ISU Releases Mobile App

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KAPat1865

KAPat1865

The Captain Level
ISU just released a mobile app for students and staff. Looks like it would be pretty cool. I'm about to download it now on my Droid right now to see what it's like. This is a long time coming and it's good to see ISU staying up to date in the ever evolving Tech World.

I wish they would have had this when I was at ISU. Must be nice registering for classes, getting your parking pass, checking class locations, etc. on your phone...

Way to go ISU!

http://www.indstate.edu/news/news.php?newsid=2603
 

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Now if they could simply solve their WBOW-based webcast problems, which requires late 90's technology...
 
i dont have an verizon iphone, but i have a verizon smart phone and i found it using "state mobile by isu"
 
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It is currently in the Droid Store.
It has been submitted to both Blackberry and iPhone, but their "approval process" takes more time than does Droid. (Apple takes CONSIDERABLY longer)

The App does NOT have the ability to register for classes or pay for parking pass, etc.. RIGHT NOW... The primary function of the app right now is informational.

It has the following:
  1. Athletics Section - news, schedule, results, photos
  2. Calendar of Events
  3. Course Schedule - Time/Day, including where the building is, who is teaching it, the email/phone of the professor, mapping the building, and how large the class is and how many seats are available
  4. Places - buildings around campus, campus map.
  5. Emergency Numbers - campus police, TH Police, etc.
  6. Directory - Employee Directory (email and phone) and local businesses that students/parents may want to know BallyHoo is the first Restaurant listed.
  7. ISU Magazine
  8. MyInfo - important registration information specific to the student (Holds, etc.)
  9. ISU News Feeds.

There is more on the way. ISU is using 2 students to help come up with future enhancements to the App... This helps keep the development fresh, as well as give some valuable and relevant hands-on experience for a couple of Computer Science students...
 
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I know I mentioned this to you Eleven before...but alumni section is a must...allow for updates of addresses, email addresses, etc.
 

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This is great, but I still have a question: How is it that ISU can provide an application like this, yet there still is no place where I can download a simple "March On State" ringtone and ISU logo wallpaper for my "old fashioned" flip phone?
 
didn't Jason post that somewhere? I sent him the MP3 files of the fightsong, alma mater, etc. I know that if you have the MP3 you can download a program to change it to a ringtone...I thought that was free on the net somewhere.

But I agree on why it isn't just available.


Just searched and don't find the files that Boba got on here...maybe I missed it. sorry, thought the fightsong file I had was a MP3 but it is a wav file...being that I am not a computer guy, anyone know or have the ability to convert it? I just simply use it on my blackberry as a ringer but I know that isn't the case for some phones...I will be happy to email it to anyone that wants it or knows how to convert it.
 
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Wallpapers and Fight song plus Cannonball will be coming VERY soon!

Personal Financial Aid info, and more coming next too.

I downloaded the songs that Jason posted already. Fight song is very good (nice and loud) - it will need to be chopped shorter to be used widely (I think it's over 2 mb).. Cannonball will have to be recorded at a higher volume... You simply can't hear it ringing in public. I do have the fight song as my rington for most ISU alumni contacts in my phone!

Rest assured that the people that are in charge of development have been told of the importance of having these type of things available. Phones are very personal items and these are simply things that build continued connections to your Alma Mater. VERY important!

Alumni updates... That will be another story. There are technical reasons that make it more difficult, however, don't give up hope... I'm not.
 
yah...the music I have is just old copies of it and probably not the best. I have used the Fight Song on every phone I have had for the last 5 years or more. It isn't a problem for me because I have had smart phones...but, I can see where it should be shortened.

Amazing (not blaming just saying) that everytime that you get "ALUMNI" involved in anything it immediately becomes complicated at ISU...which to me means when you get potential donors involved or volunteers involved common sense goes out the window and immediately things that should be simple, not all that complicated, etc. immediately become similar to actually moving a mountain. Again, not saying the suggestion would not be complicated to allow alumni to update their info....but my experience is that put the word ALUMNI with anything and immediately the compilications, problems, issues, excuses and stories grow infinately............and then, nothing actually happens.
 
Sackalot said:
Amazing (not blaming just saying) that everytime that you get "ALUMNI" involved in anything it immediately becomes complicated at ISU...
Click to expand...

The "complicated" part comes from the ability to link "you" (your phone or through web) to your ISU Student/Alumni Record - if you don't remember:
  1. University ID (991 number)
  2. Sycamore Login (Portal ID)
In the old days, University ID = Social Security Number.... that is against the law now. The university cannot (by law) use that number to identify you. So NOW the problem becomes... how can we verify that you are who you say you are on the other side of the phone?

THAT is why it is harder to do it through a phone app.
If you already know your Sycamore Login and Password (like all students do)- it would be very easy... problem is that most Alumni don't know that info - or it wasn't even available when they were here.
 

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how does the alumni webpage know who someone is? It doesn't. You can go on the alumni website right now and update your info. no alumnus has to "log-in" they just complete the form. It is a simple form that you fill out (name, year you graduated, address, etc.). We aren't talking about changing anything as a permanent record here, just providing alumni the ability on their phone to send their info to the alumni office. It doesn't need to change it in banner...it just needs to send a message to "someone" so they can change it in banner/alumni database.

http://www.indstate.edu/alumni/chgn_address-classnotes.htm
This is all it is...you complete it, that info is sent to somone...I can't imagine that is automatically filters into the database without somone looking at it. But anyone can do that, there is no log-in. It should have nothing to do with Social Security numbers or Student ID's (991#), most of the alumni wouldn't have a 991 anyway.

What I am saying is simple, the current alumni update that is there does not verify who is submitting the info, why would something similar need to do that because it comes through a phone?
 
Seriously, if that is all that is requested, it could be a very simple mobile web page (not just smart phone), that simply asks for that info and sends an email.

I would HOPE that someone is verifying those address changes. I'd hate for my tax info, etc. To be sent to anyone that wants to submit an address change for me..
 
I see what you are saying...the alumni office woudl have to chime in on that...but from what I understand, if someone goes on that submition page and sends their info, an email is sent to someone (probably a generic email address) and then the person that checks it jsut changes the info in the data base. The alumni affairs office isn't going to change the "official" record just the record in their seperate data base (not banner). Alumni affairs/foundation doesn't send any tax info other than that simple letter stating that you gave X amount of money and you received nothing in return. Which is technically a matter of public record anyway. I see no real concern for identity concerns...because alumni affairs only wants contact info so they can call, email and send things to alumni. And that is all I want.
I think there is a significant distinction between the university database and the alumni affairs situation...this isn't about access to records for me...it is about the simple ability to go onto a mobile app that allows an alumnus to submit their address, phone #, etc. That is it, at least at first.

I agree an email would be simple enough, but people want a "form" to fill out. I am just saying that it makes sense and can't be that difficult. Maybe alumni affairs doesn't want something like what I suggest, but I think it only makes sense. If you have a webpage, why not a mobile option too.

I would have to do some checking...but we are talking about directory information which is not protected by FERPA anyway, right??
 
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