ASUSU iPod App in the works
Utah State University is officially on its way to owning its own unique iPod application.
Public Relations Executive Director John Devilbiss said this process started last year when an employee brought the idea to staff members and students. Together the group started began to seek out feedback, and received interest from various departments across campus including University Advancement, ASUSU, and Admissions.
Before ASUSU passed a bill requesting $6,000 for application funding, an online survey was distributed to students.The survey inquired about Droid and iPhone usage along with likelihood for downloading the application. It also states that USU is already in the developmental process of creating an application that will facilitate “getting information such as the academic calender, events calender, and sports calender easily onto such smart phones as well as abilities such as being able to reserve library rooms and etc.”
Devilbiss held a meeting Nov. 4 with those involved in creating the application. During that meeting, the first phase of the design was revealed and contributors were able to see the potential for the final design.
So far icons have been designed and assembled for nine features included in the application. The features included are access to USU Today, campus maps that include bus routes and parking information, athletics, the USU directory, Youtube or “A” tube, Banner, events and academic calenders, weather and a place for donations.
Currently, there is a plan for four phases to take place before the design is complete. Now that the first phase for the application with iPhone compatibility is complete, developers plan to add enhancements and work out glitches and tweaks before sending it to the Apple company to undergo their processes. Following acceptance from Apple, the codes for the Droid system will be written. If all goes as planned, the group plans to release the application Jan. 1, 2011.
The application will be free of cost to download, but will not be free of cost to develop. Devilbiss said the total cost of the application will be $21,000 if all four stages are required. He said that so far about $6,000 has been used. Funding is said to come from various organizations on campus. University Advancement, Admissions, and ASUSU have already contributed. The features will all be draggable so users can arrange them in their order of preference, like the icons on the home screen of the iPhone.
Kim Larson marketing and membership director for the alumni center said one great thing about the application is that it will be completely customized with the USU feel and look.
University Webmaster Ben Renard-Wiart said while many other schools have similar applications, they use templates and just “slap” their school colors onto their application. Renard-Wiart also said because the school is developing their own application, they will own the codes to it.
“This will not look like every other application,” Renard-Wiart said.
Devilbiss said it is an added bonus that this process has been kept “in-house” because it has utilized local faculty members and employed graduate students.
Kevin Reeve marketing and communication coordinator for Instructional Technology gave statistics from the Educause Center for Applied Research annual study of undergraduate students and information technology. The 2009 study of 30,616 students found 33.1 percent own, and use the Internet from, a handheld device. In 2010, 30,950 students were surveyed, and the percentage jumped to 48.8 percent.
ASUSU public relations vice president Lacey Nagao said in her presentation of the bill for funding the application that there had been a 35 percent increase in device usage across USU’s campus.
“If I had the right iPod I would use the app,” said sophomore Tia Blain.
According to developers, the application will add convenience and provide more access to information for students. They also said it will show that USU can keep up with technology and is in the running with other schools.
“Personally, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary, but I am sure a lot of people will use it,” Blain said.
– jessie.a.sweat@aggiemail.usu.edu