Mobile computing: a revolution in progress

Hervé Franceschi, a graduate of L'Ecole Polytechnique, École Nationale and Stanford University, is a professor in the computer science program at Capitol and one of the architects of the university's Mobile Computing and Game Programming degree program. In the following interview, he discusses the program, career opportunities in the field, and the attributes that make Capitol a particularly attractive destination for aspiring app developers.

Who will this program appeal to?

I think it will appeal to any high school student with an interest in programming. Kids today are up to speed on the high-tech world. They’re already familiar with mobile computing and apps, and they want to do those things. Community colleges are already starting to offer classes in these areas; even at the high school level, you have students starting to build apps. Most younger people play video games, and they’re curious about how the games are programmed and about the animation, among other aspects.

What can a student expect to get out of this program?

They’ll develop some general expertise in computer science and programming, and specific expertise in some areas. Upon graduation, they’ll be able to work in the industry as a developer or programmer, and particularly as a developer of iPhone or Android apps. In addition, they’ll have the ability to create games with 3D graphics and animation – the kinds of games that many of them like to play.

Game programming skills have applications in other areas – basically, any time somebody wants high-resolution graphics or a realistic simulation of events. For instance, I saw an ad recently, on the Unity game engine mirror, from someone in the medical field. They were looking for a programmer who could develop some scenes that could be used in various medical training scenarios. The military field also has potential applications. The possibilities are many.

What are the long-term growth prospects for this field?

App development is going to become as big an industry as software development. For every piece of software that’s created, there’s going to be an app – if one doesn’t exist already. Indeed, apps have distinctive benefits that make them even more attractive than desktop software; a regular computer doesn’t have GPS and isn’t portable, for instance.

Why is Capitol a good choice for someone wants go into mobile computing or game programming? What does this university have to offer that sets it apart?

Many things. To start with, not many universities are offering degrees in this specific area, so we’re already distinctive in that regard. This is a very practical degree, and Capitol has a track record of providing practical education. We have faculty who are trained in that kind of approach to learning; we have the development environment set up on the computers here, including the Unity game engine. It’s a perfect match for us, really.

What do you personally find most exciting about this program?

To start with, it’s fun. People like to do something they enjoy. Writing apps is fun; the result is a finished product that you can use. There’s also the business and entrepreneurial component. If you have an app, you can publish. The whole world is your market. Of course, that doesn’t guarantee your app will sell – as with any business endeavor, you have to be prepared for the competition. That said, however, with apps and games you have the advantage of great distribution vehicles: the App Store, Google Play, Steam and so on. You can also offer your app for free, while making money from in-app advertising; you can manufacture different versions of an app, one free and the other requiring payment. In general, the entrepreneurial part of this is very exciting.