Shippensburg University is excited to bring its campus community, “Ship N’ Seek”, an augmented reality (AR) app designed as a fun way to help guide students. The app will be displayed at the university’s open house on Saturday, November 9.
Created by software engineering students, the app celebrates the 50th anniversary of Ship’s Computer Science Department by providing a way for students to navigate campus with collectible items inspired by the Pokémon Go app.
Ship N’ Seek serves as a digital guide and a scavenger hunt, allowing users to explore campus through the assistance of AR while collecting digital cards of Ship’s mascots at various landmarks on campus. Users can unlock special features as they visit certain locations, creating a rewarding and engaging way to explore Shippensburg University.
The development of the app was led by a team of software engineering students, under the guidance of software engineering professor Carol Wellington. Each student brought a specialized skill and initiative to the project.
Alecia Meredith developed the database, Skye Ryder managed the card design, while Daniel Byomujuni and Neil Meehan focused on the coding.
The collaborative effort that was required to bring this app into fruition represents what the software engineering program is all about, combining each unique skill set together to overcome challenges and achieve the best results.
Not only does Ship N’ Seek provide a fun and interactive experience, it also represents the hard work that Ship’s software engineering students achieve. Shippensburg is one of the few universities in the region that offers an accredited software engineering program, giving students a strong foundation for careers in technology.
For Meredith, Ryder, Byomujuni and Meehan, this project shows what Ship’s software engineering students are capable of, and the potential that has yet to be tapped into.
“…it’s going to be developed even after we graduate, so future students can do it and make the project even bigger”, said Ryder, highlighting that she hopes it will eventually advance into ap app that is “used throughout the world”.
Listen to what Meredith, Ryder, Byomujuni and Meehan have to say about the creation of Ship N’ Seek, posted on Shippensburg University’s YouTube channel.
The Ship N’ Seek app aims to serve as a long-lasting digital tool that connects the campus community and showcases the university’s capabilities. Be sure to attend Ship’s open house on Saturday, which will allow prospective students and visitors to engage in the app and explore its fun features.
