Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

DCU Mobile App

  • 28-11-2010 11:03PM
    #1
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭


    Hi All

    My name is Deirdre Wynter, and I work as Marketing Manager at DCU. The university is about to begin work on the development of a DCU mobile app. If you are a DCU student, I would love to hear what you have to say on the kinds of features that you would like this app to have to make it of real benefit to you in your day to day life on & off campus. All ideas are welcome!

    Thanks a mil for your help


    Deirdre


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Diarmsquid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭Diarmsquid


    Something like Angry Birds would be cool.


  • #3
    Daraa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 278 ✭✭Daraa


    Canteen Menu with non-fluctuating prices would be a great feature!

    (disclosure: I left DCU some time ago and don't know the current status of prices in the canteen)


  • #4
    ironictoaster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,208 ✭✭✭ironictoaster


    Moodle mobile edition would be also nice, also direct login into dcu mail.


  • #5
    slasher_65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 647 ✭✭✭slasher_65


    Library room booking!
    DCUfm stream and links to DCUtv videos!
    Put in a room number and get directed by GPS to that room!


  • #6
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 420 ✭✭ [Deleted User]


    A bit off topic, (mods feel free to move/delete)...

    Why isn't DCUfm played in Spar/Sports Building/Canteen etc?


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    irish_boy90
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 589 ✭✭✭irish_boy90


    Deleted User wrote: »
    A bit off topic, (mods feel free to move/delete)...

    Why isn't DCUfm played in Spar/Sports Building/Canteen etc?

    because it was annoying.

    Timetables would be nice.


  • #8
    saeglopur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 112 ✭✭saeglopur


    + 1 for timetables. Should also include room timetables so we can find when computer rooms for example are free.

    Will the app be available on Android or just limited to iPhones?


  • #9
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    I like your thinking - angry birds is fun! Any thoughts though on how a fun feature like this could be somehow connected back to DCU specifically?


  • #10
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    Daraa wrote: »
    Canteen Menu with non-fluctuating prices would be a great feature!

    (disclosure: I left DCU some time ago and don't know the current status of prices in the canteen)

    Canteen prices are obviously high on any student's priority list - will add them to the plan. Thanks! :)


  • #11
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    ironictoaster wrote: »
    Moodle mobile edition would be also nice, also direct login into dcu mail.

    Added to the list. Thanks!


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    Mr.S wrote: »
    Canteen menu/prices would be handy.

    Opening hours of all oncampus cafes/canteen

    Map of Campus with building codes.

    Access to DCU portal, mobile edition? (so you'd be able to check timetables, Printing account etc)

    Page relaying DCU/DCU SU news / whats going on around campus.

    Handy feature would be to have a list of cancelled/moved lectures? obviously this would need user contribution though:)

    Some great ideas here. Really appreciate your input


  • #13
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    saeglopur wrote: »
    + 1 for timetables. Should also include room timetables so we can find when computer rooms for example are free.

    Will the app be available on Android or just limited to iPhones?

    Thanks for the timetables suggestion! I am planning to have the app work across both platforms - android would be the priority, as it appears to be the preferred platform of students and young people in general. Agree?


  • #14
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    irish_boy90 wrote: »
    because it was annoying.

    Timetables would be nice.

    Thanks for the timetables suggestion (will politely ignore the DCUfm comment :D)


  • #15
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    slasher_65 wrote: »
    Library room booking!
    DCUfm stream and links to DCUtv videos!
    Put in a room number and get directed by GPS to that room!

    All really helpful stuff. Thanks so much :)


  • #16
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    Mr.S wrote: »
    I would say iPhone/Ipod Touch would be the majority. loads of people use there iPod Touches (which has WiFi/App support) on campus.

    Thanks a lot for that - really important stuff to know - much appreciated.


  • #17
    Diarmsquid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭Diarmsquid


    DWynter wrote: »
    I like your thinking - angry birds is fun! Any thoughts though on how a fun feature like this could be somehow connected back to DCU specifically?
    I was sorta joking. There's plenty of games out there, but there are no DCU specific apps, so maybe just focus on what is needed.

    News/events on campus.
    Class timetable.
    Library room bookings.
    Map or some kind of room locater.

    Those would all very really really useful.


  • #18
    public_enemy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 310 ✭✭public_enemy


    Realtime updates on which of the ATMs is currently working :)


  • #19
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    DCUfm would be a useful addition to the app.
    Live feeds from the SU?


  • #20
    Sod'o swords
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,778 ✭✭✭Sod'o swords


    DWynter wrote: »
    Thanks for the timetables suggestion! I am planning to have the app work across both platforms - android would be the priority, as it appears to be the preferred platform of students and young people in general. Agree?

    I'd say now iphone/itouch's would be more used currently because people are still in a OMG WOW APPLE MOBILE DEVICE stage. Though soon i'd say Android will catch up and/or become more popular. I have both so either or i'm happy :)


  • #21
    slasher_65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 647 ✭✭✭slasher_65


    How about a way to view all the Tweets sent from within DCU, using the Twitter location feature? Same for photos posted on Twitter and Flickr.

    Ways for socs to push updates about events to members. I can imagine this one being a bit tougher, but it would be AMAZING!


  • Advertisement
  • #22
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 420 ✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Some way of getting internet on an Android would be good - thanks to their lack of a proxy feature


  • #23
    vinnyb
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 36 ✭vinnyb


    A what is on now feature which could combine Club and Socs activites with such stuff as Careers events to give realtime whats on calendar.

    Also the option to avail of the app in Irish would be great.


  • #24
    Bluetonic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,588 ✭✭✭Bluetonic


    DWynter wrote: »
    I am planning to have the app work across both platforms - android would be the priority, as it appears to be the preferred platform of students and young people in general. Agree?
    Why not do some proper research instead of guess work.

    You need to find out what the most popular devices and platforms are connecting to the wifi network on campus. This information is easy accessible and should be your first port of call. Then who is accessing student email on mobile devices, what are those devices. What about Moodle and the portal pages...all the stats are accessible to you.

    After this I know of at least one piece of masters research which was carried out in the last 12 months to ascertain the needs of students for an on campus mobile application. This is available in the library. Have you read it?

    Then your implementation, why an app? Why not a mobile rendered site? Thats easy to control and caters for all devices and platforms with one implementation. Also much easier to keep content up to date without having to implement some sort of push across multiple devices as knowing DCU there'll be little or no resources allocated to keep the app fresh, therefore it's usability will become an issue.

    Sorry if thats a little blunt but DCU itself uses the tag of being 'Ireland's most innovative University', let's stick to it.


  • #25
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    Diarmsquid wrote: »
    I was sorta joking. There's plenty of games out there, but there are no DCU specific apps, so maybe just focus on what is needed.

    News/events on campus.
    Class timetable.
    Library room bookings.
    Map or some kind of room locater.

    Those would all very really really useful.

    Good to know that these features would be of practical help to you - they have appeared on a couple of replies, so obviously they would be of help to others also. Thanks for coming back to me again on this.


  • #26
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    Bluetonic wrote: »
    Why not do some proper research instead of guess work.

    You need to find out what the most popular devices and platforms are connecting to the wifi network on campus. This information is easy accessible and should be your first port of call. Then who is accessing student email on mobile devices, what are those devices. What about Moodle and the portal pages...all the stats are accessible to you.

    After this I know of at least one piece of masters research which was carried out in the last 12 months to ascertain the needs of students for an on campus mobile application. This is available in the library. Have you read it?

    Then your implementation, why an app? Why not a mobile rendered site? Thats easy to control and caters for all devices and platforms with one implementation. Also much easier to keep content up to date without having to implement some sort of push across multiple devices as knowing DCU there'll be little or no resources allocated to keep the app fresh, therefore it's usability will become an issue.

    Sorry if thats a little blunt but DCU itself uses the tag of being 'Ireland's most innovative University', let's stick to it.

    Hi there

    Thanks for taking the time to reply. I've done quite a bit of the desktop research that you describe, and I am in the process of doing more. The purpose of posing my question on boards is to complement that research with a qualitative approach , i.e. asking DCU's own students exactly what they want from a DCU mobile app, because they are ultimately the end users.

    Thanks for your advice about a mobile rendered site instead of an app. I'm not a "techie", so it's not something that I would have been aware of. I will run your point by our ISS department for comment, along with your concern that there would be sufficient resources to keep the app "fresh" - all very valid points.

    I appreciate you taking the time to come back to me, and for being so frank - all very interesting insights that I would never have got from conducting desktop research alone - precisely why I decided to go on boards in the first place! :)


  • #27
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    Sod'o swords wrote: »
    I'd say now iphone/itouch's would be more used currently because people are still in a OMG WOW APPLE MOBILE DEVICE stage. Though soon i'd say Android will catch up and/or become more popular. I have both so either or i'm happy :)

    Lucky you! Thanks :D


  • #28
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    public_enemy wrote: »
    Realtime updates on which of the ATMs is currently working :)

    I know lots of staff members would like that one too! Thanks :)


  • #29
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    Deleted User wrote: »
    DCUfm would be a useful addition to the app.
    Live feeds from the SU?

    I'll add these to my list. Thanks :)


  • #30
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    slasher_65 wrote: »
    How about a way to view all the Tweets sent from within DCU, using the Twitter location feature? Same for photos posted on Twitter and Flickr.

    Ways for socs to push updates about events to members. I can imagine this one being a bit tougher, but it would be AMAZING!

    Great ideas, thanks. I will run these by the "techies" :)


  • Advertisement
  • #31
    DWynter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭DWynter


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Some way of getting internet on an Android would be good - thanks to their lack of a proxy feature

    I'll run this one by the "techies" too. Thanks :)


Advertisement