The Apps Incubation and Development Laboratory of Silliman University or “Apps Lab” opened last Oct. 27 at the Uytengsu Computer Center. It is among the first Apps Lab in the Philippines.
Equipped with 31 iMacs and 31 iPads, Apps Lab was built in cooperation with Uytengsu Foundation and Apple Inc.
Unlike usual computer laboratories, the Apps Lab encourages students to create and develop mobile applications.
According to Dave Marcial, dean of the College of Computer Studies (CCS), students must “basically have an innovative idea” in order to develop and create a mobile application in the Apps Lab.
Marcial, also the coordinator of the laboratory, said that students “must have the critical thinking and the passion to develop” for them to innovate.
He also said that students can use the laboratory anytime, as long as they follow certain protocols and guidelines.
“[Apps Lab] is not just for the Silliman community, but to everyone…a student, a professional, an app developer, or a faculty [member],” Marcial clarifies.
Marcial added that they have sent invitations to schools around Dumaguete and Negros Oriental to make use of the laboratory, but no school has responded yet.
“Initially, I have received words of interest from startup developers. They are programmers who are new to development and don’t have enough machines like the Apple laboratory,” said Marcial.
Marcial also said that the Apps Lab is for mobile application development only, so browsing and research are not allowed.
Meanwhile, Alyssa Palencia, a sophomore information technology student said: “I guess [Apps Lab] will further increase my interest in app development since there are always new things to discover and learn, depending on the materials presented.”
Palencia added that she is willing to learn how the Apple system operates and how the development process will differ from Windows.
The Apps Lab has been settling protocols like income sharing as soon as there are mobile apps that will be developed.
CCS students taking programming subjects are also having classes in the Apps Lab.
By Ray Chen S. Bahinting
