Title: Bump
Platform: iOS, Android
Cost:‘ Free
One day a teen I know came barreling into the community room for a program shouting to her friend, “I must bump with you!”‘ Was this a new dance craze? A euphemism? What did it mean?’ The two pulled out their iPods, tapped at their touch screens, and then, with iPods in hand, bumped fists. They had just shared photos between the two devices. I wanted to try it.’ So, I downloaded Bump on my iPhone, and had the teens show me around.’ Bump is an amusing tactile way to share pictures and contacts between two devices. It’s quick, it works cross-platform, and it inspires smiles in the people doing the sharing.
Depending on your Internet connection, it may take longer to download the app than it takes to get started using Bump. Once you have the app, enter your information into your contact card, select photos to share, and then- bump! It’s that simple.
This is what a contact card looks like.
The folks at Bump Technologies have a catchy design sensibility that’s all about the bump. When you open the app, it shows an animation of two hands holding phones and bumping. When you look at your contact card screen, the letters in the word bump demonstrate the bumping motion again. It’s even in their website URL, the memorable bu.mp.
In earlier versions of the app, you could share more than just photos and contacts. ‘ The choice to simplify was a deliberate one. Bump’s designers wanted a to keep their product focused. ‘ Photos and contacts are pieces of information that are often shared in person. You share photos with your friends and family, or swap contact information with a new acquaintance or colleague. The physical component of the app works well with the notion of proximity. ‘ This is taken to a romantic conclusion in this advertisement where Bump is the meet cute for a techie couple.
Teens already love it for sharing photos with friends. What about using it to gather various photographic perspectives from teens attending a library program, collecting images for your library Facebook page, or putting together an exhibit of pictures from a group? ‘ You might use Bump to assemble a contacts list for your Teen Advisory Board, Volunteers, or some other library group.
It occurred to me later, after attending the Massachusetts Library Association Conference, that Bump would be a great electronic stand-in for a business card. ‘ ALA Annual is coming up, so set up your contact card, and hold onto your phone when you’re fist bumping your new librarian friends. I won’t be in attendance to try it, but if anyone does, report back in the comments!
For more app recommendations, visit the YALSA App of the Week Archive.
