New version of City of Lit app launches with citizen scholarship feature
Friday, September 28, 2012
Written by: University Communication and Marketing

The University of Iowa UNESCO City of Literature (UCOL) Mobile Application Development Team—will unveil the newest version of its “City of Lit” app from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at the Englert Theatre in downtown Iowa City.

City of Lit app
App users can navigate Iowa City's literary haunts with the help of a map screen.

City of Lit features information on Iowa City's rich literary history, highlighting authors and local sites of interest. Visitors can guide themselves around town in literary style.

The app offers maps of Iowa City, with embedded electronic "brass plaques" indicating a variety of unique locations: where historic readings took place, where authors wrote and lived, and the legendary taverns and haunts where writers gathered to argue and discuss. Biographical and bibliographic information are complemented with audio, images, and video clips.

New authors and materials, developed by university researchers, graduates, and undergraduates, are frequently added to the app. The app also features “News” and “Events” tabs that are constantly updated with reports from Iowa City, including goings-on around town, readings, book launches, films, and lectures.

The app is now available on all smart phones and mobile devices, and on computers.

Citizen scholar screen
Users can upload video, audio, photography and text commentary to the app.

“Citizen scholarship,” a new feature for the iPhone app, will allow users to upload their own audio, video, photography, and text to the app.

“We are excited to welcome users of the app to contribute information and commentary,” says Jon Winet, team lead, director of the UI Digital Studio for the Public Humanities, and associate professor of intermedia in the School of Art and Art History in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

“Having users’ active involvement is central to our research and development goals.”

Users can download the free iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch app at itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-iowa-city-unesco-city/id396516495?mt=8.

The mobile web app can be accessed for free at dsph.uiowa.edu/vwu/ucol/mobile/. The mobile web app was spearheaded by Lauren Haldeman, Editor of the University of Iowa Virtual Writing University.

The unveiling will be featured following a benefit screening of “City of Literature”, a documentary about Iowa City, and a panel of local literary figures, including Iowa’s former Poet Laureate Marvin Bell. Tickets for the event are $12 for adults, $8 for students, and are available at the Englert box office, (319) 688-2653, ext. 1, or online at bit.ly/COLfilm.