Wondering where it's OK to smoke near U-M campus? Check new app
The University of Michigan became smoke-free over the summer, but with more than 3,000 acres of school property interwoven with city streets, businesses and private property, it can be difficult for smokers to know exactly where they can and cannot light up.
A new smartphone application called AASmokeOUT could make things a lot easier for U-M students and staff who decided not to give up smoking after the July 1 ban.
The app, which was launched this summer, locates the user and defines which properties nearby are university-owned and which are not.
“Smokers can instantly determine if it’s OK to smoke when in the greater Ann Arbor area,” says a description of the app on Apple's iTunes website.
AppForThat, an Ann Arbor-based software mobile application developer that created a similar service for frequenters of smoke-free New York City parks, created the 99-cent app.
According to AppForThat owner Bill DeMuro, the app also can be used by non-smokers “to inform people that are violating smoke-free campus law.”
The app allows users to communicate over their phones and avoid any awkward verbal confrontations.
DeMuro said the app has about 800 users.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
Joe_Citizen
Tue, Oct 18, 2011 : 8:15 a.m.
Any where I want, the law is directed towards the staff for insurance reasons.There had to be a financial goal to set the bottom line profit.
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Oct 18, 2011 : 5:08 a.m.
"with more than 3,000 acres of school property interwoven with city streets, businesses and private property, it can be difficult for smokers to know exactly where they can and cannot light up." --- Yes, and SMOKERS will find it very difficult to PAY ANY ATTENTION to this nonsensical mish-mash. Just because something is "for everybody's good" doesn't mean it automatically WORKS. What's this about AN "APP"?? Couldn't care less - no matter what the cost. For one thing, I don't use toys, as an adult, I just stick to PHONES. There is one app-like feature, comes with regular cell phones: it's called "911" and when I dial it, an ambulance will come to pick up any fool who interferes with me ON OR OFF campus. I despise what today's Republican Party has become, but in a few areas they've hit the nail on the head. I mean: this kind of "anti-smoking" baloney is nothing but more Liberal Nanny State belligerence. Anyone who wants to push people around like this had better first think about the many ways people can push back. To U of M's Nanny State Liberals: start ASAP to think about what minority rights means. You've forgotten, that's obvious enough.
A2transplant
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 9:39 p.m.
Will the app also share my smoking expeditions to all of my friends and corporate stalkers on Facebook? It's very important everybody know these things.
julieswhimsies
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 8:19 p.m.
Thanks for the Public Health announcement, A2.com. *sarcasm font*
JR
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 8:11 p.m.
Will the App be updated with a increase to cancer factor and maybe a app that ticks off the minutes and years of your life that you are losing as you smoke? Perhaps an interactive app that can react with your friends and families phone and based on proximity to you it can tell you how much of an increase risk to cancer you are giving them and life you are stealing from them, that would be sweet!
julieswhimsies
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 8:20 p.m.
I guess I care because...well. Smokers stink.
deletedcomment
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 8:19 p.m.
Why do you care so much what other people do? People telling people what to do sense 1776.
Matt Whale
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 8:06 p.m.
One of the above pictures say it's OK to smoke and the other one says it's not OK to smoke. They are the same picture though.
deletedcomment
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.
Seriously? Did you not see the blue dot with text bubble?
Martha Andrews-Schmidt
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 7:56 p.m.
I don't understand why more smokers don't switch to the electronic alternative. It's commonly called an eCig, but it's actually an electronic personal nicotine delivery system that provides an experience exactly like smoking without tobacco. The user gets the "smoking" experience, but the atmosphere around the user remains unsullied. What appears to be smoke emanating from these clever devices is merely water vapor and nearly odorless. I use the device in public places all the time, and most people don't even notice. Those who do are mostly curious and want to know more. I smoked for 49 years. 30 months ago I bought my first eCig and haven't smoked a real cigarette since. My blood pressure dropped. Taste, smell and wind came back swiftly. My dentist says that I "have the mouth of a non-smoker". My physician is thrilled and says that although it may be tough to prove that the eCig is 100% safe, it's 1000% safer than tobacco. And, by the way, it CHEAPER than tobacco.
Martha Andrews-Schmidt
Tue, Oct 18, 2011 : 2:10 p.m.
Yes, I'm still addicted to nicotine; it's my choice, and since it has no impact on you or anyone else, it's no one's business but my own.
Ignatz
Tue, Oct 18, 2011 : 8:51 a.m.
Thanks, Martha!
treetowncartel
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 8:44 p.m.
Yeah, but your still hooked to nicotine.
Martha Andrews-Schmidt
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.
I've seen eCigs for sale at kiosks in shopping malls, but I buy mine online. I'm not sure it's appropriate to post a website here, but I will say that my favorite brand is Vapor King. Excellent product and first class customer service.
Cici
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 8:06 p.m.
Do tell! Where is the best place locally to purchase the eCig so people know where to buy it/them?
Martha Andrews-Schmidt
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 8 p.m.
Yes, Ignatz, they do make eCigars.
Ignatz
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.
Do they have any eCigars?
treetowncartel
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 7:45 p.m.
Somebody should come out with an app that shows where open intoxicants are allowed within the city limits on Football Saturdays.
Hmm
Tue, Oct 18, 2011 : 2:02 p.m.
I think TTC was being sarcastic NN
notnecessary
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.
its called google maps...comes standard on most phone...just search "ann arbor"
Jeremy Adams
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 7:40 p.m.
So, you can't smoke on campus AND the charge you .99 to use the app? Seriously!? Thanks, I will just smoke on campus...
notnecessary
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 6:57 p.m.
Is there a potential fine or something for smoking on U-M campus? What is the penalty, if any?
trespass
Tue, Oct 18, 2011 : 2:31 a.m.
Kelly- The purpose of the ban is to get rid of employees who smoke and scare aware potential employees who smoke because it will lower the healthcare bills for the University, which is self insured. Thus, it doesn't really matter to the University if the ban is enforced on visitors since employees are the target.
Kellie Woodhouse
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 7:20 p.m.
Thanks for asking. My colleague Juliana wrote a piece this summer that hits on enforcement. From that article: "The ban won't be enforced with tickets from the U-M Department of Public Safety, Winfield said. Officers won't patrol tailgates in search of smokers flouting the new rule. Instead, it's essentially voluntary, enforced via various signs and the idea that people on campus will respectfully ask smokers to stamp out their cigarettes. Still, repeated violation of the ban could lead to a workplace violation for an employee or disenrollment of a student under already in-place disciplinary procedures." Read the rest here: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/university-of-michigan-prepares-to-go-smoke-free-july-1/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/university-of-michigan-prepares-to-go-smoke-free-july-1/</a>
cinnabar7071
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
If I were a smoker, I'd smoke on any property that takes tax dollars.
cinnabar7071
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 8:56 p.m.
Yes rusty I would smoke on their property, outside of course.
notnecessary
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 7:10 p.m.
@rusty - only medical marijuana.
fjord
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 7:08 p.m.
"If I were a smoker, I'd smoke on any property that takes tax dollars." And you'd be rightfully escorted off that property. There are a lot of things you're not allowed to do on public property that you can do in your own home.
rusty shackelford
Mon, Oct 17, 2011 : 6:58 p.m.
Even the VA hospital?