A new, Ball State University-made application became available for iPhones, iPod touches and iPads on Wednesday.
Ball State's Digital Corps introduced the Ball State Campus Map application for people to download on iTunes last week.
The application includes a campus map, a list of building abbreviations and store hours for dining locations, Jonathan Huer, director of emerging technologies and media development, said.
Ball State students, faculty and visitors can download the application for free from the iTunes Store, he said. As of Sunday, 130 people had downloaded the app.
"We were looking for something we could do for campus," Huer said. "It's the first Ball State-branded app."
Junior journalism graphics major Riley Paulsen helped design the application. He said it features eight categories of hot spots, showing the locations of bike racks, bus stops, coffee shops, computer labs, dining facilities, metered parking, ATMs and emergency call boxes.
The application will help students find their way around campus and give information about certain departments, Huer said. It also features a GPS to show users their location on campus, although the GPS is more accurate for iPhone users, he said.
Paulsen said Digital Corps originally began working on a program with map technology for a client outside of Ball State, but the deal fell through. They then decided to create something that would benefit the university, he said.
Paulsen said although underclassmen and visitors will mainly be the ones to use the app, Digital Corps designed it with everyone in mind. Even though older students know their way around campus, they could benefit from the app because they may not be familiar with certain buildings, he said.
Digital Corps hopes to update the app two or three times per year and will receive updates when buildings are renamed, Paulsen said.
The application has a feature to offer feedback from users so Digital Corps can create new features in the future, Huer said.
"We have some ideas on updates that we want to do," he said. "But my philosophy is it's up for the people to decide."
Meanwhile, Digital Corps is working on making the application available for Androids. The Android version should be available in the summer, Huer said.
Huer said he wishes he could take credit for the app but that it was designed and created by students.
"The students who worked on this deserve all the credit," he said. "Putting this app out that's completely created by students shows we can execute at a high level."
Paulsen said working on the app was a great opportunity.
"It was a chance for people with different skill levels to work together," he said. "I think it's not something you can do in a classroom environment."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
