WASHINGTON - Apple Inc. released a cellphone application Monday designed by two airmen who are supporting Joint Task Force–National Capital Region Public Affairs.
The program, called "Inauguration," is a free, user-friendly app that compiles news and other material related to the 57th Presidential Inauguration from a variety of official websites.
"Inauguration," which was designed to distribute Department of Defense-released information on the inauguration, collects real time updates from websites linked to it, offering the latest press releases, videos and photographs covering the historic event and preparation for it.
It contains a map of the inaugural parade route, complete with global positioning that automatically orients the map based on the user's location, and icons that pinpoint medical stations and indicate road closures and walking routes.
The app also includes security information released by the Secret Service and lists items event-goers are prohibited from bringing with them on site.
On Inauguration Day, "Inauguration" will provide a live video stream of the event via a redirect from CNN.
Senior Airman Daniel Burkhardt, who co-designed the app, has been apart from his home station, Joint Base Andrews, Md., for the last week as just one of hundreds of Department of Defense military and civilian personnel sent to JTF–NCR in support of the inauguration.
To encode the app, Burkhardt harnessed the knowledge and skill he gained while completing a degree in network engineering prior to joining the Air Force more than two years ago. His supervisor from Joint Base Andrews, Staff Sgt. Christopher Bevins, created the graphics and videos for the program and gathered information for Burkhardt.
The program took them less than a week to create.
"It's a huge opportunity," said Burkhardt, a native of Perkasie, Pa., and a broadcast journalist assigned to 11th Wing Public Affairs. "I'm super- excited that I could lend the experience I gained over six to eight months."
Burkhardt based the application off one he has been working for the last few months to produce that will offer essential information on Joint Base Andrews to newcomers, visitors and family members.
"A lot of Airmen have smart phones," said Burkhardt. "It's a central place for all information regarding Andrews."
The "Inauguration" program is available through Apple's App Store.
The Air Force app comes up fifth in the app store search.