Mobile Technologies

MIT Launches iPhone App

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 02/25/10

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has joined other institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Texas, and Duke University in promoting its MIT Mobile app through Apple's App Store. The free app provides news on MIT research, does real-time campus shuttle tracking, includes an interactive campus map, offers a searchable people directory, and provides emergency notification feeds.

"The MIT App has been collaboratively designed and developed by MIT students and staff to extend the Institute's mobile framework to support the revolutionary functionality of iPhone and iPod touch," said Marilyn Smith, MIT's head of Information Services and Technology, who managed the project.

The campus shuttle monitor uses a GPS tracker and sends alerts as shuttles approach specific stops. The people directory allows users to contact individuals by e-mail or phone through the app. Users can gain access to Stellar, MIT's course management system; a mobile Stellar function can be set to send push notifications when selected classes are updated. The emergency info tool can be set to send emergency push notifications and also provides contact details for MIT emergency services.

The app uses the open-source MIT Mobile framework, developed by MIT engineers.