Appmetrics - Improving impact on the go

Mobile ‘smart’ devices have increased enormously in popularity over the last few years, with 61% of UK adults now owning a smartphone (OFcom, 2014). With the emergence of the tablet computer adding significantly to the utilities available via mobile devices, the adoption of mobile technologies into work-related activities is ever-expanding. However, relatively few academic staff who use these devices make full use of the range of options available, and many lack awareness of the apps they could be using to promote their outputs and improve impact on the go. For information professionals there is a need to stay abreast of current and emerging developments within the world of mobile apps in order to support academic staff in using their mobile devices effectively to improve and monitor their research impact. With so many apps and tools to choose from, in this chapter we will look at an essential "toolkit" of apps that information professionals should bear in mind when supporting and advising academic staff on research impact, along with advice on how to make the best and most efficient use of them. Additionally, this chapter will examine how impact activities undertaken on a mobile device can be fitted into a flexible working day.