If Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr “aren’t enough”:https://www.dailyillini.com/index.php/article/2011/08/free_easy_software_solutions_for_students, students on campus are now able to test out a new social calendaring application.

“Scheedule”:http://illinois.scheedule.com/, a schedule-generating website, launched a new social calendar application at the University last week.

The “creators of Scheedule”:https://www.dailyillini.com/index.php/article/2006/11/site_makes_scheduling_easy say they now hope to transform it into more of a social networking website.

The new application was created by three University alumni: Suraj Samaranayake, Dave Alongi and Mike Barker. Over the summer, the three quit their jobs to devote their full time to Scheedule’s social calendar launch.

To use the application, students simply log into Scheedule using their Facebook accounts. From there, they are able to see which of their friends use Scheedule, and they can “follow” their friends, similar to Twitter.

“You’ll see all your friends and what they’re doing that day,” said Samaranayake, a 2008 graduate. “You can hover over the events and see where they’re going that day, as long as they’ve shared that information with you.”

Scheedule’s calendar also allows students to view upcoming events on campus. There are different “streams” students can add, which allow them to choose what type of events they view. Samaranayake said this application could change the way registered student organizations, or RSOs, are able to plan and market their events.

“We remembered being on campus and how ineffective and expensive it was for RSOs to flyer and market their events. We wanted to help students realize what was going on and to make it easier for student groups,” he said.

Before the launch, Scheedule partnered with several RSOs, including Star Course and Illini Pride, to include their calendars on the website, Maura Stanton, president of the female a capella group The Rip Chords and junior in FAA, said she feels the new calendar application will really help groups like hers.

“I think it’s a great idea, because as the president of a performing group, I think it’s a great way to get our shows out to the public and to boost our attendance,” Stanton said.

Over the next few months, Scheedule hopes to continue to launch the calendar application at other universities around the nation, including Stanford. Samaranayake said the group also plans to launch iPhone and Android apps. These apps would allow viewers to access their calendars directly on their smartphones. However, despite the new changes, Samaranayake stressed that the original schedule generator will remain the same.

Kimmy Steelman, junior in LAS, has been using Scheedule since her freshman year. However, she doesn’t see the need for the new social application.

“I think Scheedule is great to plan my schedule,” Steelman said. “But I’m not sure I would spend any extra time on the website, when I can use Facebook or Twitter to communicate with my friends.”