Want to the know where the portable toilets are on inauguration day? There’s now an app for that.
The 57th presidential inauguration is the first in history to offer a smartphone app, which will be especially useful to three distinct audiences: people attending inaugural events in Washington, people who want to participate in the National Day of Service anywhere in the US, and anybody anywhere who wants to tap into the historic occasion. “We’ve designed our app to make sure folks across this country don’t miss a moment of history,” says Steve Kerrigan, president of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. “Whether you’re in Washington, DC, or any other part of the nation, there are plenty of ways to be involved in the inauguration through this app.”
For people attending inaugural events in Washington, the app will be a quick reference tool for getting around. According to the PIC, it will feature a full schedule of official events, up-to-date news about access to events, maps that show event access points, portable toilet locations, viewing screen locations, and other important tips for maneuvering through the city. The Joint Congressional Committee on Ceremonies is expected today to announce its own separate mobile-optimized website to assist people attending the swearing-in. (Maybe in four years, these two groups will hook up and produce one app for the whole inauguration.)
The PIC app also enables those who want to participate in the National Day of Service to look up events where they live. “Users may filter by the type of event they are interested in, whether it’s focused on education, health, community resilience, economic development, veterans and military families, faith, or the environment,” according to the PIC. “Once users find the right event for them, they can RSVP and see how many others in their community plan to attend the event.”
There will also be photos and video from the inaugural ceremonies. The app can be synced with Facebook, Twitter, e-mail and text.