New phone app lets people know about 'USAFA Snow'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Heather Stanton
  • Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Smartphone owners can now download a new application dedicated to letting them know whether the Academy has delayed or closed its normal operations.

The Air Force Academy snow application, called "USAFA Snow," contains vital information including base maps, snow routes, important phone numbers, base closure information and survival tips.

USAFA Snow is a free, digital version of the hardcopy USAFA Visual Aid 32-1, "United States Air Force Academy Snow Routes and Winter Survival," said Col. Michael Addison, 10th Mission Support Group commander and USAFA Snow developer.

Though everyone should have the pamphlet with them at all times, Addison understands that this is not always possible, so he designed the application with Academy personnel in mind, making the information available with the touch of a button.

"I do many everyday tasks on my smartphone, and I organize the apps on my phone to help me through my day," Addison said. "The snow routes handout is extremely useful, but I knew I'd have a hard time carrying it around with me, but I always have my phone. Further, there are perhaps hundreds of handouts around (the Academy) that will eventually end up in the recycle bin. I just wanted to create something that the people who live and work here can use and will always be at their fingertips."

The application is available for Android and iPhone users as well as with any other smartphone that has a browser. The application gets new data from the Web each time it is opened to ensure it has current information.

Android users can install the application from the Google Play store, like any other application. However, iPhone users have a trickier process because Apple did not allow the application in the iTunes store. To get the application on a iPhone, users must open the browser and go to the Appcatch.com application market at www.tinyurl.com/usafasnow-iphone, then create a link on the home screen.

"(This application) was very simple and free to develop," Addison said. "Surely there are other opportunities for other apps that help the Academy community. I'd just encourage others to look for an opportunity and, following the rules of course, get to developing."