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Student-Developed Mobile Apps

"I believe we have only seen the tip of the iceberg on what can be done academically with the iPhone," says Dr. Brian Burton, assistant professor of information technology. During Maymester 2009, Burton taught a class focusing on designing and developing new apps for the iPhone and iPod touch.

"Students had to come into this class already knowing how to program," says Burton. "We focused on the specific theory and skills needed to program in a mobile environment. Developing for mobile technology has very specific challenges, given the small viewing size and low processing power."

The opportunities to do
freelance iPhone development
are only possible because of the iPhone development class offered this summer at ACU. With all the discussions and new apps slated
for development, future students' experiences will continue to be better and more rewarding
each year as the initiative
matures and takes shape.
- Jacob Poulette

Students Richard Tanner, Jacob Poulette, Joseph Meade and Douglass Timmons continued their work on developing apps after the end of the Maymester class. Tanner hopes to have Neutral Zone, the game he began developing in the class, ready for release in the coming months.

This fall, ACU students, faculty and staff will be able to download an ACU-branded game developed by the students in which players will drive a purple golf cart around the campus, acting as a taxi service for virtual people.

"In addition to being a fun game, it will familiarize players with the layout of campus and the names and purposes of each building," says Tanner. "The hope is that prospective students will enjoy the game and that it will keep ACU fresh in their minds as they make their college decisions. For incoming students, the game will be a great way to familiarize themselves with their new campus, even if they don't realize they are learning as they play."

Tanner, Poulette and Timmons also are working with the Abilene Library Consortium on an app to allow users to browse and place holds on materials from any library in the consortium. The project is an adaptation of an open-source project begun by a public library in Washington, D.C.

"Mobile learning is providing an opportunity for students to be more collaborative with one another and with the faculty using a standardized system," says Burton. "It has given a few students the opportunity to learn to develop for mobile technology, thanks to the Maymester course."

"Personally, being able to learn to develop the apps has been a huge opportunity for me," Tanner says. "The iPhone and iPod market has continued to grow since its launch, which gives aspiring developers a potential market of millions of customers. The open-door policy on the Apple App Store makes it easy for people like myself to quickly develop programs.

"App development has allowed me to combine all the graphics, programming and general computer skills I have attained throughout my college experience into one viable market," Tanner says. "I am very to be here at the right place, at the right time."