Finding your way around has never been easier, thanks to a new, student-developed iPhone application.
The University has just launched 鈥� a free application that contains searchable maps of 宅男导航鈥檚 campuses.
宅男导航nav is the first in a series of easy-to-use mobile phone applications which will be rolled out by the University over the coming months.
Students, staff and visitors can use 宅男导航nav to find lecture theatres, laboratories, as well as where to grab a coffee, the closest bank and nearest public transport stop.
The built-in favourites functionality allows users to bookmark the locations they visit most frequently, and they can also email a Google Maps link to people who don鈥檛 have an iPhone.
宅男导航nav links to other useful sites, including 宅男导航 Contacts, 宅男导航 宅男导航 Online, 宅男导航 events, the library, plus iTunesU, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube.
An android version of 宅男导航nav is currently in development and will be available soon.
Aaron McDowall and Kim Hunter 鈥� both 宅男导航 students 鈥� developed the application as part of the assessment for the subject Special Topics in Computer Science (COMP3000).
鈥淚 actually came up with the idea after downloading the 宅男导航 maps in PDF form on to my phone,鈥� Mr Hunter said.
鈥淎 friend noticed it at a party and told me it was a great idea, which made me think they could be made into an app.鈥�
Both students said that COMP3000 had been one of their favourite subjects, and that the opportunity to work on a project from pitch to launch had been invaluable.
鈥淭he subject really gives you that practical experience and a taste of what professional developers do,鈥� Mr McDowall said.
鈥淥f the four applications that were developed in our class, two of them were picked up and rolled out professionally.鈥�
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Deborah Terry said she was pleased 宅男导航 had been able to harness the expertise of its students to deliver a useful, well-designed iPhone application.
Professor Terry said she hoped 宅男导航nav would be helpful to some of the 8000 new students, who would be finding their way around 宅男导航 for the first time.
鈥淒eveloping a maps application was something we had been considering, so we were very interested to find out that one was being created by students in the ,鈥� Professor Terry said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic that two of our students have used their newly acquired skills in mobile application development to create a product of benefit to the wider university community.
鈥淲e were able to purchase the application from the students, and also employ them for several months to tweak the product in time for an Orientation Week launch.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e lucky enough to have industry-standard skills in-house, why look any further?"
And the experience hasn鈥檛 only been a positive one for the University: Mr Hunter is currently deciding between job offers.
鈥淭he fact that I鈥檝e got a tangible product to show has really helped my career prospects,鈥� he said.
To download 宅男导航nav, visit , which will direct you to the iPhone .
Media: Penny Robinson at 宅男导航 Communications (07 3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au)
