Posts Tagged ‘smartphone apps’

Adapting to Student Lifestyles Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

Universities and colleges are adapting to the current lifestyles of students. For example, students are increasingly using smartphones that enable them to access email, organizer and the Web through the phones. Staff and students can tap the potential of this new device to exchange information and stay connected.

The Pierce College, for example, has developed a number of mobile applications and given them free to its students and others. With these, students can access:

  • Course lists, past, present and future
  • Faculty and staff directories, with contact numbers and details
  • Campus data, including campus overview and directions to the college
  • Pierce college blog

Students can quickly see:

  • Who their faculty members, advisors and financial aid specialists are
  • Their classes and schedules

The college found that students are increasingly using their smartphones to access the college website and portal. As such use becomes commonplace, it becomes possible to get many things done more easily and effectively. Conducting research, updating records and collaborating with peers all become easier. More work can be done when you can do things from where you are.

Colleges and universities that choose to deliver information and do other things with these modern devices tend to project an image of leadership and tend to attract better students.

Read about the Pierce College initiative at the Kansascity.com website.

The Missouri University Computer Science Department Meets “Customer” Needs Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Successful businesses are distinguished by their customer orientation. They deliver products with just the right features, features demanded by users. The smartphone application development by the computer science department of Missouri University is a great illustration of how this can be done.

The customers in this case are members of Missouri Students Association. The association places a request for a smartphone application suite with certain specific functionalities, including communications services, dining services, a campus map and campus tour applications. Though a sports application was also requested, the university is not developing it as the sports department prefers to use its outlets to deliver news.

Groups of students at the computer science department are developing the different applications, which will then be consolidated. Again, customer orientation is evident as students are being provided development experience in a real-life environment.

The applications will include specific features that provide real value to students, such as menus, nutrition information and food ingredients at different dining halls in the dining services application. Though starting with iPhone, the applications will be developed to work across as many devices as possible, such as Blackberry, Windows smart phone and the iPad.

Data for the applications is being assembled from concerned sources, such as Dining Services and MU News Bureau.

Altogether, a great example of how to go about product development. See more details at the maneater