CS 410 Project Ideas

Title

Surf Alert System (SAS)

Category

Personal

Problem

Expensive surf trips to exotic locations are often a waste of money because the conditions are unsurfable. Weather patterns, location of the surf spot, and other factors must be taken into account to forcast surf, and the average surfer is not a meteorologist.

Solution

SAS will compile databases of surf spots across the globe, taking note of type of break (point break, beach break, reef, slab), direction the break faces (north, south, etc.), and maximum size of wave the break can sustain. SAS will combine This information with weather patterns (including wind and swell direction with wave size, speed, and period) to predict where surf will be good. SAS will send real time alerts to surfers' cell phones when a spot is particularly good, or when the users' specified home breaks are good. Users can also add surf breaks to the database, including all the necessary information mentioned above. The combination of the ability to predict good surf and give real-time alerts of good surf near-by will ensure surfers will never miss a good swell or blow a surf trip because of bad swell.

CS Component

A PDA-like device that holds all the information about the breaks. This will connect to the internet to retreive weather patterns and updates on surf spot data. This device will have blue tooth or wireless reception to send alerts to cell phones.

Title

Government Issue Credit Cards (GICC)

Category

Govt

Problem

Government aid fraud has been rampant in recent years, ranging from food stamp fraud to the Hurricane Katrina FEMA aid scandals. Citizens are spending government money on frivolous things other than the moneys' purpose.

Solution

GICCs will provide users with individualized credit cards to help regulate how government aid money is spent. For example, GICCs for food stamps will only work in grocery stores for approved items (no beer or liquor, only food items). Cards given as releif for disaster victems, such as hurricanes, will be limited to spending on hardware for repairing homes, hiring contractors, food and clothing, etc. These cards can also be given to government contractors to keep track of and limit their spending on business trips or when buying things on behalf of the government. GICCs will be able to be programmed to regulate any government money given to individual citizens or government employees. Recipients of the cards will be finger printed to ensure that only one individual recieves one card and also to ensure that someone else can't use that card. Since more and more grocery stores and other retail places are being equipped with finger print scanners, this won't be a problem.

CS Component

Credit cards, finger print scanners.

Title

Snail Mail Individual Privacy Protection

Category

Communication/Security

Problem

Identity theft and credit card fraud are on the rise, and one of the biggest problems is because of the information present in many unsolicited mailings sent out by credit card companies. A customer's name and address is needed in order to mail the solicitation, and some degree of credit information is present inside in order to promote the card.

Solution

Replace the typical address that is written in plain English with a barcode that can only be read by propritary hardware and software used by the post office. Mail carriers can see the name and address of the recipient, but the actual letter will only have a bar code that can not be read or decrypted by the common thief.

CS Component

Data encryption/decryption software, bar code generation software, bar code creation/reading hardware/software

Title

Automotive Accident Alert System

Category

Automotive

Problem

Falling alseep at the wheel when no one is around to help.

Solution

This product will sense when your car has been in an accident and automatically call the rescue services and alert them of your location and situation using a GPS. This way, if you fall asleep at the wheel and no one knows you have had an accident, you will be helped even though no person is around to call for help.

CS Component

GPS, sensors, black boxes in cars.

Title

Legal Underpriced Multimedia Marketplace

Category

Commerce

Problem

File sharing in most forms, whether through torrenting or centralized servers, has been declared illegal, however many people still do not want to pay full retail prices for CD's that they only want a few songs from.

Solution

Create a e-commerce web site that allows users to buy new CD's and sell their used CD's at half of what they paid for it. Once a user has purchased a CD, they could rip the tracks to their computer, and then sell it on the site for half of what they paid for it, effectively receiving a 50% rebate. Somebody else could then buy the CD at that price, rip the tracks, and sell it at half of what they paid for it. The site would have to have some method of ensuring that purchasers were also sellers, and that the system was not used to sell burnt copies of CD's.

CS Component

Web design, e-commerce capabilities, encryption/security, database capabilities to monitor individual member usage

Title

Public Speaking Analyzer(Forensics forensics)

Category

Social/Business

Problem

The best way to improve public speaking skills is through practice in front of an audience that can provide feedback, but such opportunities are rare or too nerve-racking for some people.

Solution

A software program that uses voice recognition software to analyze a speech and come up with specific critiques for a speaker. Obvious problems such as stuttering, repetition of the same word, long pauses, or speaking too quickly could easily be implemented, and more general concepts such as enunciation and flow could also be looked into.

CS Component

Voice recognition software, grading algorithms, data mining if implemented through database technology, user interface

Title

parking garage organizer

Category

transportation

Problem

finding a place to park in massive Garages

Solution

keep track of cars coming in and out and which parking spots they were assigned to, track cars to make sure they park in the correct spot, accept requests for parking in certain areas, reserve parking spaces for handicapped

CS Component

database, cameras, credit card reader

Title

Testing Center Usage Analysis System

Category

Education

Problem

Most colleges have testing centers which student take there tests at. Yet often the testing centers are closed when students want to take the test or are very busy when you go to the testing center.

Solution

Creation of a system that logs visits to the testing center. The system would create reports showing high usage time (Times when more staff is needed.) and show which instructors are using the center.

CS Component

Database, Web-based interface, AI element to recommend changes to the center's hours.

Title

External Financial Aid Searcher

Category

Education

Problem

The external scholarships at ODU currently are currently in a long file that is hard to search. Many scholarships that are available are not used due to students not knowing about them or applying for them.

Solution

Creating a web-based system that allows students to enter in general information about themselves and then display the external scholarships that the student can apply to.

CS Component

Database, web programming, Logic element to find matching scholarships.

Title

Consuming

Category

Information management

Problem

There is too much information around these days to be able to know everything that is going on. Often times people do not have time to read all of the literature on something before making a decision or can not determine good information from bad information.

Solution

Create a system that parses given documents and extracts key points and meaning to basically give a summary of what a paper is about. Key points and topics may also be linked to additional resources such as dictionaries, encylcopedias, maps and timelines so in the case that the reader does not know what they are about they can quickly and easily find out.

CS Component

topic lookup database, web service clients, web services, semantic parser, regular parser

Title

Finger pay?

Category

Finance

Problem

Credit card fraud claims nearly $1 billion a year. Credit cards may also be easily obtained with a fake identity (if you see that as a problem, not sure if I do).

Solution

use a person's fingerprint as a payment system. The fingerprint will tie into a database which contains all their account information and then directly charge them, no need for any extra cards or a smart card with added security.

CS Component

fingerprint scanner, user database(s), fingerprint recognition software

Title

Semantic conversion

Category

Information management

Problem

(almost a word peace idea / phd topic) The Semantic Web is still a long way off, the main problem being that webmasters do not know what they are doing or how to implement the ideas of the Semantic Web. Semantic Web description: http://www.w3.org/2001/sw/

Solution

Create a program that converts basic html markup to xml + xslt markup and tags any relevant data it finds in the Semantic Web style.

CS Component

variety of parsers, simple user interface, database connectivity (for database driven websites)

Title

Smarter Smart Board

Category

Education

Problem

People misspell words all the time especially when they have to write on a board infront of a class.

Solution

Add spell checking similar to that if Microsoft Word to current SMART board technology.

CS Component

Optical character recognition, application code of the spell checker.

Title

Household Self Inventory System

Category

General / Crime

Problem

When a household is robbed, the house is in a disorary and the home owners have no idea what has been taken and what has not. This makes it hard to fill out insurance claims accuracy.

Solution

Create a system using RFID tags on everything of value in the house (>=$20). The system would allow the home users to scan UPC tags on items which the system would then access an online database to find out what the item is and its exismated value. When the house is robbed, the house owner can go to the center unit and it would print a list of all stolen items. In addition, this system could help find misplaced items.

CS Component

Internet Database, RFID tags, User interface.

Title

RFID tags for hospital patients

Category

Health

Problem

Hospitals are still employing low tech means for keeping track of patients.

Solution

Patients would wear hospital bands containing an RFID tag that when scanned shows the information for the patient that would normally appear in their charts. This would mean less of a hastle as far as having to keep track and store all of the charts for each patient.

CS Component

RFID tags, a large database, RFID scanners

Title

Automatic roll taker

Category

Education

Problem

For classes that take roll everyday it can take up time that could be spent doing more useful tasks.

Solution

Students could carry (in whatever way) an RFID tag that tells who they are, so that when they walk through the door they could be added to the automatic roll for the class.

CS Component

RFID tags, RFID sensors

Title

Fingerprint car remote

Category

Transportation

Problem

Automobile theft is a big problem in society today, so added security for automobiles needs to become more reliable.

Solution

Car remotes that require a fingerprint scan to allow a user to access the remote would add to a car's security.

CS Component

Fingerprint scanners, fingerprint recognition, fingerprint database

Title

Hurricaine Alert System (HAS)

Category

Weather/Safety

Problem

Every year we face hurracaine season, it's been shown that people don't inform themselves, people who live in a fast pace don't even bother to check the news to see the latest upgrades, We've seen that it only takes few hours for a hurracaine to change its intensity.

Solution

Receive alerts on watches with internet capabilities according to the location of the individual, providing the safest areas for evacuation.

CS Component

GPS unit, map software, satellite, wireless internet

Title

Motorcycle Detection System (Collision Prevention)

Category

Automotive

Problem

Everyday motorcyclists are in danger due to car/truck drivers not being aware of the motorcyclist being within the vicinity of their car/truck. This problem causes motorcycles to be run off the roads.

Solution

A device similar to a radar detector would be mounted on the car/trucks dashboard signifying whether a motorcyclist is within the area. The device would indicate what direction the motorcycle is in relation to the car/truck operator, and how far away the motorcycle is in relation to their position.

CS Component

Scanner, signal generating device, software to determine direction and distance, and possibly others with more research.

Title

Child Tracking System using GPS

Category

Safety

Problem

When parents are busy with their own daily tasks around the house, they tend to loose focus of where their children are. This causes stress, panic, and other unhealthy physiological problems to occur.

Solution

A device consisting of a watch, ring, necklace, bracelet, toe ring, earring, or pin would contain a sensor that a GPS scanner could detect. When a child goes outside of a bound set by the parent, an alarm similar to a fire detector would go off. The scanner would indicate where the child is in relation to the house. The parent could then easily go outside to where the child is and instruct the child to go within the appropriate bounds. This device would also track where a child is if the child was kidnapped. Kidnappers are not going to have the child strip down bare naked and have the child remove all jewelry, watches, etc…

CS Component

Scanner, signal generating device/sensors, position detection software, and possibly others with more research.

Title

Speed Limit Monitoring System using GPS

Category

Transportation

Problem

Today there are many reckless people on the roads endangering the lives of many men, women, and children. The times reckless drivers do their reckless driving is when cops are least likely to be around, especially during inclement whether. Cops are never around when they are needed. Signs signifying that speed is monitored by electronic devices, aircraft, etc… only educates the reckless driver to be more cautious of these devices.

Solution

A black box inside of a vehicle would scan for speed limit signs within a certain distance from the vehicle. If the vehicle is going above the set speed by a certain number of mph (ex. 20+) for more than a certain amount of time (10 seconds), the black box would submit a signal tracked by a GPS monitoring system that gives the location, speed, direction, vehicle identification, and whether or not this vehicle was reported stolen. If the black box were to be tampered with in any way by a non-certified professional, the car would not start unless brought to an authorized service location. A digital key would then need to be reset/re-programmed by a technician. Speed limit signs would need to have a built-in signal generating device that radiates the local speed limit to incoming/oncoming vehicles.

CS Component

“Black Box” signal generator/scanner, speed limit detection software, traffic sign signal generating device, GPS monitoring software (to give position of vehicle, vehicle information reader, and whether the vehicle is reported stolen by accessing a DMV database), and possibly others with more research.

Title

Media Library

Category

Entertainment

Problem

Some people's DVD, video game, and book collections tend to grow at an alarming pace. Sometimes too fast even for the owner to keep track of what he owns. A person might forget he owns a specific movie and end up buying it again, or they might loan a book and forgot all about it.

Solution

An ordered and detailed database stored on a person's home computer could solve these problems, as well as make having a home library much more enjoyable. A user could have employ a system of using the barcode on the product and a handheld barcode reader. The system would read the barcode, and search the internet based on its type (movie, book, music, video game) with its barcode number and download information on the product (title, year, genres, etc). Everything would then be stored on an easily viewable and searchable database.

CS Component

The software would request information from the internet on a product based on its barcode and store this information in a database. It would also allow for easy searching and viewing as well as even recommendations based on the types of media in the library. The recommendations could come in the form of links to web stores selling a recommended movie (book, game, etc).

Title

Smart scheduler

Category

Education

Problem

Selecting the appropiate schedule for each semester could be time consuming, desired classes overlap with work or with other classes

Solution

A software that allows us to enter the number of credit hours desired, available times, prefered professors, registration status,etc and give us back the best 2 schedule options.

CS Component

Database, internet.

Title

Trucker's height restriction map

Category

transportation

Problem

Truckers have to change their routes based on height restrictions or cause traffic congestion or dammage to structures when they fail to. (this happens at the west bound tunnel of the HRBT quite often)

Solution

make a database of height restrictions for bridges and tunnels and add it as a layer on google maps or similar software to display where and what the restrications are.

CS Component

database, PC

Title

inhanced night vision

Category

transportation

Problem

driving at night can be difficult when lighting is insufficiant, such as extreemly dense fog

Solution

use a combination of night vision, radar, and infarred vision to display an inhanced image of whats ahead, possibly as a HUD on or infront of the windshield. use software to highlight road signes, life forms, anything else that may be important

CS Component

several cameras, radar equipment, software to scan the video and add accents

Title

Translator with voice recognition

Category

Personal, Business, enterteintment

Problem

Globalization requires more and more people to comunicate with people from different countries for different purposes like business, education,etc.

Solution

A PDA-like device with a set of headphone that could recognize the language of the speaker and translate to the listener directly through the headphone.

CS Component

Software for transalation with voice recognition

Title

Improved insulin pump

Category

Medicine

Problem

Having diabetes is a full time job. The pumps now automatically inject insulin, but the person still has to tell it to.

Solution

The new pump will moniter a persons blood sugar and administer insulin when needed. Also, it will warn a person when sugar is too low. The user will still be able to manually do it if wanting a snack or meal.

CS Component

blood test moniter, insulin pump, program to decide when to administer insulin.

Title

Hydroplaning moniter

Category

Transportation

Problem

Hydroplaning call kill not only the driver of the affected vehicle, but also others on the road.

Solution

A sensor that monitors the tires to see if they are actually touching the ground or gliding on the water. If gliding on water, the program will distribute power to the other wheels and slowing brake the car so that control can be maintained.

CS Component

Sensor for tires, software to control the cars actions.

Title

Prevention of Locked in Keys (POLK)

Category

Transpertation

Problem

many people tend to accidently lock their keys in their car.

Solution

a keychain type attachment that would be sensed in a containment feild, the area inside of the car, and would not allow the doors on the car to lock unless the key is in the ignition switch an in the on position. For example if they are laying in the seat, truck or just hanging in the ignition switch, you are unable to lock the doors with a power lock button. However, if you are inside the car and have the ignition switch to on or accesory, for listening to the radio or driving, it would allow to lock the doors for safty.

CS Component

A sensor that could be detected to be in the containment field, along with a cut out control for the power door locks and a module that would allow the system to know if the ignition switch is not in the off position.

Title

Mass Transit Scheduler

Category

Transportation

Problem

Mass transit runs on a timed schedule, but sometimes they get delayed by traffic, weather, and breakdowns. People end up wasting time waiting for the route they're familiar with, when there could be an alternate route instead. They just need to know which bus/train/subway to take and when to change over to get to their destination.

Solution

Show the passenger a real-time map that shows where a bus or train is located on it's route, so if they are running far behind schedule, a person can decide to take a new route. The device will calculate an ETA and tell them which bus/train numbers to take.

CS Component

handheld device, GPS on the vehicles, software to create personal schedules, database of all the routes

Title

Weather Adjustable Sprinklers

Category

Consumer Goods/Household

Problem

Lawns and gardens dry up because homeowners don't water enough, or their flowers die because they water too much. Even though sprinklers can be put on a timer, there should be a way to adjust automatically for weather conditions, so that the system could turn on by itself when necessary.

Solution

Put moisture sensors underground and probably connect to some weather forecasting system to collect data on future weather conditions. Let the system look through all the data to decide if the sprinklers need to be turned on or not for that day.

CS Component

sensors, wireless or satellite communication, software to sift through the data

Title

TV Spyware

Category

Leisure & Entertainment

Problem

Parents never know what their kids are watching. Even with programs that block out certain channels kids, especially teenagers, can figure out those four number passwords.

Solution

This is a program that would have to be used with a digital reciever or satelite. The program montiers what programs are watched and for how long and can email them to the parent or be monitored on the tv itself.

CS Component

Digital reciever or satelite reciever, spyware software, wireless linkup for emailing.

Title

Portable Food Allergy Scanner

Category

Medicine

Problem

People with food allergies, especially severe ones, need to be sure of what they eat or they could end up in the hospital. Sometimes food that we buy may still have trace amounts of particular ingredients or we can hardly tell what's in it without tasting it first.

Solution

Create a handheld scanner that can identify certain ingredients in food, to let the user know for sure if there's something in there that may trigger an allergic reaction.

CS Component

handheld device, database of ingredients

Title

Tire Safty

Category

Transportation

Problem

Many people experience flat tires for the reason of either the tires is low on tread or a knot forms in the tire when a steel belt breaks.

Solution

My solution to this problem would to have multiple sensors, atleast 2 perhaps 4 per wheel, that would detected tread depth, even/uneven wear patterns and detect if the tire becomes deformed from a belt in the tire breaks. A computer would take in the reading of the sensors and detect if a tire is bald, low on tread, deformed by a busted belt or another type of knot forming in the tread, and if the tires are wearing unevenly. This information would be relayed to the driver with a message letting the driver know if a tire needs to be replaced or if the car may need an alignment to correct uneven wear.

CS Component

a sensor of some sort, weather it be light, magnetic or sound pulse to detect the wear bar on ta tire in centrain places. a computer to calculate the tread depth and wear patterns along with any deforms in the tire. Finally a display for the driver to be shown.

Title

“Big Apple” Subway Mapper

Category

Transportation/Travel

Problem

The New York Subway system can be very confusing, especially for tourists. It even poses as a problem for New York natives who decide to travel outside of their normal route. The maps are so detailed that it would confuse any novice, especially if they are not familiar with street names or where certain landmarks fall within the “Big Apple”.

Solution

Install computer systems at the stations that allow subway riders to enter their starting point and destination and have it print out which trains to take and what times they should be arriving. You can also choose the option of choosing a starting point and picking a landmark (in case one does not know a street name or city location).

CS Component

Database of locations/landmarks, mapping system, computer, and GPS

Title

Jipped-No-More

Category

Automotive

Problem

Many times, when we are having problems with our car, we take it into a repair shop to have it inspected. In almost every experience that I have had with a repair shop, the workers have tried to make dishonest money. They tell me that there is something wrong with me car that might not be or they might give me a high estimate in order to have the car fixed.

Solution

The solution would be to create a website that allows a driver to put in their vehicle year, type, and model, and type in the symptoms they are experiencing or what the repair shops says is wrong with the vehicle. The website will return the problem (in the case that the user inputs symptoms) and what a reasonable estimate should be in order to fix the problem. This would be helpful mostly for women, who often do not know much about cars.

CS Component

Internet, web-based database that will contain car parts, labor, and symptoms that occur during certain vehicle problems

Title

Meter-Made-Easy

Category

Transportation/Travel

Problem

How many times have you needed to use a parking meter, but didn’t have any change? Also, once you leave the meter, you forget to keep track of the time left and you always have to go back to see if you need to put more money in.

Solution

Have a parking meter that accepts debit cards/credit cards as payment. Once you pay for it, a receipt comes out printing the time you put the money in, how much time you paid for, and at what time the meter will expire.

CS Component

GPS, debit/credit card reader, and system that will print the receipt with the transaction info

Title

Stay Warm Coffee Cup

Category

society

Problem

Tired of fixing a cup of coffee to have it just get cold before you finish it?

Solution

A cup that will keep it contents at a desired tempature, portable, drinkable cup. With some kind of warmer built into the cup and a rechargable power source.

CS Component

a sensor to detect the tempature, some type of warming unit that would keep it a constant tempature, and a power sourse

Title

Parking Pass Pain Prevention

Category

Transportation

Problem

Waiting in line 45 minutes to purchase a parking pass is a pain. The process, and the employees is/are slow and inefficient. Not to mention the colossal waste of paper.

Solution

An ATM type machine. Input: Same as the paper form, but electronically inputted; Credit/cash. Output: Reciept and pass.

CS Component

Atm style machine, qwerty keypad, electronic screen/pen for signature, payment/billing software.

Title

Smart Home Stereo

Category

Entertainment

Problem

Most stereo systems only play CDs, radio, or cassette tapes. Some more expensive models can connect to a computer and get audio data via a USB wire.

Solution

Add wireless capabilities to a stereo, and perhaps even a hard drive for storing music. It would be able to obtain a network IP from a wireless hub/router configuration and music could be sent from another computer.

CS Component

Wireless, bluetooth perhaps, hard drive, MP3 encoding

Title

Never Forget RFID Helper

Category

Gadget/Tool

Problem

Oftentimes, people are in such a rush to leave the house in the morning for work, school, or etc. that they forget something.

Solution

All the items one would need in the morning would have RFID technology, and the unit would scan the person as they're leaving to ensure all of the items are present, and if anything is missing, the unit would remind them. The unit could also remember short notes, or you could even program the unit to remind you of items that are not RFID equiped with a beeping sound.

CS Component

RFID, touchscreen or monitor/keypad, sensors, voice commands?

Title

Cut the Coins

Category

Govt

Problem

Pennies, nickels, and dimes.

Solution

Get rid of them all. Round everything to the nearest quarter. Mass scale collection and destruction. It's THAT easy.

CS Component

Quite possibly the most massive database ever for storing transactions made by banks and other establishments. Mass coin-to-cash machines.

Title

The better car alarm

Category

Security

Problem

Car alarms are a good step in protecting your car and the belongings inside. However, it's worthless if you're not near enough to your car to hear the alarm.

Solution

Either with or without the standard car alarm, this unit would communicate with a beeper or cell phone to alert the owner of the vehicle of foulplay on their vehicle. The signal could be programmed to be very sensitive (to people leaning against the car), to hardly sensitive at all (the car must be excessively shaken or a window busted).

CS Component

Cell phones, car sensors, perhaps wireless if the capabilities were extended to a PDA, cell phone with bluetooth/wireless, or even a laptop or PC.

Title

Keyless entry.

Category

General

Problem

More of a matter of convenience: It would be nice to get rid of all keys to dorm/apartment rooms on campus.

Solution

Hotel style swiping locks. Make your student ID the magnetic key.

CS Component

Lots of hotel style card readers (likely with wireless capability). Database with data from housing services.

Title

Automatic Dishwasher

Category

I guess Health

Problem

I often walk away from the dish washer and wished I would of started the load of dishes.

Solution

The dishwasher would monitor the load and when fully loaded the washer would start automatically and dispense a package of dish detergent.

CS Component

Laser controlled by a simple program. The program would work with a database back end which has all applicable values associated to the load and placement of dishes.

Title

intelligent traffic control system

Category

public safety/infrastructure

Problem

Public roadways operate in patterns. During rush hour certain roads are more populated while others are nearly empty. Some lights are equally timed when they should be variable to allow better traffic flow.

Solution

By creating an intelligent light system, we can let it learn the traffic patterns and allow it determine the best timing. It will take into account time of day, day of the week, and even time of the year to associate traffic behavior.

CS Component

Learning system, internal clock that changes light timing

Title

Military infiltration and personel tracker

Category

military

Problem

When a commanding officer is ordering a raid on a building or a city he is not only blind to where his troops are but he is also many times blind to the environment they are in.

Solution

This will be an integrated device kit that allows an officer to track fellow soldiers as well as see basic elements of their surroundings

CS Component

sonar for surroundings, gps tracking, and computer imaging

Title

Integrated wake-up

Category

daily-life

Problem

In the morning not everyone has time to read the news paper and catch up on the things that they are interested in. There is a lot of dead time in the morning while you get ready

Solution

A integrated alarm system could read the recent news articles from RSS Feeds and give you your latest emails in addition to waking you up in the morning

CS Component

RSS news feed, email reader, speech synthesis, clock

Title

Automatic Student Role System

Category

Education

Problem

Professors tend to waste time and disrupt class by taking the student role at the beginning of each class, as well as either forgetting to add the late arriver or disrupting class yet again to add that late person in.

Solution

Install card readers that sense the student IDs when they enter the room (something along the lines of what is implemented to get into most C.S. rooms, except with more of a long distance) and track the student by sending their information to a database that is accessible to the professor stating whether a student was on time, was late, or if they did not show up at all.

CS Component

Software: A Database, A program that determines the student’s status and sends it to the database. Hardware: A card reader with some form of wireless technology (Bluetooth, etc.), Smart ID cards.

Title

Universal Translator

Category

Social

Problem

With today's world becoming smaller, we now interact a lot more with people from other nations that speak different languages from our own. How does one interact and do business with someone they do not understand.

Solution

Create a service for mobile phones that receives a person’s voice over the microphone, sends it to a server, translates it to text using technology similar to "Dragonspeak", translate the text into the desired language (a user preference preset) using technology similar to "Babelfish" and then rereading the text and sending the translated language to the speaker of the phone.

CS Component

Software: A program that can convert from audio to text, a program that convert from one language to another, a program that can convert the translated text back to audio. Hardware: Mobile Cellular phones, database and server of all the languages, etc.

Title

Portable Clutchless Shifter

Category

Automobile

Problem

For anybody that is over using the clutch manual transmission and think the sports shift or semi-automatic transmissions with paddles are to much money.

Solution

A kit that comes with two paddles that can be placed on the steering wheel and a wire which will lead to the computer system hook-up in a car to override the automatic transmission shifting operation to allow the driver to shift whenever they please. Only Compatable with automatic transmissions.

CS Component

Computer software

Title

Portable Clutchless Shifter

Category

Automobile

Problem

For anybody that is over using the clutch manual transmission and think the sports shift or semi-automatic transmissions with paddles are to much money.

Solution

A kit that comes with two paddles that can be placed on the steering wheel and a wire which will lead to the computer system hook-up in a car to override the automatic transmission shifting operation to allow the driver to shift whenever they please. Only Compatable with automatic transmissions.

CS Component

Computer software

Title

Generate Statistics

Category

Cars

Problem

The car currently doesn't make a record where and how often it when from place to place.

Solution

Having the car keep a driving record of the distance and where the car went (from where to where). This would allow integration with current technologies such as cruse control and eventually after generation enough reliable data we could have the car take us from a to b.

CS Component

hard drive storing all statistical data in a database.

Title

Mobile phone Biometric ID systems

Category

Social

Problem

With the increase of phones that use SIM cards a correlation has occurred with the increase of mobile phone robberies, due to the fact that one can take out the SIM card and use the phone for their own personal use.

Solution

The button that is used to turn on your mobile phone as well as to lock your phone would be a biometric button that would have to recognize either a thumbprint or fingerprint of the owner to activate or unlock. Leading the phones to become useless if the phone was ever to be stolen.

CS Component

Software: Biometric recognizing programs. Hardware: Mobile phones, biometric scanners.

Title

Elderly Body Suit

Category

Health

Problem

People who are unable to wash themselves, but have to have someone else help.

Solution

A body suit that will fit over a person from the neck down and wash them through pressure assigned by a computer system with different settings.

CS Component

manual computer operating system

Title

Automobile thermometer

Category

Automobile

Problem

For people who think the car is a home away from home.

Solution

Having a car that has a built in AC/heat thermometer that can be set to the desired temp.

CS Component

thermometer software/sensors

Title

Securing the fidge

Category

Biometrics

Problem

We need to be able to have a mechanism to protect the kids of the future by safe guarding our refrigerator.

Solution

The refrigerator will have a built in voice eye and finger print reader to ensure you are you and all. Each users that is allowed will have access. The fridge give access as specified by the checklist and the kids that tend to get curious can't because of the rule set by the checklist. This is also for adult that can't control themselves.

CS Component

hardware that can support integration of biometrics and databases

Title

E.T. (Exact Target)

Category

Traveling

Problem

Mapquest and other map softwares give you directions and an estimaion of your travel destination, but unfortunately it's not accurate, because it doesn't take in consideration traffic and other factors that can affect you traveling

Solution

How about a device that will monitor traffic and that will monitor other factors involved in traveling (accidents,weather...)to tell you with incredible accuracy,up to the minute,how long will it take to reach your destination.

CS Component

GPS, BlueTooh, GoogleEarth,Database,Internet...

Title

(E.M.S.) Extreme Music Scan.

Category

Music

Problem

Sometimes you are in your car, or in a store , and a song pop up and your are dying to know the name of the song and who is singing...

Solution

A software included in cell-phones , that let you capture the song, upload it to an online database, and get a feed back with the name of the artist,album,song..etc

CS Component

Database, Internet, Bluetooth...

Title

Personal Stress Tracker

Category

Health

Problem

I get easily stressed over simple things, as I imagine a lot of people do. Sometimes I don't even realize I'm getting stressed and need to relax.

Solution

Something wearable like a watch that will not only alert you to climbing stress levels but offer suggestions and keep track of patterns via an automatic bluetooth uplink to your computer so you can figure out exactly when and what is stressing you out, even make it a section of your blog! (Michael's current stress level is _________ )

CS Component

Sensors, bluetooth, database, blog

Title

Innovation Tracker

Category

Research

Problem

People (like me) have trouble coming up with ideas on their own, and when they do how do they know they aren't just regurgitating (and spelling poorly) things they've subconciously seen somewhere else?

Solution

An inovation tracker would take a simple description of a solution and use various search engines on the internet to come up with possible duplicates by automatically substituting words and phrases when possible to come up with matches whose ideas are the same even though wording may be different.

CS Component

Search engines, Internet, databases

Title

G.F.D. Ghost Fat Detector

Category

Health

Problem

Obesity is a big problem in the world and especially in the US...but Unforunately people don't know when they have to go on a diet.

Solution

A portable device(watch of neckless shape), that monitors your body fat. you will get an alarm whenever your bodyfat goes over 18% or goes down to less that 6%.

CS Component

Database, censors, Chip process...

Title

Pushy Alarm Clock

Category

Health?

Problem

How often to we put things off till the morning, and then hit snooze on our alarm clocks because we simply don't want to get up?

Solution

An alarm clock that synchronizes with a PIM such as Outlook that will not only wake you up with a jarring alarm but will not let itself be silenced until it has read off a list of tasks that you should be performing, to include those on shared web calanders, reminding you that it might be a good idea to get up now.

CS Component

Synchronization, Internet, PIM's

Title

Smart Traffic Lights

Category

Transportation

Problem

Traffic lights today are still having problems accurately detecting cars that are stopped at their intersections. They will turn red for you even when no other cars are going the other way.

Solution

If cars had RFID transmitters, and each light had a set of receivers then the traffic light could accurately detect (even at some distance) the number and direction of cars travelling through its intersection. Adding wireless capability to each traffic light would allow them to communicate their status and traffic conditions to nearby lights (allowing nearby lights to make light changing decisions based on nearby conditions, as well as its own traffic conditions). The lights could even store data on how many cars travel through their intersections, storing the dates, times, and traffic conditions at specific intervals. This would allow lights to learn and make intelligent decisions based on current traffic conditions, nearby traffic conditions, and historical traffic conditions (most likely in that order of precedence).

CS Component

The software would be used to handle the RFID return signals from cars. Logic would have to be applied to decide what to do (how to change the light) based on how many cars are waiting, how many cars are coming to the light, and statistically how busy that intersection should be at a specific time.

Title

Cost Displaying Shopping Carts

Category

Commerce

Problem

Sometimes when you are at the store you don't know exactly how much you are buying at any given time. All of a sudden you're at the checkout line and it dawns on you that you've just purchased a over a hundred dollars worth of merchandise.

Solution

Stores are slowly beginning to use RFID to track their merchandise (Wal-mart, for instance). If shopping carts were equipped with very short distance RFID receivers and a tiny LCD display in the handle of the cart (along with some simple hardware inside to handle what to display) then the cart could be used to display the total cost of items in the cart. Most likely these carts would also need some kind of wireless connection to a store database to accurately keep track of pricing.

CS Component

Software would be used to tally the cost of all the items. The software could even automatically adjust the total price for any applicable taxes and promotions.

Title

African Games

Category

Entertainment

Problem

Most Africans get home sick and miss some of the games they use to play back home.

Solution

Create a original africans games that users can install on their computer and be able to play with the computer or someone else.

CS Component

PC and internet.

Title

English/Twi dictionary

Category

Education

Problem

Most people around the world are interested in learning some of the african languages that the can not take a class form.

Solution

I am half Ashanti and half Fanti(Two Ghana west African Tribes). My mom is Fanti and my dad is Ashanti. I know the Ashanti language very well I use to write it better than english so I wouldn't have a hard time with the translation and education my group members about how we can bring this English/Twi dictionary to life.

CS Component

PC

Title

Indian Games(Kho kho)

Category

Entertainment

Problem

I sure that most people are interest games from other parts of the world.

Solution

I was speaking to one of my idian friends about indian games and she mentioned two popular indian games. I picked the easier one to design.

CS Component

PC

Title

Meter Alert

Category

Transportation

Problem

Metered parking can be quite a task, especially if you do not usually carry change on you. Society now uses credit cards more than they do cash. Also, many times once you put in money at a parking meter, and you realize that you need more time at the meter, you have to walk all the way back to it to put mor change into the machine, and sometimes the walk can be really far.

Solution

My idea is a parking meter that not only accepts credit cards/debit cards as payment, but it prints a receipt that tells you what time you made the purchase, the amount of time, and what time the meter expires. Also, you have the option to enter your cell phone number into the system so that when your meter is about to expire, you have the option to purchase more time through your cell phone.

CS Component

GPS, Credit Card reader, and something that will send an alert to cell phones.

Title

Smart notes

Category

Education

Problem

Have you ever tried to take notes notes while the professor is talking then realized that you've actually missed something important?

Solution

A program that takes notes for you, and allows you to edit them as a professor is talking. That will allow you more time to concentrate on what the professor is saying and not whether you wrote down all the notes from the board.

CS Component

digital projector for board, students with labtops, and software to combine the two.