With just a few months until graduation, Cody Romano became nostalgic about his college experience.
The 22-year-old UF public relations senior was discussing postgraduation plans with friends when he was inspired to find a way to preserve all those memories over the years.
Two months later, Romano created an application: Geopackages.
With Geopackages, a user can create a package and fill it with text and photos at a specific location. The package is virtually dropped at that location. In order to access a package, a user must go to that location to open it. Users can then also add to the package.
Geopackages is a web app that can be accessed for free through a cell phone's browser, unlike a traditional mobile app available through download at a mobile app store. The app is integrated with Facebook and Instagram, where users can upload photos from their accounts into a Geopackage.
Although the web app won’t be rolled out until Saturday, users can now apply to test the app at www.geopackages.com.
Romano said he wanted to debut the app near graduation time.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s really fun, and I think it’ll be worth it if it helps people preserve memories from college,” he said.
Making the app came at no cost to Romano, who already had Web server space and a domain.
“In the future, I think it’ll be a really great way to get businesses to draw people to their stores,” he said.
Romano and his girlfriend, 22-year-old UF alumna Caitlin Riggs, drop packages at interstate rest areas when they commute to see each other between Gainesville and Tallahassee.
“It’s kinda fun to stop at a rest area you don’t usually stop at and keep the story going,” Riggs said.
Contact Colleen Wright at cwright@alligator.org.
