Computer Science faculty have the projects described below available for students to work on. Other projects are also possible. You can visit individual faculty to discuss a project of your choosing, or other projects that they might have available.

Adapt or retool code that generates families of Graphs/DiGraphs according to user specified parameters and then allows algorithms to be executed on those graphs. This would likely involve: the BGSU cluster and the new SMP machine, but could also involve use of machines at OSC. This would be an ideal project for someone who enjoyed 417 and 612.

USEFUL BACKGROUND

MPI, graph theory.

DESCRIPTION

This project would involve extending and/or adapting a project from a prior semester. This earlier project involved developing a system that would allow for the 'easy' generation of a campus navigation system, deployable on a mobile device. A working prototype was developed. A number of issues remain. Some of these are:

• improving the graphics
• navigation enhancements
• improving robustness
• user testing

There was some initial discussion as to use of 3D graphics -- it's still not clear whether this is a viable (or even desirable option).

USEFUL BACKGFOUND

2D graphics

DESCRIPTION

In many games, 3d animations (e.g. a humanoid running) are created offline using tools like Maya and 3d studio max. The animations are then 'played' at specific times in the play of the game. The XNA game express environment has limited support for use of such 'predefined' skeletal animation. Ideally this project would have two overlapping components. 1) develop a toolkit of C# classes to allow easy manipulation of predefined animations within the XNA environment. 2) create a simple XBOX 360 game that demonstrates the utility of the toolkit. XBOX 360 provided.

USEFUL BACKGROUND

3D Graphics

DESCRIPTION

We have been investigating the use of 3D graphics as a component in the delivery of instructions for construction tasks, e.g. build a Lego model. We have principally been using VRML to generate the graphics as well as to provide some of the user interaction capabilities. This project would involve the creation of a set of software tools to create construction-task presentations using Java3D for graphics and user interaction.

USEFUL BACKGROUND

Java, Java3d, graphics.

OBJECTIVE OF PROJECT

The online Bachelor of Liberal Studies program is seeking a reliable, easy to use database for tracking prospective students from first contact, to enrollment, and beyond.

GOALS

• Develop a database for prospective student management in Access or File Pro.
• Create queries for use in tracking prospects and their enrollment patterns.
• Construct queries for use in tracking prospect contact activities.
• Generate queries for use in extracting a variety of prospect data (i.e., zip code and ages).
• Design web-based form(s) for gathering client information and successful importation to database system.

Student will be required to work with BLS advisor to determine the specifications of the database, queries, reports, and forms. Student will also be required to provide adequate documentation to maintain and use the system.

OBJECTIVE OF PROJECT

To develop software to process spectra mass unit values for cells. At a minimum the software will need to sort two files in parallel, looking for an 80-unit difference in values between the peaks that are recorded on the two files. In addition, multiples of 80, such as 160, 240, etc. should be flagged if they are found.

BACKGROUND

Cells are affected by a compound called a tumor promoter, in such a way that they take on some of the properties of cancer cells. The investigators have evidence that these changes can be traced back to a single protein. This protein, called PKC, is an enzyme that donates phosphorescer groups to other, unknown proteins. The mission of the group is to find out the identity of the proteins. They will do so by cutting up the proteins of the whole cell, in cells where the PKC is unaltered versus those where it has been eliminated. By detecting the 80-unit difference between the peptides from PKC-replete and PKC-free cells, the investigators will identify the peptide fragments from the unknown proteins. >From that, they can learn the identity of the proteins by sequencing the peptides.

PROPOSAL

At present, the investigators have spectra from a technique known as MALDI-TOF. They need to compare the spectra obtained from the two types of cells, which has so far been done "by eye". However, there are already a number of spectra to be compared, and the investigators may not have found the differences. If software is used, we can determine whether every difference has been found "by eye" in those samples. This project will be followed by further experimentation to confirm the peptides as consistent products altered by the enzyme, PKC. The software will be used in the confirmation, as part of a graduate student's Ph.D. project. It may be of interest commercially as well.

DELIVERABLE

The deliverable of this project is an interesting game, developed with the DirectX application suite.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Become familiar with the DirectX programming "paradigm" and API
• Develop an understanding of fundamental aspects of game programming, including some combination of the following:
  • Graphics, 2D or 3D
  • AI
  • Networking ( e.g. multiplayer games)
  • Physics

APPROXIMATE TIMELINE

Weeks 1-6

• The student will learn DirectX using suitable textbook and/or online resources. (approximately 1/3 of the semester).
• The student will learn DirectX using suitable textbook and/or online resources. (approximately 1/3 of the semester).
• The student will identify a suitable game to be implemented

Weeks 7-16

The student will develop the selected game.

VARIATIONS

I have several games projects from former students that could serve as a starting point. A team project is a possibility.

BACKGROUND

Parallel or distributed simulation refers to the execution of discrete-event simulation programs on a multiprocessor system or network of workstations. This may be carried out in a number of programming paradigms, including Java.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the suitability of certain public domain Java simulation libraries by developing Java based simulation applications using these libraries. The applications may use several techniques. Conduct test runs on target architectures and generate numerical data on performance and other factors. Prepare a detailed report on your work and give an oral presentation at the department colloquium slot.

The project may employ more than one student. It involves many phases with opportunities for students to work in groups or in different phases of the project.

PREREQUISITES

Familiarity with discrete-event simulation and parallel computing. Good Java programming skills.

GOAL

The goal of this project is to develop a project management CASE tool that allows an agile development team to estimate and track development schedules.

BACKGROUND

In agile software development, tasks are estimated in magnitude rather than in real time or "ideal" time. That is, a generic unit is used for estimating the relative length of time that a task may take to complete. In order to know how much the team can do in each release, developer velocity (the relative productivity to a typical programmer) is also estimated. A project buffer is then calculated and used along with the project magnitude and team velocity to carry out a release plan. The tool will automate the release planning and tracking in agile development. It should allow the user to enter task information and team velocity, calculate the project buffer, and then generate a release plan.

DETAILS

In this project, the student will first learn the process of agile project management and then develop a CASE tool to automate the process. The student can choose their own development environment on Windows. A background in Agile Development is preferred.

BACKGROUND

The Internet Research Group at Sun Microsystems initiated the development of a public-domain C library to validate chains of X.509 certificates. The relevant standard is RFC 3280. Volunteers from outside have been working on many pieces of this library. When completed, it can be used by users/programs across a range of platforms. Soon, the library may become part of open source code. For now, it is still work in progress and a number of additional components are needed.

OBJECTIVE

Your part is a piece of the overall puzzle; you need to follow good software engineering principles and established architecture and programming guidelines for the library. As well, the development employs unit testing and code review.

Following the completion of the code and comprehensive write-up, you will give an oral presentation at the department colloquium slot.

PREREQUISITES

Prerequisite include good C programming skills (NOT C++), CS 464 ideas, PKI and aspects of CS 508, CS 629.

ELIGIBLE COMPONENTS

Some of the components are listed below, each of which may be worked on by a team of students:

1. Certificate status checking (starting with full direct CRLs and moving on to OCSP, segmented CRLs, indirect CRLs, delta CRLs, etc.)
2. Name constraints checking; Certificate policy processing
3. Fetching certificates and CRLs from LDAP, HTTP, and other repositories (using information provided in AIA, SIA, or CRLDP extensions or through configuration)

Developing VRML worlds and VRML presentation of a LEGO construction project.

The student would need to:
1. Train themselves to use VRML and to interface VRML with java and C++ (this means go through some tutorials and practice exercises)
2. Learn about the notion of "inherent complexity" in building tasks (this means read a paper)
3. Identify a LEGO building task with a suitable level of inherent complexity
4. Build the VRMLs to present the building instructions for the building task
5. Imbed the VRML's into a suitable user interface to use for an experiment.

Students could work in the CHIL lab although the materials to do development in VRML are mostly free.

START: summer or fall

BACKGROUND

Introductory students want to be able to develop applications using a GUI environment, but the C++ language extensions that allow this are complex and employ an unusual syntax. Introductory students will not be able to comprehend these language extensions while also learning introductory programming concepts.

GOAL

The purpose of this project is to develop extensions to several .NET controls (specifically form, text box, list box, button, label) that will allow the student to develop GUI applications without using the C++ extensions employed by .NET. The controls will be developed in such a way that they can be added to the toolbox and be used as alternatives to the built-in controls.

Several examples and a tutorial document will also be developed as part of the project.

Study and implement at least 4 or 5 existing algorithms. Empirical performance evaluation using large (real) data sets. Use of real (OSU) and simulated processors.

Propose some improvement over one of the existing ones, possibilities:
- patterns in underlying data sets vs influence on performance
- improved data structure vs influence on performance
- processor topology vs influence performance metrics
- anything else?

Weekly progress report/meet with me (at least once a week)

Write a VERY detailed, formatted, and self-contained project report
- on the literature
- your understanding
- your improvements
- program design and methodology
- code walk through + documented code
- program run snapshots and discussion

The write-up may have to be iterated a few times in consultation with me and possibly one other faculty.

Formal oral presentation at a departmental colloquium.