News

Aalto Space mobile application develops and extends its range of buildings

Published: 25.2.2019

During the autumn of 2018, the use of the application was facilitated by adding several new functionalities and identification was enabled for different user groups.

Aalto Space Kuva: Hannes Huotari — Image: Hannes Huotari / Aalto University

It can be challenging to find unreserved rooms for studying, group work or conferences on the campus. Aalto Space makes finding and booking facilities easy for all users of the campus’ facilities.

Aalto Space is a mobile application for Android and iOS devices. It allows you to book studying and group work facilities and helps you navigate the campus. Aalto Space’s conference room booking functionality is piloted simultaneously by the University’s personnel and business users. The application’s range of buildings and facilities will increase during 2019 as several new buildings and coworking facilities located on the Otaniemi campus will be made available in the application. The newest addition is the School of Business' new building.

New functionalities allow effortless use of the application

A steering group, which consists of Aalto personnel, students and experts, is responsible for the development and management of the Aalto Space application. The application’s development has been supported by several ITP projects (https://itpaalto.net/) in which Aalto University students have provided the development team with insight on the user experience and provided concrete development ideas with the help of various design tools. The research results of student projects will be utilised in the future development of the application.

During the autumn of 2018, the use of the application was facilitated by adding several new functionalities and identification was enabled for two user groups: Aalto University users and business and campus users. The most remarkable changes include the application’s new front page as well as the favourites and mini room card functionalities.

The developers utilised user personas identified through user interviews in the design of the new properties. The identified user personas were Instant Booker, Planned Booker, Specific-need Booker and New Booker. The application’s new properties make it easier to find facilities and enable booking currently available facilities by a single tap or click.

Starting to use Aalto Space is easy

Currently, the application identifies users through phone numbers.

The users are divided into four user groups: visitors, students, personnel, and business and campus users. The user group determines the range of available facilities, the duration and maximum number of facility reservations and the time window of advance reservations.

Aalto Space application roadshow:
Tue 26.2. 10-14 Undergraduate Centre, main lobby (Otakaari 1)
Wed 27.2. 9-10 School of Business, main lobby (Ekonominaukio 1)
Thu 28.2. 10-11 Väre, main lobby (Otaniementie 14)