At the University of Iowa, school administrators want students and visitors to quickly and easily learn what’s happening, get around and find campus resources. Their new iPhone app is a notable step towards that goal, including addressing that most pressing of all questions: is my laundry done yet?
Developed by the University Creative Services team, the UI Mobile iPhone app (also for iPad, iPod touch and Android) provides news, campus maps, library services and course management on the go. A Near Me function uses the phone’s GPS system to identify where the user is, and tell them what buildings and campus facilities are nearby.
Romy Bolton, Manager of Emerging Technologies at UI, described how when the university began developing the application three years ago, developers saw it as transitional technology, a niche product they could offer to students.
“Now it’s actually become an expectation. I’m glad we got into the game early. The sky’s the limit with what we can do with this.”
Residence Hall Laundry is (not surprisingly) a very popular feature. Now the app just needs the ability to order pizza and wings delivered right to your dorm room!
[via Iowa City Press Citizen]
