Science
(2009-09-16)
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Jonecia Keels is the developer of 'iDex', one of Apple's most popular applications.
Courtesy: Spelman College
Named "iDex," the idea came from her 12-year-old sister.
"She just was like OK--I need a guide to tell me which weakness to use against your Pok mon, cause I keep losing.' And I was like, Huh, that's a really good idea!'"
The "app" serves as a Pokemon pocket reference. Pokemon is a somewhat complex, competitive video game that's popular worldwide. Each of the nearly 500-characters has a mix of strengths and weaknesses. So, keeping up with that much information is difficult.
Keels knew she'd like a program that keeps it all straight. She never dreamed the app would be as big as it's become. Of the more than 26-hundred available reference apps, iDex ranks in the top 25.
"I just wanted to say that I had an app. I wasn't expecting it to be popular or anything like that."
Keels has done all of this development for free countless hours, she says. There's no charge to download iDex. One day she hopes to make some money from it, but for now, she has a different motive:
"It's pretty rare to see a black female programming like this, so I kind of want females to program more and get into the computer science industry because we have a lot to bring to the table as well."
Of course, she still plans to keep beating her sister at Pokemon.
Jim Burress, WABE News.
© Copyright 2009, WABE
