Exploring the landscape of automated species identification apps: Development, promise, and user appraisal

Sammanfattning

Two decades ago, Gaston and O'Neill (2004) deliberated on why automated species identification had not become widely employed. We no longer have to wonder: This AI-based technology is here, embedded in numerous web and mobile apps used by large audiences interested in nature. Now that automated species identification tools are available, popular, and efficient, it is time to look at how the apps are developed, what they promise, and how users appraise them. Delving into the automated species identification apps landscape, we found that free and paid apps differ fundamentally in presentation, experience, and the use of biodiversity and personal data. However, these two business models are deeply intertwined. Going forward, although big tech companies will eventually take over the landscape, citizen science programs will likely continue to have their own identification tools because of their specific purpose and their ability to create a strong sense of belonging among naturalist communities.

Nyckelord

user experience; digital citizen science; mobile biodiversity apps; automated species recognition; species identification

Publicerad i

Bioscience
2024, volym: 74, nummer: 9, sidor: 601–613
Utgivare: OXFORD UNIV PRESS

SLU författare

• Truong, Minh-Xuan

  • Institutionen för ekologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Van Der Wal, René

  • Institutionen för ekologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Annan data- och informationsvetenskap
Ekologi

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biae077

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132899