Wouldn’t it be nice to see how level the desk is you’re sitting at, or to do a coin toss without any change in your pocket?

And wouldn’t it be nice to update your Facebook status while walking to class?

Or, what about passing the time playing a game that involves using your finger to slingshot some not-so-happy birds into a bunch of pigs?

Well, as Apple says, “there’s an app for that.”

As smartphone applications and games spread like wildfire, students at Baker University are finding many uses for them in everyday life.

Sophomore Bryce Bowers has had an Android smartphone for two years and has about 10 games and apps.

Some of the applications he has found useful include Google Navigation, Pandora, a Bible app and a coin flip app.

“In my counseling class we couldn’t decide which one of my partners was going to share first, and so I used the coin flip app and we flipped a coin and decided who was going first,” he said.

Junior Jackie Thompson has also been able to use some of her 20 iPhone apps in a few of her classes, apps including a periodic table, unit converter and even a level.

But she also enjoys playing games, including the ever popular, and still top grossing, Angry Birds.

“I think Angry Birds is just fantastic,” Thompson said. “Anyone who’s played Angry Bird loves it.”

Even though she’s a fan of this game, Thompson said she’s not addicted to using her apps all the time.

“I kind of have a cycle at night when I’m going to bed,” she said. “I’ll play 10 minutes of games and read news and that’s about it. Sometimes between classes I’ll be bored, but generally I’ve been busy enough that I haven’t got sucked into it too bad. I do think I’m addicted to my iPhone. I don’t think that I could have another phone.”

But it’s not just students who are using their smartphones for these everyday purposes. Some Baker staff and faculty are searching, downloading and using the latest games and apps as well.

Jacob Bucher, assistant professor of sociology, has had an iPhone for a couple of years and has about 20 games and apps total.

Some of the apps he uses more often are Facebook, Sportacular and Groupon.

He’s even used his Nike app to see how much he walks around the classroom during one of his classes. It ended up being about half a mile.

But he also enjoys playing games like Fruit Ninja and Burn the Rope, and like Thompson, Bucher said he’s big on Angry Birds.

“I’ve been on Angry Birds since it came out,” he said. “So I feel very possessive of it now that it’s become such a big thing. But the funny thing about Angry Birds is … once we had our son, that’s when I really started to play it. When you’re up at 4 a.m. trying to get a baby to sleep, you don’t have anything to do. And, so I would play the games on my phone. And Angry Birds is one.”

Bucher said it’s the accessibility of apps such as these that really adds to the popularity.

“I think where are culture is going is we like to have things right now,” he said.  “Now that I have a phone that I can call somebody, I can text somebody, I can e-mail somebody, I can listen to all my music, check Facebook, play games, all at the touch of my hand, I think that’s really accessible.”