By now it’s clear that mobile apps and smartphone technology are changing the way professionals in the world’s of building, remodeling and architecture do their jobs. These tools have improved everything from communication to finding and sharing inspiration to capturing inspiration in new designs and more.
Architect Magazine spoke with four tech-savvy architects to get their thoughts on the apps that are most useful in their day-to-day work — whether specific to the trade or as simple as just getting around town. Here’s a sampling of what they had to say:
- Penultimate: An iPad handwriting app that comes in handy for both architect Bob Borson’s full-time work and his blog. “I tend to sneak it in while I’m in line at the grocery store,” he says. “You can take notes or do a sketch and email it back to team members or the office. You can use your finger on the screen.”
- Tricorder: For Android devices, this app allows users like architect Sheila Kennedy to point to a geographic area and detect magnetic fields, carbon dioxide and other environmental data.
- Morpholio: With architect Mark Collins as a co-creator, this app lets architects view and critique each other’s work while tracking how the audience looks through portfolios. He adds, “Google has its own page rank algorithm. We’re trying to apply similar technologies to design. How long did people look at your portfolio? Did one image stop them in their tracks? We’re trying to make that a platform for critique and criticism.”
While we’re on the subject, we should give a tip of the cap to our own mobile app for iPads and iPhones. It includes heaps of product information, photos, videos, case studies and more to help architects, builders and remodelers make every project the best it can be.
Read the full story (with links to the apps) at ArchitectMagazine.com.
