4 October 2006

Students get unique tool to discover campus

Students at the University of Dundee have a unique tool to find their way round campus.

A map can be downloaded onto their mobile which lets students view the campus map and find information about University services. Students can navigate the map using their phone's keypad, and view extra information about buildings and the subjects and services within them.

The map also has information about bus stops on campus (and which busses stop there), where to find places to eat and the timetable for the campus mini-bus service. You can search for any of these amenities, or any subject from the prospectus and you will be guided to the right location on the map.

Contact information is available for all student services so if you want to join the music society, find out about disability services or brush up on academic writing skills you can find out how using your mobile phone.

Hannah Whaley, the Learning Technologist who co-ordinated the project, says, "A joint University and Student Association survey indicated that students wanted clearer guidance on where to find information about available services. The MobileMap project is a positive response to this, using a novel approach to provide students with easy access to University information."

"Many students always carry their phone with them, so the MobileMap represents a way of providing students with information, literally at their fingertips. Feedback from the pilot project will inform us if this movement to digital technology is compatible with their modern lifestyles."

Students can download the University of Dundee MobileMap using WAP by visiting www.dundee.ac.uk/mobilemap on their phones, and so far demand has been high - by the end of the second week of semester over 750 people had already downloaded it and were using it on their phones. An information website (visit www.dundee.ac.uk/mobilemap on a PC) contains details about downloading and using the MobileMap, as well as a compatibility checker for your phone.

For media enquiries contact:

Anna Day
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: a.c.day@dundee.ac.uk