Local student’s app proves a hit
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Ballyclare’s Peter Lockhart (centre) with Luke McNeice (left), Software Engineer, Kainos and Tom Gray (right), Chief Technology Officer, Kainos. Peter was presented with a certificate to mark the success of ‘Ant Run’ SE0507
A BALLYCLARE student from Queen's University has been recognised by a leading technology company for the success of the mobile phone application (app) he personally developed.
Peter Lockhart, a Computer Game Design and Development student was one of eight high-flyers who took part in the inaugural 'App Camp', a programme developed by technology company Kainos. The course teaches the students how to design and develop new apps for Apple's iPhone and iPad devices while enhancing the vital skills required for a career in the technology sector. Peter described the course as "his most worthwhile summer ever".
Peter created the challenging app 'Ant Run!', taking influence previous hits such as 'Chu Chu Rocket' and 'R.U.S.H'. In the game, users are tasked to guide ants back to their colony while trying to avoid dangers such as ant-eaters while using different kinds of ants to come up with complex strategies such as burning ant-eaters with fire ants or luring them towards water with fast flying ants.
In addition to keeping the Apple Macbook and iPod Touch he used throughout App Camp, Peter has been offered a placement year at the company as part of his degree course.
Congratulating him on his success, Tom Gray, Chief Technology Officer at Kainos said: "Peter and the other seven students deserve great credit for their achievements. App Camp is a very innovative development programme and the end results show that collaboration between forward-thinking businesses and the education sector can deliver excellent results. They are also essential if we are to deliver on the government's plans for a strong and thriving knowledge-based economy in Northern Ireland."
Dr Michaela Black, Senior Lecturer at the University of Ulster, Coleraine said: "This entire programme has been a tremendous success and Kainos also deserves credit for recognising the potential and bringing App Camp to life. We look forward to working closely with them in the future as App Camp provides an ideal opportunity for students to apply the knowledge and skills they have gained from their course. Programmes of this nature also offer huge potential for enhancing personal development and employment."
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