Applied Research Tools to Support the Development of a Cross-platform Mobile-first Platform as a Service (MPaaS) and Cross-Campus Research Collaboration

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This ARTI grant proposal requests support to purchase special tools to enhance the ability of New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) to undertake an applied research project with its industrial partners in the area of multi-platform, mobile app development. Each of NBCC's partners develops functionality and content for specific mobile platforms and business units. They have indicated that current cross-platform mobile app development technologies lack certain domain-specific functionality of importance to their respective business lines. This includes the domains of healthcare, casino gaming devices, e- learning, IPTV monitoring systems, and data analytics to improve consumer experiences. The strategy agreed upon between NBCC and its partners within this applied research project to address this functionality gap includes the development (or adaptation of) a cross-platform mobile-first platform as a service (MPaaS) framework and the development of generic domain-specific services aligned with the needs of NBCC's partners within the resulting MPaaS. NBCC will support its partners by performing surveys of research and industrial literature; and collaborating in software design, development, and testing activities. Part of the equipment requested in this proposal is meant to facilitate collaboration by NBCC faculty and students across all of its campuses to better support this project. The remainder of equipment is meant to support domain-specific functionality to be implemented within the MPaaS. The Research Chair has assembled a team of NBCC faculty members from all six campuses to manage and collaborate on the applied research project associated with this grant. NBCC will train highly-qualified personnel through student participation in the applied research project associated with this proposal. This research project is critically important to NBCC's strategic plan and five year strategic goals, which includes the implementation of an applied research strategy. Mobile technology has been identified as one of five strategic areas of applied research for NBCC.