CS 410 Project Ideas

Title

Practical 3D printer.

Category

Industry.

Problem

Lets see if we can develop a meta-product which can manufacture other products.

Solution

http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/09/2239206 Take this and improve it to the point that practical stuff can be made.

CS Component

design support, and control software.

Title

Blackboard Batch Creator

Category

Education

Problem

Blackboard is a great tool. However, with the popularity of online classes growing, the tasks on the administrative side are becoming more and more time consuming (creating course shells, enrolling users).

Solution

Blackboard accepts pre-formated batch files -- create a software that will create these batch files with ease instead of manually having to create them.

CS Component

Software to create batch files with ease and to reduce the time that it takes to create courses.

Title

Blackboard Exporter/Importer

Category

Education

Problem

Professors that use Blackboard that teach multiple sections of the same course, yet that use separate course shells many time need to duplicate content. However the Blackboard mechanism for exporting course materials lumps Test, Test Pools, and Surveys together, which can lead to duplicated content if you are trying to copy a single test for deployment.

Solution

Create a program that will open the exported course material, parse the internals, and allow the instructor to select the exact TEST(s) that he or she want to be copied. A NEW export files is then created, which allows for that instructor to upload.

CS Component

Software to open/create zip files, XML parsing, raw file editor.

Title

Universal Communication Database

Category

Social

Problem

In the past 12 or so years, with the masses flocking to the Internet and the rise of cell phones in this country, communication has increased. A phone book is no longer as useful as before because most people might have a land line, multiple cell phone numbers, and multiple addresses.

Solution

Create a database which assigns a unique identification number to everyone that registers, which allows for that person to input ANY and ALL forms of phone numbers, email addresses, IRC handles, AIM aliases, gamer tags, etc so that their contact information is readily available in one convenient place.

CS Component

Web interface connected to a backend database that can store/retrieve this information with a persons name and UCI (Universal Communication Identifier) are entered.

Title

software music composer

Category

entertainment

Problem

sometimes some people want to write music to express their real own fealing in heart. Apperently that's not very easy to do so.

Solution

we can develope a kind of software music composer to create any type of music by any people.

CS Component

database,scripting language to implement the system composer.

Title

in-car constant temperature control

Category

Transportation

Problem

In winter, temperature in cars can be very cold first time to get in, on the other hand, in summer temperature in cars can be extremly high so that it's not good for chair skin in cars and people can't sit in at first.

Solution

devlope a constant temperature controling software combined with a self-control aircomditioner to ajust the temperature in cars.

CS Component

Hardware: sensors, either wire or wireless communications. Software: will collect data, operate sensors and collect data.

Title

car headlight broken-sensor

Category

transportation

Problem

Almost very often, we are not able to realize that one of the two headlights is already broken untill a police tell us.

Solution

use a sensor to monitor the headlights. when a headlight is broken, it sent a sihnal to a software control indicator.

CS Component

Hardware: sensors, either wire or wireless communications. indicator (screen). Software: will collect data, operate sensors and collect data, to display not-working infor.

Title

City Bus Detector

Category

Transportation

Problem

Catching the bus is a pain. The major problem with the bus is, it shows up early when you are late and late when you show up early. Most days when you believe your timing is perfect you would end up late because one of the buses was either too late or too early.

Solution

City bus Detector would allow people to detect the locations of the bus and would have an alarm the would go of that would let the user know where the bus is. It would also provide information about the condition of the bus if I bus broke down or an accident caused a delay.

CS Component

software that would store information the buses that the user would chosen and what the user want the device to do when the bus is in close range.

Title

African Games

Category

Entertainment

Problem

Pople African with busy schdules find it hard to interact with other african or play african games. And it hard for others interested in the African cultral to have time to communicate with other African or learn about Africa by communicating with African people.

Solution

An African gaming software that users can install on their computer. This gaming software would allow user to play with the computer and other people one the same pc or with internet. It also have a communication device that allows people to communicate via internet.

CS Component

computer software that have the gaming software. PC, internet.

Title

WiMax Enabled POS Devices and its associated netwo

Category

Retail and Services

Problem

With adoption of CISP/PCI and Check 21 standards within the payment industry, there is a greater demand for bandwidth intensive applications at the Point of Sale (POS) device at merchant locations. Legacy dial-up POS services, which typically provides a maximum speed of 2400bps can no longer cope with these demands. Although cellular POS (GPRS, CDMA, Mobitex, etc) is available, provisioning is difficult , service is expensive and coverage is spotty. Wired broadband and its supporting equipment at the merchant adds additional cost.

Solution

IEEE 802.16 WiMax fixed station has a theoretical radius of 30 miles which gives you a coverage of ~ 2800 Mi^2. One WiMax tower can cover the entire city of New York. POS devices with modular design ( such as the Exadigm XD2000 which already had a WiFi module) can easily be converted to WiMax. Legacy IP enable terminals that connect to a router can be connected to a preconfigured WiMax router ( with a small footprint at the POS) and the wired broadband decommissioned.

CS Component

Protocol Handling: POS over IP transactions are typically request/response using either SSL or HTTPS. Processor Hosts typically use VISA I or VISA II protocol. A Host-Interface-Processor would be required to drive the protocol toward the host. Accounting/Billing A Sarbaines/Oxley (SOX) compliant accounting and billing mechanism would be required if the processor is billed on a per transaction basis, Security and provisioning: Any solution must be PCI (Payment Card industry) compliant. Cardholder data must be encrypted at the source and gateways should check for trusted devices.

Title

Smart Chart

Category

Health Care

Problem

You have heard the horror stories about patients given the wrong medications and diagnoses due to paperwork errors ? Can the new Doctor on the shift quickly spot a medication interaction ? Surgical tools left behind ? Ever get a Hospital bill for a procedure that was never done ? How about medical information that is slow to be annotated in a chart ?

Solution

Smart Chart: Medical Chart application that runs on a tablet PC. Each doctor and Nurse carries their own Smart Chart and logs into the application using a RSA Security Token. Each patient has a unique identifier on the wristband that is tied to a new or existing medical record. The ID is issued during admittance and can be RFID , Barcode or MaxiCode. Smart Chart can be modular to accommodate one or more of these formats. Voice recognition and handwriting recognition can be used to quickly annotate the chart ( this is typically offshored). XRays and MRI’s and CT’s can quickly be accessed bedside. Medication can quickly be prescribed and checked for interactions real time. Prescriptions can be sent to robotic unit-dose-package devices for quick dispensing. Bill can be updated real time. Procedures can be authorized by insurance carriers real time. Surgical instruments and sponges can be checked in/out using the same device.

CS Component

Smart Chart application and hardware Supporting network hardware. Records database Billing mechanism Pharmacy application

Title

English/Twi dictionary

Category

Education

Problem

a lot of people are interested in the african languages. But in most most cultrals African languages are not being taught in the schools. And most African have difficulty understanding English. when they first move to the U.S or other countries where english is spoken.

Solution

I am half Ashanti(Ghana, West Africa tribe), Twi is the official language for the Ashanti's and is spoken by most of the people in Ghana. This device would allow people to translate english to twi and twi to english. It also pronounce both words in english and twi when translated.

CS Component

A software that translate from english to twi and twi to english. PC.

Title

Brilliant Landmine

Category

Military

Problem

Nothing can deny an enemy territory or stop an offense quite like a good minefield. However the indiscriminate use and abuse of this battlefield system has given it a bad name. There are many stories related to “friendly” minefields causing battlefield casualties. After action recovery can be dangerous and problematic.

Solution

“Brilliant” IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) enabled landmine. In combat, Military Aircraft utilize IFF transponders to determine friend from foe within the battle space to eliminate incidents of fratricide. This same technology can be employed with landmines. The Brilliant landmine will passively listen for a valid IFF code. Any vehicle or person transmitting the proper code will not activate the mine. Any person or vehicle not transmitting the code or transmitting and improper code will be destroyed. Additionally, a Brilliant Mine can listen for deactivate, destruct or “transmit find-me” codes.

CS Component

Brilliant Landmine "brain" Mapping/employment/recovery application IFF system

Title

Smart Oven

Category

Kitchen

Problem

Many people suffer from the problem of either not being able to cook well, or just not having the time to cook. Busy people may find they just can't get home early enough to cook a good meal.

Solution

The smart oven connects to a home computer, either by a cable or wirelessly, and using sensors to detect size and temperature cooks your food to perfection. Needing only the type of food from the user, the stove can access a recipe library to determine the proper time and temperature to cook your food. The oven can be started at home or over the internet.

CS Component

Software, Home PC, Internet, Bluetooth Technology.

Title

Accident Avoidance System

Category

Automotive

Problem

Car accidents have become a fact of life in our society. Though much has been done to protect the occupants of vehicle in the event of a crash, little has been done to prevent them.

Solution

Using a series of distance sensors placed around the vehicle, the car will attempt to find objects that a threat to collide with the vehicle. The car will then attempt to avoid the accident by applying the breaks or swerving.

CS Component

Software; Distance, speed, and acceleration sensors; Automated brake and steering controls.

Title

Universal Messaging System

Category

Communication

Problem

Many times people miss important messages because they don't check their email in time, or have their television on the wrong channel.

Solution

The universal messaging system will forward important emails, news alerts, weather information, or sports scores to the medium(s) of your choice. Sends your alerts to your computer, cell phone, and/or even your television.

CS Component

Software, Bluetooth technology, Television Adapter.

Title

Monitoring Traffic Lights

Category

Transportation

Problem

The problem is when you come up to a red light and no cars are around. Just as you stop the light turns green. If the light would have turned green a few seconds before you would not have even had to slow down.

Solution

Monitor traffic down the street to figure out what light needs to be green to keep the majority of the traffic moving.

CS Component

This can be done by using GPS and scanners to evaluate cars that will be at the intersection shortly, and calculating what the status of the lights need to be.

Title

Pet Safety

Category

Security/Safety

Problem

Many dogs spend the day in small cages when owners are not home. These dogs would not be able to escape in case of a fire, or would not be able to scare away intruders in the case of a robbery.

Solution

Install mechanical releases on the dogs cage that can be energized by a signal. The cage could open if a smoke alarm goes off. Or when any door or window is open. This system could also turn the TV on when a window or door is open. Giving the effect that someone is home.

CS Component

wireless technology, door and window sensors, mechanical releases, software control to determine what sensor sets off what alarm.

Title

One stop waking up

Category

Industry

Problem

It is time to build a better alarm clock. For most non-morning people it is too easy to hit the snooze until the alarm gives up and stops going off.

Solution

The solution is to build an alarm clock that is user configurable to set other types of alarms other then music. For example, turn the lights on in the room starting dim and getting brighter over a time period. Turn the TV on. Or start the shower to let it warm up.

CS Component

software driven alarm clock, to control already existing household appliances. wireless adapters to add on to appliances.

Title

Smart Credit Cards

Category

Personal Finance

Problem

Consumer credit is currently at $2.39 trillion, and the average household debt to income ratio is 21.5%[1]. Consumers find it easy to spend money with a credit card because there is no feedback loop. When a person pays with cash, they see their wallet with money, and then they see the empty wallet after the transaction. This is a natural feedback mechanism that helps to curb spending. The only feedback with a credit card is with the monthly statement, or users can take initiative and view their current spending. This is not an adequate feedback mechanism. [1]http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aZO6230mMNgI&refer=home

Solution

The solution to this problem is to provide a new type of credit card. This card would be capable of providing visual feedback to the consumer. This feedback could include the total balance on the card, the amount of the last few purchases, and the credit limit. This balance information would be transmitted to the card during the transaction, and would include purchases made online or over the phone.

CS Component

Software: The credit card authentication software would need to be modified to transmit the current balance. Point of sale software would have to be updated to write the new data to the credit card. The credit card would have to have firmware on it that would store and display the current balance. Hardware: The cards would need to contain a small amount of memory to store the balance and the recent transaction amounts, and would need to have a display component. This could be electronic paper or an LCD. The POS machines would need to be converted to a system that can read card data and also write the new balances. This could be accomplished in a device similar to the type currently in use at Target, that keeps your credit card for the duration of the transaction.

Title

Voice Activated iPod

Category

Travel Safety

Problem

As people "thumb" through their many playlists searching for the perfect song while driving, they are susceptible to accidents due to lack of concentration and distraction.

Solution

A voice activated iPod would help minimize the possibility of accidents while driving by allowing users to choose a song, album, or playlist and also allow them to choose options without having to physically look at the user's iPod.

CS Component

Software to handle the decision's of the user, voice recognition hardware and software, and hardware to intergrate the radio system to the iPod.

Title

Refrigerator Spoilage Monitor

Category

Consumer Goods

Problem

Food that has gone bad can pose a problem to children who won't necessarily check the food. A whole bowl of cereal can be ruined when bad milk is poured on it.

Solution

A monitor can be placed in the refrigerator that monitors levels of bacteria in the refrigerator. It will notify the owner when an item has spoiled.

CS Component

Hardware: bacteria sensor, wifi Software: server component that emails the user when an item has gone bad.

Title

Digital Sheet Music

Category

Music

Problem

While learning or playing from sheet music, having to turn the pages is a hassle and a distraction. It deters from the tempo of the music and also interferes with the muscle memory.

Solution

Digital sheet music would allow users to program the component or module to essentially turn the page or move to the next section at a given time frame. This would also allow them to play at the proper tempo without the user of a metronome.

CS Component

Software to calculate the tempo, to move to the next section, and also to store the digital sheet music in a "library".

Title

Retail gasoline trading network

Category

Commerce

Problem

Consumers are at the mercy of station owners and the global crude oil market when it comes to gasoline prices. Drivers pay the price that is being charged at the time and place that they need gas and have no way to hedge against increasing prices.

Solution

Create an online consumer trading market for gasoline. Allow individual drivers to purchase gallons of gas just like shares of stock or perhaps commodity futures. A consumer fearing that gas prices will soon be rising can buy several months worth of gasoline today. Perhaps they pay for the gas in full at that time, or perhaps they buy the right to pay for a quantity at a specific price at any point in the future. Each gas share can then be exchanged for a gallon of gas at a filling station, regardless of the current market price. Unused shares/futures can be resold to other consumers at any time.

CS Component

An online futures exchange for individual consumers (like NYMEX for dummies) allowing real-time trades would have to be implemented. Filling stations selling various brands of gasoline would need secure access to a centralized database to allow POS verification of a driver's prepaid gallons and futures price (perhaps via at-the-pump RFID).

Title

Instant Works Cited

Category

Education

Problem

Students are required to show a list of references in all papers, and students sometimes have to list references in a format that is not familiar to them. Most students make works cited pages by looking up the proper format either online or in a book, which can take up a lot of the student's time.

Solution

A system that will almost instantly properly list references in various formats. The software could be given an ISBN tag from a book or a website url and instantly find the information needed and correctly reference it. In the event that the information is not found, the student can still input the information manually and the system will write this information in the proper format.

CS Component

Software, databases

Title

Perfect Pool

Category

Recreation

Problem

Pool maintenance can be expensive and time consuming. A lot of time is spent checking water quality and levels that could be spent enjoying the pool.

Solution

A system that could monitor the water level, pH, and other problems with a pool and instantly correct the problems. It can add or remove water to the pool and add chemicals to balance the pH The system can also have sensors in the bottom and sides of the pool to monitor how clean it is and be able to send out an automatic pool vacuum.

CS Component

Sensors, software to read sensors and to control devices.

Title

Bluetooth child proximity monitor

Category

Childcare

Problem

Crowded areas such as large stores, malls, and playgrounds present the risk of a child wandering away from a distracted parent and becoming lost.

Solution

Manufacture a bluetooth-enabled device that can be attached to a child's wrist or ankle. This can be paired with any other bluetooth-enabled device capable of running a custom software app, such as a smart phone or handheld organizer. The application running on the parent device monitors the connection with the child device and triggers an alert when the signal strength drops below a designated threshold (indicating that the child has moved beyond a certain distance from the parent).

CS Component

Bluetooth 2.0 class 2 tranceivers (10 meter range), software application running on various mobile device operating systems (Windows CE, Palm OS, Symbian).

Title

Crime Tracker

Category

Safety

Problem

Criminal convictions are part of public domain, but most people don't know where to look or how much crime exists near their homes.

Solution

Build a website that culls all the public domain data on violent crimes. Users will be able to visit the site and see updated information on crime near their homes within the last day/week/month/year/etc.

CS Component

Software: website pulling data from crime databases, integrating with data from mapping service (google maps, live maps, etc).

Title

0-configuration surround sound processor

Category

entertainment

Problem

Surround sound processors have become much much too complex. It's difficult to figure out how to make existing products "just reproduce the sound". Users stress out about which mode it sounds "best" in. Should support USB, SPDIF, Toslink, etc...

Solution

Develop a no-nonsense multichannel signal processor that has a power switch and a volume control. An example of a high-end DAC circuit: http://www.audionotekits.com/dac2_1.html

CS Component

internal signal processors, codecs.

Title

Braking Distance Alert

Category

Automobile Accident Prevention

Problem

All drivers do not necessarily know the proper braking distance, and at times are not pay attention to the road, which sometiems results in a rear-end accident.

Solution

Add to automobiles a form of communicating, either via a flashing light on the dashboard and/or a beep/signal through the stereo system, to the driver that they should start braking at the appropriate time.

CS Component

Software to monitor the distance between the moving automobile and an idle automobile, which will calculate the proper braking distance.

Title

Open source voting machine and tabulation system

Category

Government

Problem

For reasons including speed and efficiency, election officals are moving away from paper ballots. However, closed source electronic voting machines have been proven to be insecure and unreliable in recent elections. The source code is not made available to independent researchers for auditing purposes.

Solution

Create a secure electronic voting machine running open source software. Make this software publicly available for audits. Manufacture the machines to incorporate paper trails and other security and usability best practices recommended by election and computer security experts.

CS Component

Vote casting and tabulation software, possibly LCD touchscreens and flash memory.

Title

Personal Time Management System

Category

Organization / Time Management

Problem

How often have you found that you don't have enough time in the day to do everything that you need to get done? Or that you get side tracked when completing tasks that are important to you, by other less important tasks that could wait for another day.

Solution

An online Personal Time Management system that helps keep you on track for your daily goals. You submit everything that you want to get done during the day, and around what time that you want to complete your tasks. The Personal Time Management software then sends you alerts via text messaging and/or email to remind you of your upcoming tasks as they approach.

CS Component

Dynamically driven website with database backend. Text messaging software.

Title

Child Excercise Monitor

Category

Health

Problem

Childhood obesity has become a major epidemic both in the US and worldwide. Something needs to be done to promote health in our children.

Solution

A device worn by an obese child that monitors their heart rate, calories burned, steps taken, and relative amount of exercise throughout the day. This device is then hooked up to the parents computer where the data can be analyzed and used as a motivational tool to set goals for the child. This well help the child loose weight while also allowing the parents to monitor their child's health.

CS Component

Sensors of varying types, Flash memory, Analyzing software on the parents computer. Perhaps an online community could also be built to link parents of obese children around the world to share goals and accomplishments.

Title

Wireless Drawing Game

Category

Games

Problem

Today's children grow up in a technological world, but much of that technology is either of interest to adults only or else only available to children in the form of videogaming systems (whether stationary or hand-held) or PC-based communication (the Internet, AIM, etc.), both of which seem to cause concern for parents for a variety of reasons; alternatives tend to be gender-specific and/or of interest to a very narrow age range.

Solution

I'm sure children would enjoy a handheld, color touchscreen on which they could draw (using a special pen) anything they like, and with which they could wirelessly (via bluetooth technology) share their drawings with friends, who could then improve upon an image before sending it back (perhaps for further improvement?). The touchscreen would be advanced enough that children can potentially draw comic-book quality images, depending on their skill as an artist.

CS Component

The touchscreen itself, a CPU, an embedded operating system, multimedia software, bluetooth hardware, and bluetooth-specific wireless communication software.

Title

Automatic Closing Windows

Category

Home

Problem

People leave their windows open on nice days, but unexpected rain can cause damage if the windows are left open.

Solution

Sensors can be used in the windows to shut them once a certain amount of rain is detected. This system will close all the windows in a house or car automatically so there will be no damage if the owner forgets to shut them. The system can also be controlled manually to open and close all windows.

CS Component

Sensors, software to read sensors and control opening and closing of windows.

Title

Wireless child-tracker

Category

Children / Family

Problem

Parents want to keep track of their kids around the house and yard, but products and/or services designed to aid them in this endeavor all come up a bit short. Cell-phones, GPS devices and the like are more like family "hacks" than actual solutions.

Solution

A bluetooth transmitter for the child, three bluetooth receivers to be situated throughout the house/yard in order to triangulate the position of the child at all times, a bluetooth receiver/transmitter for each parent and/or guardian (transmission for telling the child to come back in, for example), and an additional bluetooth receiver to be placed on the top floor if the house is more than one story in order to determine which floor the child is on if he/she is in the house.

CS Component

bluetooth transmitters/receivers with a CPU, an embedded operating system, wireless communication software, position-determining software using triangulation, and software that would cause the child's receiver to buzz if it receives a transmission from a parent or guardian.

Title

Touchscreen electronic book reader

Category

Leisure

Problem

There is a growing number of technology-savvy people who prefer to read electronic text over-against hardcopy text (and prefer technology over-against anything "traditional" generally), yet who still prefer to read books in hardcopy because it allows them more flexibility as far as where and how they read (sitting, standing, lying down, in bed, in the kitchen, in a café), because they prefer the traditional book format of left-page/right-page/flip-the-page, because they can highlight, write notes in the margins, etc.

Solution

A color touchscreen about the size of a standard hardback book that's been opened up that can either receive electronic books from a PC via a USB port or wirelessly via bluetooth technology, and a pen to draw notes in the margin, highlight, etc., with software that displays the electronic book as a hardcopy book looks.

CS Component

the touchscreen, an embedded operating system, the electronic book software, bluetooth hardware, USB hardware, wireless communication software

Title

Driver Training Simulator

Category

Education

Problem

Most of the software for the PC that simulates driving is for racing games. It would be nice to have a program that simulates a real driving experience especially for those just learning to drive.

Solution

Three view screens, one for forward view, the other two for side view, would be used to simulate the windshield and door windows of an automobile. The rear-view mirror would be simulated on the forward view screen. Standard flat panel television monitors with computer VGA interface would be used to keep cost down.

CS Component

Three or more computers working over a network would run the simulation software and read the automobile steering and pedal controls.

Title

Single user weapons

Category

Firearms

Problem

Every day people are killed through illegal use of firearms. In many cases these firearms are acquired through unauthorized means. Despite our best efforts to date, this still happens far to commonly, and there needs to be a better solution to keeping firearms in the hands of the registered users.

Solution

Through the use of either RFID sensors, or biometrics guns can be programmed to only fire for selected users. These selected users being the registered owners of these firearms. This technology would greatly reduce the number of weapons bought and sold on the black market.

CS Component

Biometric technology/RFID wireless communication, Firmware used to control weapon discharge.

Title

Biometric Financial Assistant

Category

Business/Finance

Problem

It is sometimes cumbersome to be forced to repeatedly fill out credit applications, loan applications, in general, all the paperwork necessary to run an individuals financial lives.

Solution

Through the use of biometrics, individuals can be identified relatively easily. Thier credit score, net worth, available credit, etc., can all be linked to their unique fingerprints. In doing this, biometrics can be used to replace credit cards, check cards, etc. so that a person no longer has to purchase items, their fingerprint identifies how much they can spend and can be used to make more secure transactions. Additionally, to get a loan, or additional credit, the use of fingerprinting can easily show if this person is qualified to the institution without the paperwork or delays.

CS Component

Biometrics

Title

Smart Mechanic

Category

Automotive

Problem

There are lots of people who get taken advantage of due to the car maintenance industry. Average drivers or car owners do not have the technical knowledge that a mechanic does, and this leaves them open to spending more at the garage than they should.

Solution

A comprehensive diagnostics agent for troubleshooting problems with your vehicle can help to eliminate the railroading that sometimes happens to customers at a garage. When something's wrong with your vehicle you will still have to get it fixed, but with better diagnostics ahead of time, you are less likely to pay for things that are not wrong with your vehicle.

CS Component

Software diagnostics of automobile engine components.

Title

Mobile Device Manager

Category

Business productivity

Problem

Mobile computing devices ( ruggedized laptops and tablet PC) are becoming prevalent in the industrial and healthcare fields. They immensely increase productivity. However they are relatively expensive and have limited to battery life. In many cases these devices are lost, stolen or unused because they do not have a battery charge when needed.

Solution

A Mobile Device Manager. A secure docking bay where employees uses their company issued ID to “check out” a mobile device. Once the ID is verified, the device is unlocked from its cradle/charging station. The Device manager internally logs who has the device and their access credentials and activates the device ( logs the user onto the device).The Device manager also begins a countdown clock that is based on the device battery life. If the device is not returned to the docking station by a preset time ( say 10 mins prior to expiration) the manager sends a warning message to the device. Additionally the device will have and RFID asset tag attached and will be tracked within the building by the system. If the shift is over and a device is missing, it can easily be located by the supervisor.

CS Component

Device sheck in/ check out application Device locator Messsaging application ( battery warning)

Title

Interactive Ski Map

Category

Entertainment

Problem

Ever pay $60 for a lift ticket then find yourself standing in line rather then carving the mountain ? Ever loose your party on the slopes ? Want to know real time conditions , etc ?

Solution

An “interactive” Ski Map kiosk. Old style paper/wicket pass is replaced by an RFID enabled card. Card is read at the entrance to a lift and a green light lets the operator know that a valid pass is present. Lift line count can be achieved by incrementing the count at the beginning of the line then decrementing once the skier has boarded a chair. An estimate of “Slope population “ can be achieved by incrementing the count when a skier gets on the chair and is decremented when he passes though a gate at the bottom of the slope. Skiers can monitor lines and “slope population” via weather-resistant kiosks dispersed at the resort. The RFID pass can be linked to others in the system so that with a wave of the pass, you can tell where the rest of your party is. Resort owners can target maintenance and ski patrols based on usage. Durable passes can be “re charged” online to eliminate the need to stand in line for tickets.

CS Component

RFID reader/pass validation application. Mapping application/kiosk Web based pass "re charge"