The last year I wrote down this post. In it I made a promise to My Touristologists: “You will learn how to create, or at least how to deal with a team which will create, the best mobile application for the tourism sector”.
I keep delivering my promise! This year it will easier to do thanks to cloud computing, virtual machines and the open source movement!
As you know, in mobile ecosystem you have to make up your mind about having a mobile web app or a native app. With native apps you get all the power BUT you have to create an app for each OS ( IOS by Apple, Android by Google…you name it). On the other hand, with mobile web apps you write once, run everywhere BUT some functionalities are missed.
By the way, “write once, run everywhere!” reminds me of old times, old promises, great expectations… we have to trust that this time it will be true BUT we also have to be cautious…
You also can use phonegap or apache cordova in order to create hybrid solutions that aim to get the best of both worlds. Apps for everyone and access to the software and hardware of your smartphone (or ANY WEREABLE COMPUTER remember I’m biased)
I like the definition apache-cordova provides…
“Apache Cordova is a set of device APIs that allow a mobile app developer to access native device function such as the camera or accelerometer from JavaScript. Combined with a UI framework such as jQuery Mobile or Dojo Mobile or Sencha Touch, this allows a smartphone app to be developed with just HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.”
Nowadays, you have another option that is easy to use and install. So, I will use in my classes. I’m talking about Firefox OS that allow through webapis to do things usually only reserved to native applications. Here you have an interesting introduction and next a motivating one!

I also will use other frameworks and tools as I tweeted here…
As you know, until now I was undecided about the paradigm mobile web or native application. Right now, I make up my mind… and, even though I’m an entrepreneur, a consultant and a teacher… I only have one mind. So, the same thing that I’m building up for my pirate ship, the same thing that I recommend to my customers… I explain and practice with My Touristologists!
How far will My Touristologists go?  It’s up to them!!!
But Jordi! Some of your students don’t like that you teach them how to program, nor that you force them to read, write, speak…think in English!
Well, they like… BUT they don’t know it yet! They are in the process of becoming Touristologists! Some of them decide to be a Touristologists, the first year of their grade, others the last one… others when they get a High-Paying job or set up a tourism enterprise.. Others when they retire and review their professional life!!!
Sooner or later, they will realize that all my effort, all my passion, all my will, has only a single objective: That they feel that they are the best minds working in the best sector ever!
Will I win this battle? I’ll put everything I’ve got into it! As sure as Touristology is a science!!!