A contextual app is a game, data navigation tool, widget, mini-app, flash game, ajax visualization - basically a bit of software that displays information on a website related to your location in the site and the data you are interested in. An audio player is a simple example of a contextual app.

We wanted the Music Map to be useful across the NMC website and accessible from the data it related to. We achieved this by having the map launch from each of the composers homepages, from the features on the front banner and there is a also dedicated launch page. On clicking the map button the app opens fullscreen providing an alternative navigation to the information and audio resources on the site.

Each of the 250 featured composers have a Music Map and each composer is the starting point of their own map.

Using Flash rather than javascript means that the Music Map experience can be more immersive. The map launches full screen, it is graphically rich and animated. For non-flash users (i.e. iPhone users) all the relationships are available as 'Similar Composer' links. The map becomes more of an experience, particularly with the audio player providing a musical atmosphere (playing a track of the Composer you are viewing), and there are many drop-off points back into the website. Being contextual you can navigate from one composer to another, switching back and forth between Music Map and website modes.

It's the same data just another way of seeing it.