Soumik Debjit Mitra, an applied computer science major, and Rao Li, professor of applied computer science, have teamed up to develop an Android app to help students at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) with Math 174, Discrete Math for Computer Science.
The app, called “Discrete Math in Your Hands,” is the first USCA app in the Google Play Store. Mitra, a senior from India, came to Li about creating the app after taking his CSCI 340 Mobile Application Development course in the fall of 2022, which was his first semester on campus.
MORE: Augusta DA, sheriff, judge candidates present views as early voting starts
“My thinking in developing the app was that students need to have access to content easily with all topics in one place,” said Mitra. “With the app, the student or professor just presses the button for topics or subtopics and can access those course materials.”
Mitra and Li decided to collaborate on the app, and they started building it in May 2023. The Google Play’s testing phase took place in January and February, and 20 testers were required to review the app’s performance each day for 14 days. Mitra’s parents were among the testers. The app was then approved for launch in early March 2024.
The app is categorized into 12 topics, and each topic contains two to four subtopics. Content is provided in PDF files, though Mitra is currently in the process of building a website with notes and study guides, which will provide access for iPhone users.
Mitra and Li presented the app in the Math and Computer Science session of the S.C. Academy of Science Annual Meeting in late March.
Mitra started at USCA in the fall of 2022, and he came in as a junior. After he graduates, Mitra plans to pursue a career in mobile or web development.
Li has taught Discrete Math at USCA for over 20 years.
“Google has a very strict process, and this is a very unusual accomplishment for an undergraduate student, one that I am very proud of,” said Li. “It is a successful story of USCA’s applied computer science and math programs.”
