Currently named Glance, the app was developed by ITS student interns to meet the needs of mobile users who always carry around smartphones and are looking for information for just-in-time needs. The app attempts to centralize access to Manhattan College services, events, and information into a single useful and convenient app. The target audience is students, but employees will find the app useful as well.
To be available initially for IOS devices, followed shortly by Android devices, the app will offer the following features:
"At a Glance" Search, the flagship feature of the app. The search, currently across campus services and the employee directory, uses a search product developed with mobile in mind, where search needs to be instantaneous and tolerant of typos. Search queries can be parts of relevant words, eg, tasks, departments, names, etc. As-you-type search predictions then contain deep-links to actionable items, insuring that the user can get directly to what they need in the shortest steps or clicks.
Real-time activity feeds from various campus sources, including
- Announcements + News
- Featured Events
- Twitter (various accounts)
- Emergency (e2Campus)
- ITS Notices and Outages
25Live Events Calendar(s)
Student newspaper (Manhattan College Quadrangle)
Future releases of the app will incorporate maps and campus locations, profile and class information, computer availability in the labs, dining menus and more.
ITS's Web and Collaboration group provides technical direction, oversight and other developmental assistance for this project. Marketing and Communication provides branding oversight and has compiled the campus services database used for the search.
More on the availability of the app will be forthcoming.