College Aps

Have you ever checked the Universitie's library collection, accessed the faculty directory, or found yourself on the campus map…using smart phone aps? You will... If you check Apple’s iPod App Store you’ll find a suite of eight software applications developed for Northwestern University. The aps where developed by Terribly Clever, a software development firm started by four Stanford undergraduates, that had created similar software for Stanford University. Terribly Clever was acquired by Blackboard while developing the Northwestern aps, and is now known as Blackboard Mobile. The applications let users check the library collection, find staff or students in a directory, or find their self on a campus map using their smartphone’s gps.
Incoming freshmen at Abilene Christian University receive their choice of an iPhone or iPod courtesy of the university. Student’s take their devices to class, where they plug into an iPhone/ iPod interface to access a course file-sharing program. Professors use their iPhones to take attendance and send e-mails to absent students to which the students can reply. Students can also use a polling function to submit answers to questions in class.
Blackboard Mobile now has completed software deployments for more than twenty universities and has more in development. It is only a matter of time before college aps are as much a part of student life as laptops.
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