wikipedia copy to use as desired. Usability data are drawn from search logs recording titles of the articles searched and an internet‐based survey completed by students.

Findings

Students characterize the nature of information searched for on the Wikipedia iPods as recreational. Students did not utilize the iPods for academic research. Search logs show students viewed articles primarily about objects.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this paper do not show generalized principles of mobile search. More data collected from additional sets of users are needed in order to articulate principles of mobile search.

Practical implications

If it is the case that students will primarily make use of mobile computing for recreational or leisurely purposes then library services on mobile computing platforms must be designed accordingly.

Originality/value

The paper presents methods for the study of information search though mobile computing and poses questions resulting from this paper that require further study.

Keywords

Citation

Hahn, J. (2009), "On the remediation of Wikipedia to the iPod", Reference Services Review, Vol. 37 No. 3, pp. 272-285. https://doi.org/10.1108/00907320910982767

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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