Why apps now?

Submitted byJeeraik009 onFri, 01/27/2012 - 14:09

Just when most Caribbean artists and institutions have started to congratulate themselves for establishing their presence on the internet, the technological landscape is shifting again. Recently, the Jamaican based digital agency Panmedia launched the first mobile app custom designed to provide exhibition news and listings for Blackberry phone users. The free app pushes information already available on their Art Events Jamaica to mobile phones in a form that is user friendly. So does this mean that artists are going to have to rethink how they package their work for viewers online? Perhaps. Whereas displaying work on a website allows for the use of high resolution images, stories and extensive cataloguing, many Jamaicans spend more time browsing their phones rather than their desktop computers. Artists will need to consider ways to make their work zing on hand-held devices like ipads, iphones and Blackberry phones.  This may call for mobile apps with more stunning images, sound bytes and only the critical information that can capture the attention of audiences increasingly on the move.