The innovative mobile phone service provides students and staff with the latest information from the students’ union, entertainment listings and maps of the university campus. It also enables students to access their university e-mail accounts.
Director of Learning and Information Services, Michael Ahern, believes the service will help the university to connect with today’s technologically savvy students who “lead very busy lives”.
Writing on the university’s website, Ahern explains: “The iPhone application demonstrates how UCLan is increasingly able to support its students in a way that recognises their busy lifestyles, and ensures that they are able to get the most from the latest advancements in technology.”
The application, which can be downloaded for free from the iTunes App Store and is compatible with both the iPhone and iPod touch, was developed over the summer and makes use of many existing UCLan services. These include fast webmail access, a comprehensive library catalogue, staff directory, a list of campus facilities and the option for students to top up their printing accounts.
The service is expected to be particularly popular with first year students. “At the beginning of term you’re always being stopped by students asking for directions,” says Ahern, “now they’re going to have the information they need in their pockets. As they roam around the campus they can get information about lecture theatres, places to eat and libraries.”
Concern has been raised over the lack of access for those students who do not have iPhones. Will the aforementioned be left to rove aimlessly around the campus while missing out on key social events in the university calendar? Well, no. Whilst not wrapped so conveniently into a single package, exactly the same information can be accessed via good old fashioned laptops. Nevertheless, UCLan have revealed further plans to enhance their app, including the development of a news service.
With the increasing demand for immediate access to information, leading online store GetJar predict the market for mobile phone applications will eventually become as big as the internet, peaking at ten million apps in 2020.
The question that remains is how many students will utilise the service and whether other universities will be quick to follow suit.
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