Phi Theta Kappa AR Campus Project

Back in Spring 2021, the Alpha Eta Delta Chapter began work on an application for Federal Cares Grant funding, with the idea of providing a virtual private network service to students on campus. Over time through the course of the first few months that idea grew to include potential Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, or Artificial Intelligence elements.

In Fall, after a few new members joined (and in the midst of elections of an entirely new counsel of officers), Marquairah Salazar (Chapter President), An Tran (VP of Marketing), and Robert Durham (VP of Service) and several chapter members voted to use the grant to create an Augmented Reality Application for both iPhone and Android.

The plan was to create a virtual campus assistant. The primary feature would be that it would be able to walk students to class and help them navigate campus. As well as provide Health and Safety information to assist with the continued struggle to minimize the effects of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.

After researching some of the best Augmented Reality development companies in the United States, and with the unyielding support of Dr. Carol Smith (Chapter Advisor) the team presented their plan to administration and were ultimately given the green light to begin.

In Spring 2022 the Chapter, and Dr. Smith alongside various representatives of SMCC administration Dean Travis May, Mark McCain, Tim Budworth selected Chocolate Milk and Donuts as the development company that would make the application a reality. Both CM&D and the involved student team raced to complete the application within an approximately two month time span. The result of all that effort is coming soon. Check back later for updates.