Developing a Pierce app Mobile programming class aims to submit by finals

because of a lack of resources.

Students usually rely on a map or catalog to navigate their way around the campus, but an advanced programming class might be changing that soon.

Hank Murphy, lab assistant of computer sciences, teaches CS559 Advanced Programming For Mobile Devices. After reading the editorial published in issue 7 of the Roundup suggesting the development of an app for Pierce College students, his class took a vote and decided to develop an iPhone app for Pierce.

According to Murphy, certain features suggested in the editorial are not able to be done based on the class’s curriculum. Furthermore, he said, possible future implementation of a new Student Information System may affect features that could be developed for the app. Murphy also explained that some features are too grandiose for his class to develop

“UCLA spent millions on their application through an outside source. I am trying to build it with the resources I have available,” Murphy said.

So far, features that the app may have include a campus map and automatic notifications for important dates such as deadlines for adding and dropping classes during the semester.

“The initial goal is an application that is a mapping agent,” Murphy said. “The mapping feature is really all we can work on, as the administration may be modifying the student services platform, so any work we do on this current platform could be all for naught.”

Murphy and his class hope to submit their finished app to the App Store during finals week this semester. According to Murphy, because this is not an official Pierce College app and it is not a for-profit venture, once the app reaches the App Store, it will be available to download for free.

The class which is part lab, part lecture, offers students a chance to build their own app to submit to the Apple App Store.

Student Ruzan Mirzoyan, focused her application development on a children’s game called “Spider”. Spider, according to Mirzoyan, focuses on teaching children the multiplication tables from one’s to ten’s.

Computer science major Conner Pierce has recently had his game approved by the App Store.

“I wanted to take advantage of the new 3-D touch feature on the Iphone 6,” Pierce said.

3-D touch, a new feature on the iphone, allows the phone to respond to subtle touches.

“The game requires the player to use the feature to pop balloons. The different levels of touch are represented by colors and matching the color to the balloon will pop it,” Pierce said.