The Houston Zoo's Android Application is designed to enhance guest experience while increasing their knowledge of wildlife and conservation both at the Zoo itself and while at home. To begin, the application's homepage offers a live twitter stream (twitter.com/houstonzoo) so that fans can easily keep in touch with the latest Houston Zoo happenings directly through their Android. Secondly, the "Today" button will have various activities around the Zoo listed, which will be updated daily. Guests will be able to scroll through our numerous daily Meet the Keeper Talks, select which ones they are interested in to create a personalized schedule and then easily locate each presentation on the interactive map within the application. Another exciting feature in this section is our "Friend Finder", which allows application users to connect with their fellow friends via GPS coordinates while at the Zoo. The "Animals" button lists animals on exhibit in the Houston Zoo collection. Each animal has its own page, photo, animal name, conservation status and other interesting facts. Some animal pages will also feature a video that has been created for that specific animal, and will be able to be played via YouTube. From the animal pages, users will be able to directly link to that animal exhibit on the interactive map as well. Next on the application is the "Map" section, which displays visitors' locations using real-time GPS coordinates and follows them through the Zoo. A "Near Me" button lists all animal exhibits/restrooms/facilities/food/etc that are closest to the guest and subsequently displays them on the GPS map in relation to where the Android user is. There is also the capability to see all listed locations through the map and locate them on the screen itself. Finally, on the "More" page, guests will be able to read frequently updated Houston Zoo news such as parking information, road closures, new animals and birth announcements, a list of upcoming special events and descriptions, latest video/photo galleries, information about donating, and information about connecting with the Houston Zoo's through social media outlets. In time, we plan to increase our database of animals on the Android to include every animal housed at the Houston Zoo, as well as have video of our over 100 Meet the Keeper presentations. We've designed this application with the guest experience foremost in our minds and want it to be a personalized guide for them as they explore the Houston Zoo. Even when not at the Houston Zoo, subscribers will be able to learn about animal conservation through the application, watch new videos, and more. Our goal is for the Houston Zoo Android Application to become a premier educational tool and fulfill the Houston Zoo's mission of providing a fun, unique, and inspirational experience fostering appreciation, knowledge, and care for the natural world.
