Developing a Mobile Interface for NeuroMorpho.Org

Abstract

NeuroMorpho.Org is an online repository that provides more than 110,000 digital neuronal reconstructions and their associated metadata from more than 560 laboratories around the world. The diverse user base of this resource includes not only neuroscience professionals, such as researchers and educators but also other groups, such as artists and the general public. Previously, it has been difficult to connect from a mobile device due to the lack of a suitable interface. Through the development of a mobile application, we are better able to support usage by less technically versed users. However, it will also serve as a tool for researchers to quickly look up data while on the go or as a complementary interface to a standard computer in general. By utilizing React Native’s library and the Expo client to develop and test the application, we efficiently built an interface that is friendly to both Android and iOS users. In this application, users can apply filters and search for neurons using intuitive controls and a clear layout. While the search results show limited information due to screen size constraints, we provide a hyperlink to the website where more details can be found. Our next priorities focus on the abilities to save and export neurons of interest and to customize the way results are shown and what information the users see. We believe these additions will allow for a more seamless transition between different services and access to more relevant details in the app. NeuroMorpho.Org will continue to improve accessibility and allow a diverse audience to easily obtain the sought information.