New Trinity ID App

Posted on: 28 October 2015

Trinity College Dublin is the first higher education institution in Ireland to implement an app that students can use as an acceptable form of identification on campus. Students from Trinity’s School of Computer Science and Statistics (SCSS) have built a Trinity ID app. Peter Meehan and Conor Brennan, built this new digital ID system over Summer 2015 as interns in SCSS, under the direction of Professor Stephen Barrett, and in collaboration with Trinity College IT Services (project led by Dr Tom Hayes). The app was built based on the results of an SU survey regarding students losing or forgetting their student card.

“We focused on delivering a solution that appears easy, but is in fact complex. In addition, the agile development of the app demonstrates what can be achieved as a result of collaboration between students, academics and administrative support,” explained Dr Hayes.

The pilot service is now live and provides students with an authenticated digital version of the physical Trinity College ID card. The app is complementary to the physical ID card and it can be used as an alternative form of identification. It is currently accepted as a valid form of identification by a number of areas on campus including College Security, Academic Registry, IT Services, Careers Advisory Service, College Health Services, Student Counselling, Students’ Union, and the Sports Centre. The app offers future potential, such as using it to borrow books or access buildings.

"In a matter of a few short months from conception to delivery, we now have a pilot service live. Proposed by our students, built by our computer science students, and fully integrated into our University IT operations. It demonstrates creativity, flexibility, and an entrepreneurial attitude that opens up huge potential for future innovation on campus,” noted Professor Barrett.

The Trinity ID App is in use by thousands of students already, is available for both Android and iOS, and can be downloaded here.