U.S. Soldier Designing and Testing Taliban-Fighting Apps in Afghanistan

[Maura]

GlobalPost has a fascinating in-depth feature about the U.S. soldiers who are designing iPhone apps to help fight the Taliban in Afghanistan. The article describes how Capt. Jonathan Springer, a 101st Airborne artillery specialist and avowed Apple fan, designed an app called Tactical Nav, which helps soldiers to map, plot and photograph waypoints on the battlefield, as well as send coordinates to other units.

“I’ve been an iPhone user for quite a while, and I’m obviously a Mac guy,” Springer told GlobalPost. “I’m a heavy pusher of the iPhone because of what it can do, and I see the benefits – not only at home, but here in combat.”

Springer designed the app in partnership with a software writer and a design company, and has put thousands of dollars of his own money and lots of his spare time into getting the app made. The app is currently in the testing stage out in Afghanistan, where Springer is putting it through its paces. He hopes to have it available in the App Store in the first week of February for iPhone and iPod touch, and if all goes well, eventually on the iPad too.

Source: Afghanistan War | US Troops | iPhone Apps