Mobile app helps students navigate to success

UQ students Aaron McDowall and Kim Hunter used their Bachelor of Information Technology assignment to launch their careers. Their successful mobile navigational application UQnav is now helping UQ staff and students find their way around campus.

Released for iPhones in February and Android in June, UQnav contains searchable maps of the University's four campuses: St Lucia, Ipswich, Gatton and Herston.

UQnav can be used 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't have an iPhone. UQnav also links to other useful sites, including UQ Contacts, UQ News Online, UQ events, the library, plus iTunesU, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube.

UQnav was developed by Aaron McDowall and Kim Hunter, two Bachelor of Information Technology students, as part of the subject Special Topics in Computer Science (COMP3000).

Kim Hunter said they realised that there was a real need, particularly amongst new students, for a convenient and portable way of checking where to go, so they started working on a map-based application.

“We were able to sell the application to UQ and were even employed by the University for several months to tweak the app in time for an Orientation Week launch,” he said.

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.

“The subject really gives you that practical experience and a taste of what professional developers do,” Aaron McDowall said.

“Of the four applications that were developed in our class, two of them were picked up and rolled out professionally.”

UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Deborah Terry said the O-Week launch of UQnav for iPhone had been a success, with more than 10,000 downloads recorded to date.

“It's clear that a mobile maps application is something that students, staff and visitors to UQ have found to be a practical, user-friendly tool,” Professor Terry said.

And the experience hasn't only been a positive one for the University: Kim Hunter is currently deciding between job offers.

“The fact that I've got a tangible product to show has really helped my career prospects,” he said.

To download UQnav, visit www.uq.edu.au/uqnav  

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