Software engineering student a winner
by Heather McEwen
4th Year Software Engineering student, Zakaria Bouguettaya in the Research School of Computer Science recently took out the inaugural NICTA/Optus ‘Unleash Your App’ Android app development competition launched just two months ago in September 2011.
Zak’s mobile app helps Canberrans to ride the public bus service by displaying and searching timetables, and using the user’s GPS capability to map a path to the nearest bus stop.
Research for the application, and for its further development, has not been without controversy. Zak and his fellow students from the 'Imagine Team' that developed the app tried taking the idea direct to ACTION in Canberra at one stage, and to the Transport Planning section of the Department of Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS). Territory and Municipal Services Minister Simon Corbell also became involved.
“I'd like to extend my congratulations to Zak and the team," said Dr Henry Gardner, Head of the Research School of Computer Science.
“The win is well deserved, all the more so because of its ‘public good’ focus,” he said. "It's interesting to see the entrepreneurial spirit alive and well in students and to acknowledge that we have aspiring good corporate citizens in the ranks of computer science!"
Visit the
Imagine Team Website
Download the latest MyBus app
View the NICTA media release
