MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Maxwell had a successful Air Show and Open House last month, but the work isn’t over for a team of app developers that helped with the event.
The Maxwell Air Show app was available for iOS and Android devices, and thousands of attendees, spectators, and coordinators benefitted from its development.
While attendees used the app to know what was coming up next, spectators who watched performances from a distance were also able see the performances occurring at any given time. In the days leading up to the event, exhibitors, sponsors, and vendors used the app’s map feature to set up in the right locations.
“All shows utilize public announcement systems,” said Capt. John Nagy, the commander of the software development flight at Offutt Air Force Base in Neb. “But if someone doesn’t hear the message, it is gone and can’t be recovered. With the app, the message is always there.”
Nagy believes the ease of access provided by the app makes the Air Show more enjoyable, because visitors can know when and where a given event will take place. The app also gives facilitators the ability to push out real-time updates.
This feature proved beneficial during severe weather conditions at Offutt, and for parking and security updates. Nagy pointed out that being able to communicate with your audience is a useful tool that benefits everyone.
After successfully developing an app for Offutt Air Force Base’s Air Show, the developers were able to offer more advanced features with Maxwell’s version. Nagy’s team is confident that the next app will offer even more innovation.
“This project is not merely about developing apps,” he said. “Projects like this enable us to teach, learn and refine our skills while doing something fun and useful.”
Each member of Nagy’s team spent over 100-hours developing each app, and the experience they’ve gained won’t be wasted. While the team continues to produce apps for single events, Nagy says the long-term goal is to develop a single app for all future Air Show’s and Open Houses.