As the iPhone gains popularity, Stanford students have developed five software applications to make the university's core web-based systems and services available through the iPhone.
Two of the applications are intended for students so that they can manage their course registration and bills, according to the university. The other three applications will allowed access via the phone to Stanford's searchable campus map, let users check listings in the university's online directory and get team scores and schedules.
Terriblyclever Design, a San Francisco company co-founded by a junior computer science major at Stanford, developed the applications. Kayvon Beykpour co-founded the company in August 2007, and five of the company's six full-time employees are also undergraduates at Stanford.
"We really were passionate about being more engaged in these systems," Beykpour said. "I am a student and I use all these services, and I cant tell you how exciting it is to spend your time working in a capacity that you love working in, but also such that your final product affects your community."
The project sets a new standard for student collaboration and interaction with in institution itself, according to the university. The university also decided to offer a computer science course this fall to teach students how to program iPhone applications. It is the first of its kind in the country, and have more than 80 students registered.
"We're offering this class because we think it provides students with a good way to exercise the foundations of computer science on an exciting new platform," associate professor of computer science Mehran Sahami said.
A pilot phase launched Monday and a select number of Stanford students who work in residential computing tested a beta version of the applications on their iPhones.
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The applications will have the same security practices and principles that govern the use of computers on campus.
