NOTICE
THE AGE OF MOBILE APPLICATIONS
APPS OFFER STUDENTS WAYS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY OR THWART IT
Think back on your day. What were you doing while you had a few minutes to kill between classes? If you have a smart phone, chances are you used a mobile application. More than 300,000 mobile apps are available today, resulting in an estimated 10.9 billion downloads. According to a study conducted by AdMob, a mobile advertising company, iPod Touch users, for which the average user age is 23, spend about 100 minutes a day using mobile applications.
// BECKY HOWLETT
Mobile apps are becoming more and more
of an everyday part of students' lives, as nearly half of all college kids now own a smart phone. A study performed by Michael Hanley, a journalism professor at Ball State University, found that college students are the fastest growing demographic of smart phone users. The number of college students with a smart phone nearly doubled in 2009 to 49 percent.
The introduction of the iPod Touch has also had a significant impact on mobile app usage among college students. On average, iPod Touch users download 12 applications a month,
With those numbers continuing to grow, mobile app developers are finding ways to make apps appealing to students. Andrew Killen, a KU student from Lawrence majoring in business information systems, has helped his father, Brian, develop and design two mobile apps, including "Grocery IQ," which was on the Apple Store Top 25 list for several weeks.
37 percent more than smart phone users.
Apps between class: College students are likely to use mobile applications for productive uses, including time management and planning, as well as time wasters when waiting in between classes.
Killen says that considering the market is key to designing a successful app. "We design our apps specifically with college students in mind because they are one of the demographics most likely to use smart phones," Killen says. For the original grocery store app, Killen and his dad added a feature that would allow roommates to sync their lists to avoid purchasing duplicate items. Killen says they are currently working on a trivia-based application, which they hope will appeal to college students as a means of killing time between classes.
Photo Illustration | Artem Bagiev
Using apps as a means of entertainment is exactly what drives J.P. Swanepoel, Olathe freshman, in his decision of what apps to download. "They just waste time," Swanepoel says. He plays three to four games on a daily basis and he looks to the Top Ten selling apps list on iTunes to find new apps.
Not all mobile apps are for fun and games. While games rank as the top category of frequently downloaded applications in the United States, they are followed by news and navigation apps. Kaylin Dillon, Lawrence senior uses her iPhone and iPad daily to access news stories. She says the accessibility of apps on her iPad has influenced how many she downloads and uses on a regular basis.
Dillon also takes advantage of the organizational benefits mobile applications can offer. "This is kind of embarrassing, but I
specifically searched productivity apps," Dillion says. "I'm not the most organized person, and I can't get myself to use calendars or lists." She is currently using an application called "Evernote" to keep running-gifts ideas, apply to study abroad and plan a bachelorette party.
Whether it's for mere entertainment or actual usefulness, mobile app usage among college students is only expected to increase as more and more acquire smart phones or other media devices like iPads. According to forecasts by Asymco, which performs industry analysis of mobile technology, 50 percent of the U.S. population will own smart phones by the end of 2011. Although the allure of mobile games may be detrimental to some students' productivity, mobile apps offer ample opportunities to improve efficiency in a number of areas, including academic pursuits.
As a Chinese major, Dillon uses a mobile Chinese dictionary daily. She says living without it would be hard. "It cuts my homework time literally in half," she says. Given the almost limitless possibilities of mobile applications, it's ultimately up to the user to tailor his or her usage, for better or for worse.
FIVE MUST-HAVE APPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
HEY TELL // This free app allows you to send mini voice messages. It's faster and safer than texting while driving. It also works internationally.
EVERNOTE // This free organizational app allows you to compile notes, pictures, video, audio or whatever into a single, searchable location.
**NHS DRINKS TRACKER** // This free app tracks your overall consumption of alcohol. Need we say more?
SLEEP CYCLE ALARM CLOCK / This 99- cent app tracks your sleep patterns during the night and wakes you up when you're in the lightest stage of sleep, which makes you feel the most rested.
WEBMD MOBILE // This free app features a symptom checker and emergency medical information, and can find the nearest treatment centers relative to your location.
's Bronson/KANSAN of many differ-
Fieldhouse.
in student riders
BY ADAM STRUNK
astrunk@kansan.com
Perfume, alcohol and sweat pervade the air. Students drink colorful liquids from water bottles or sneak sips from cans of Busch Light and Keystone hidden beneath jackets. The group, stacked body upon body, begins an impromptu rendition of the national anthem followed by the Rock Chalk chant. One couple makes out, trying to steady themselves against the wall. This is everything one imagines as a college party at the University of Kansas ... and it's on wheels.
2011, SafeBus recorded 37,283 rides, a 70 percent increase from the 21,999 rides recorded during the corresponding time period last school year.
"The numbers have been quite surprising," said Derek Meier, transport coordinator for KU on Wheels. Meier explained that the large growth in ridership was because of the restructuring of routes.
The "secret here is adding Daisy Hill," he said. Safe Bus,
SEE SAFEBUS ON PAGE 3A
Adam Buhler/KANSAN FILEPHOTO
A student hops onto SafeBus. This year SafeBus has experienced a rise in ridership.
postponed in senate
BY ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON ughton@kansan.com
In an effort to give student senators the chance to better represent their constituents and themselves, the student rights committee drafted a student senator Code of Ethics to be added to the senate rules and regulations.
Student senate member Brandon Weiderholt, a freshman from Garnett, said he hadn't experienced anything unethical during his time in senate. However, Weiderholt said it would be a good thing to have.
"When you're controlling a budget that big and with that much power, this is definitely a good idea," Widerholt said. "We're trying to make sure students know their senators are being held accountable."
amcnaughtonkansan.com
Student senators are responsible for controlling a $24 million budget. With no current code of conduct or similar ethical code directly related to senate, the student rights committee proposed the bill to provide some accountability for student senators.
Harris said he felt chief of staff Aaron Dollinger moved to have the bill postponed in order to enable himself more time to look it over because the bill would add more responsibilities to his position.
Student senator Aaron Harris, a senior from Wyandotte and a photographer for The University Daily Kansan, is a sponsor of the bill and the driving force behind it. He said throughout the past few years senate didn't have an ideal image.
"I am a little disappointed that it got postponed but its better than being defeated," Harris
3. Senators are elected by their fellow students. Therefore, it is their duty to pay attention during session to make sure that their constituency is being duly represented.
2. A bill should be voted on for its merit to the student body regardless of the author.
1. Members of the Student Senate at the University of Kansas are empowered by the student body to represent student interests both responsibly as well as ethically.
3. Senators are
The bill will be the first item on the agenda at the next full senate meeting on March 16 in the Kansas room of the Kansas
Dollinger said he thought it was necessary to have a document that makes it clear how senators should act and to have the enforcement of the code go through his office because his staff is very knowledgeable of senate rules and regulations.
SUGGESTED ARTICLE FOR THE STUDENT SENATE CODE OF ETHICS:
"I think that it is important that when you have a piece of legislation that directly affects any position you thoroughly go through it." Dollinger said.
said.
SEE ETHICS ON PAGE 3A
View the proposed Code of Ethics bill at kansan.com
Letter sheds light on hazing
The University's final report on potential hazing incident is unveiled.
GREEK LIFE | 2A
GAMEDAY|8A
Jayhawks take on Tigers
Kansas will play its last game of the conference season at Missouri.
INDEX
Classifieds ... 3A
Crossword ... 4A
Cryptoquips ... 4A
Opinion ... 5A
Sports ... 10A
Sudoku ... 4A
WEATHER
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan