7 Reasons Nonprofits Need iPads

Apple's new iPad tablet computer has spawned some mixed reactions. Some over-hype it as "magical" and "transformative." Others have criticized its weight, lack of Flash support, or closed architecture.

Personally, I'm bullish on the product. I agree with those analysts who predict that Apple will sell millions. Despite the shortcomings in Apple's v1 product, I believe that the iPad — and successors from other vendors — will change how people interact with online content. Skeptics doubted the iPod in 2001, but it went on to help revolutionize how people consume music and audio content.

The iPad's release next month is best considered as another milestone in the phenomenal expansion of mobile computing. Smartphone sales are soaring, with 54.5 million units shipped just last quarter (a 39 percent year-over-year increase). There are now 140,000 applications available for the iPhone and most of them are expected to run on the iPad. In less than three years, Apple has sold over 75 million iPhones worldwide, which means that all of those people will be comfortable using the iPad.

The iTunes store has an enormous online presence with over 12 billion downloads, and 125 million user accounts linked to credit cards. Millions more are already using Google's Android mobile operating system and, additionally, a Google tablet prototype was unveiled recently. The fact that nine manufacturers are currently developing iPad alternatives is evidence that the industry is taking this tablet thing pretty seriously.

So, clearly, tablet computing is coming, ready or not.

New Platform = New Opportunities

This innovative platform presents new opportunities and challenges for organizations. Such tablet platforms will create new consumer expectations. For example, while the iPad features a full-featured browser, it's more than just a web browser you tote with you. Its small size and hardware capabilities will lead people to consume and use content differently than when sitting at a desk.

The device's hardware includes components not currently found in a traditional desktop computer or laptop. The touch-screen interface, compass, GPS, and accelerometer add up to a fundamentally unique computing experience. And people will use tablets in unanticipated ways. Who could have predicted that one of the most popular iPhone applications would be one that turns the phone into a flute, or that a first-aid app would save the life of man trapped in the rubble in Haiti?

Therefore, innovative and influential nonprofit organizations must monitor these trends carefully. To get you started, here's an initial list of ways that the iPad could prove useful to nonprofits in the coming years.

1) Better Petitions: Whether at a conference or on the street, the iPad is an enticing input device. Petitions and similar forms are the bread and butter of many organizations. In addition to your web site, a tablet computer also gives you the ability to circulate an electronic petition — in person. Whether an invitation to sign on to a cause, join an email list, or make a donation, people will take notice when you hand them the form on a bright, beautifully-rendered interface.

2) Storytelling: The iPad offers a new format for one-on-one sharing of compelling interactive stories. Many organizations bring interactive content to decision makers during visits to the Hill or other offices. Showing a lawmaker a photo slideshow, short video, animation, or visualization will feel more natural on a panel than on a laptop. The person can hold it for themselves, and the presentation will surely look terrific on its beautiful screen. The platform lends itself to investments in high-definition movies, high-resolution photos, and audio-clips — stories that help reveal "what your support is accomplishing."

4) Field Reports: While the practicality of toting a 10-inch piece of glass has not yet been validated in the field, the iPad is lighter than any current laptop or netbook, weighing about 1.5 pounds. It's promised battery life is ten hours -- longer than any laptop to date. If Apple's numbers hold up, it should make it easier for staff to file blog posts and first-person reports on the go and from the field. Moreover, the iPad will likely prove a good platform for developing kiosks in public spaces like museums, or even your organization's lobby. The iPad will also be a great way to share content with people who have limited access to the internet. The very people you write about, photograph, or record, can see how you've composed their "stories" in real-time. It's a great way to create better understanding across language and cultural barriers.

3) Survey Forms and Electronic Protocols: Previously, I've blogged about how Windows Mobile devices are empowering field clinic staff to triage patients much faster than what could be accomplished with paper-based protocols. Whatever information you are gathering, larger, richer tablet interfaces will make it easier to capture and process information quickly and accurately.

4) Training Tool: Educators and trainers are already incorporating new technology into the classroom. Smartboards and lightweight laptops such as the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) and NEO2 already providing alternative learning experiences. The iPad provides a richer, more interactive presentation than any previous hand-held device. It promises a better experience for reading electronic documents and books. It could spawn innovative interactive applications that support collaborative learning. (Clearly the price of the iPad will need to come down before school districts and other organizations will be able to afford large quantities.)

5) Location-Based Apps: Organizations whose information is most useful to consumers or activists at the point of sale — such as buyer guides for food or products — could get good mileage out of a location-based application for the iPad. Mashable has already explored some nonprofit uses of location-based apps. I wonder, will GPS supplement a zip code-based lookup when searching for local information?

6) iPublications: Apple is banking on their new iBookstore to do for e-books what the iTunes Store did for music. Organizations such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) set up shop on iTunesU and have since enjoyed a much higher prominence for their audio and video content than they previously experienced when simply posting their audio and video to their own site. For books, Apple is using ePub - a free, open standard for delivering electronic publications. It's similar to an MP3 format but it is for books. I expect that Apple's iBookstore will soon become a prominent place for people to discover nonprofit publications. Will the iBookstore provide publications a higher profile than existing document services such as Scribd? Only time will tell.

7) Rally Sign: You heard it here first. Sometime in the next year, a protester is going to be spotted hoisting an iPad over their head. The iPad will be glowing with a crisply-rendered political message. A photograph of this person will be shared online thousands of times.

Kyle Keller, Michaela Hackner, Sandy Smith, and Michael Walsh contributed ideas for this post.