CS 410 Project Ideas

Title

Fix A Foot System

Category

Health

Problem

Today, many women are suffering back pain, foot pain, and bad posture from constantly wearing high heels. The height of women height heels have increased dramatically. With today trend for "super heels" (heels that are 4 inches or more), women's feet are suffering more than ever.

Solution

Fix A Foot System will give predict the risk of suffering from back pain, foot pain, and bad posture along with ways users can do to reduce these risks by asking the user to enter the amount of walking they walk each day, the height of their shoes, the amount of padding on their shoes, as well as their shoes style, et cetera. Users can also ask Fix A Foot to suggest the style of shoes they should wearing based on the amount and the condition of walk they will do on a certain day.

CS Component

GUI, User Interface, internet, software

Title

Calorie Watch-er

Category

Health

Problem

Many people are concerned about how much calories he/she consume and burn per day. It is always good to know how much is burned so the amount of calories consumed could match or be kept lower than the amount burned to have a healthy life style.

Solution

A device that could be kept in the user's pocket or strapped onto the users wrist. First, as an initial, the device will record the users age and weight to help the calculation. The device will have an "activity" button ranging from 0 - 4 that the user will press and will determine the users activity at that point(0 being sitting around, watching TV, etc. 2 being walking and alike, 4 being sprinting or intensive work out). The amount of time a user spend on that particular activity will also be recorded and will be used to calculate the calories burned. If the user do not wish to press the "activity" button, the device can be strapped on the the user's wrist and it will take the user's heart rate, which also can be used to calculate the amount of calories burned. At the end of each day all of the calories are added up to show the amount burned per day

CS Component

Calorie calculating software, GUI, Device hardware

Title

Car Theft Recognizer

Category

Transportation

Problem

There are many kinds of criminal out there, one of the most popular ones is car thief

Solution

Adding a sensor to the windows and the ignition box to monitor if the window gets broken in or the ignition box was ripped out to perform hot-wiring. If such action occurs, the components in the car would be locked up. Everything from the glove boxes, doors, steering column, wheels, or even the car itself(not being able to start the engine).

CS Component

Sensors, Software to lock all the components in the car

Title

Fix A Foot System (Modified from the first one)

Category

Health

Problem

Today, many women are suffering from back pain, foot pain, and bad posture by constantly wearing high heels. The height of women's heels have increased dramatically. With today's trend for "super heels" (heels that are 4 inches or more), women's feet are suffering more than ever.

Solution

Fix A Foot System includes a sensor that can be attached to users' shoes that will record the amount of walking in a certain period of time. Thus, it will predict the risk of suffering from back pain, foot pain, and bad posture along with things users can do to reduce these risks by analyzing the amount of walking done each day, the height of the heels, the amount of padding on the shoes, as well as the shoes style (user inputs) and terrain which users walk on (from its own database), et cetera. Users can also ask Fix A Foot to suggest the style of shoes they should be wearing based on the amount and the condition of walking they will do on a certain day.

CS Component

GUI, User Interface, GPS technology, sensor, hardware

Title

Swarm Intelligence for Airports

Category

Transportation

Problem

Anyone who has flown recently is aware of how many flights face delays and cancellations. This problem decreases customer satisfaction and hurts profit.

Solution

Implement a swarm intelligence system for managing how the airplanes are organized and scheduled. Swarm intelligence is how ants, bees, and other mass groups of animals coordinate their actions despite each individual animal not being able to know everything that is going on.

CS Component

Sensors, short range communication equipement, and the program that will be used to coordinate everything.

Title

Smart Bussing System

Category

Transportation

Problem

People wasting time waiting for school buses or public transportation buses. Also people waste even more time actually on the buses as the buses go around doing their routes.

Solution

Develop a new centralized transportation system that given information will generate the most efficient routes for buses. Also can advise where new bus routes should be created and to buy more buses if certain routes are getting congested.

CS Component

Information gathering/input software, information database, and centralized transportation software

Title

Child Safe Instant Messenger

Category

Communication

Problem

Do to the nature of the Internet it is not safe for children to openly chat with other people over it. This means parents have to either constantly watch who their child is chatting with or not allow them to have any kind of access to an instant messenger.

Solution

Create a special kind of instant messenger that allows parents to block certain key words, so that the child cannot accidentally give out their personal information. The system would also utilize a central monitoring system where moderators can actively monitor conversations and flag dangerous users.

CS Component

Instant messenger program and monitoring software.

Title

Elevator Safety Prediction System

Category

Transportation

Problem

With the increasing rate of obesity, elevators safety are compromised.

Solution

This system can record the total amount of weight and time of travel each time the elevator door opens/closes as well as the tension and pressure that are acted upon the elevator. It will include a database of the data recorded each day to predict the risk of the elevator breaking.

CS Component

Sensor, hardware for the system, user interface, wireless technology

Title

Structural Health Monitoring System for Bridges

Category

Transportation

Problem

After the recent collapse of the Minneapolis, MN bridge, concerns regarding the structural integrity of bridges has heightened. Currently, there are few active systems in place to continuously monitor the structural health of a bridge, and alert drivers of impending structural failure.

Solution

Design and develop a low cost, active structural health monitoring system for bridges. Additionally, this system can be developed to monitor bridges autonomously, and prevent bridge traffic in the event of unsafe structural conditions. The active structural monitoring system will utilize strain gauges, a data acquisition system, computer with structural health monitoring software, and alarm systems.

CS Component

Structural health monitoring software, strain gauges, database, data acquisition system.

Title

CD/DVD backup protection

Category

Entertainment

Problem

Today, people are copying and distributing CDs/DVDs through the internet. People are also renting movies so that they can copy them onto their hard drive.

Solution

Implement a software solution hard-coded into CDs/DVDs that will allow only one backup copy to be made of purchased software. This software could also be modified for rental CDs/DVDs so that no backup copy can be made.

CS Component

CD/DVD, Software

Title

Staff Development &Teacher Recertification Center

Category

Education

Problem

After the No Child Left Behind Law (NCLB) came into affect in 2001, four performance goals for states were addressed. One of the performance goals is that all students will be taught by highly qualified teachers before 2006-2007. Student achievement can be elevated by having highly qualified teachers and principals through the use of scientifically based professional development tracking software.

Solution

Develop a system to track teacher recertification that is tied to staff development. Public school teachers have to be re-certified every five years. Staff development is one way teachers can earn points towards recertification.

CS Component

Staff Development and Teacher Recertification software, database.

Title

Benfits Assessment Tool for Low Income Families

Category

Goverment

Problem

Low income families need a way to pre-determine if they are eligible for aid or benefits from their locality and/or the state.

Solution

Develop an on-line program that low income families can utilize to pre-determine aid or eligibility benefits from their locality and/or state.

CS Component

Benefits analyzer and assessment software, database.

Title

Automatic Meter Payment System

Category

Government

Problem

Sometimes it's impossible to park a car at a meter slot because the driver doesn't have change or enough to pay for a certain amount of time and there aren't any convenience store near by the get some change.

Solution

instead of only being able to insert coins into the meter, the driver should also have an option to pay with a credit card and select the amount of time to be parked. To keep rich people from parking at a metered slots all day, there should also be a limited amount of time that a certain credit card holder can use the card in one slot for a period of time.

CS Component

GUI, Wireless Technology, Credit Card Machine

Title

H.O.T (Hairstyle Optimizing Technology)

Category

Lifestyle

Problem

People don't live up to their true potential because of mismanaged hair. Bad hairstyles can affect your profession as well as your personal love life.

Solution

H.O.T uses an equipment similar to a head gear which users can put on their head. This head gear can detect a user's hair type, texture, color, and length. A camera will take a picture of the user to determine his/her face structure (oval, round, etc). The system, then, will give the user the most suitable hairstyle for him or her. If the user does not like the hairstyle, she or he can select a certain hairstyle from the H.O.T's database; H.O.T, then, gives the users feedback about the hairstyle (whether it is best for him/her). User can print out pictures of himself/herself with certain hairstyles.

CS Component

Camera, hardware for H.O.T, head gear, user interface, database, printer

Title

Electronic Convention System

Category

Hospitality/Tourism

Problem

Many processes that take place during conventions can be streamlined and assisted with computers and electronic technology.

Solution

Each conference participant is issued a Pocket size PC with custom software on it. With this tool, and with the assistance of a wireless network, the participant can do such things as sync the PDA with a new business contact and have their contact information e-mailed to them afterwards, ask a question to a presenter and have the presenter address it on stage, view the schedule for the conference and any updates to the schedule, view a presenter's notes and take notes themselves, chat with other participants, and more.

CS Component

Pocket size PC and custom software

Title

Mesh Network Node in a Box

Category

Public Works, Disaster Recovery, Non-profit org...

Problem

Wireless mesh/community networking technologies are a great way to get basic Internet access to any area where it is needed, like low-income, rural, remote, or disaster-struck areas. However, these networks and the hardware to implement them require a high degree of skill and technical knowledge to implement.

Solution

We would implement a line of off-the-shelf products which make deploying and/or participating in a Wireless Mesh or Community network easy, with minimal technical knowledge or handyman skills. Software protocols to implement this is already implemented and hardware to build it is abundant on the marketplace, but these devices (nodes) has not been mass marketed to consumers at an attractive price point while requiring minimal technical/handyman skills.

CS Component

Wireless hardware and routing software.

Title

Automatic Windows Optimizer

Category

Information Technology

Problem

Optimizing, securing, and updating a Windows installation is long and complicated an requires a lot of patience, multiple reboots, and babysitting updates and installs for a long time.

Solution

A software application should be made available to take a Virgin Windows install, present EULA's and have the user accept them, and without user intervention do such tasks as install Windows updates from a source (Internet or CD/DVD) including rebooting, apply performance updates, and perhaps installing applications such as Anti-virus, Anti-spyware, MS Office, or other things if the user chooses to do so. All processes by this software will be approved by the user beforehand with multiple modes like novice, intermediate, and expert users.

CS Component

Software

Title

NCIC TRAINING INTERFACE

Category

GOVT

Problem

MANY PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO EXIST WITH THE NCIC DATABASE AND EACH STATE'S SUPPORTING DATABASES. ONE PROBLEM - EACH STATE HAS DIFFERENT FORMATS FOR ENTERING AND DISPLAYING INFORMATION. ANOTHER PROBLEM - EVEN WITHIN A GIVEN STATE (IE. SAME INTERFACE), CONSIDERING A GIVEN "PERSON OF INTEREST", HIS OR HER INFORMATION WOULD LIKELY BE ENTERED IN AS MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AS THERE ARE TERMINAL OPERATORS.

Solution

STAND UP THE EXACT SAME INTERFACES ON A BLANK DATABASE, ALL STRUCTURED EXACTLY THE SAME. DESIGN THE IDEAL "OUTPUT" FOR A GIVEN QUERY. THEN PROVIDE THE "REAL WORLD" INPUT THAT WOULD CREATE THE RECORD DISPLAYED BY THE QUERY. ALLOW USERS TO TRANSLATE FROM "REAL WORLD" TO COMPUTER, QUERY THE "ITEM OF INTEREST" (PERSON, VEHICLE, WHATEVER), AND GRADE THE REPORT OR POSSIBLY PROVIDE SOME ELECTRONIC FEEDBACK.

CS Component

1) THIS COULD BE IMPLEMENTED USING ALL THE HARDWARE ALREADY IN PLACE. THIS WOULD ALLOW USERS TO TRAIN ON THE SYSTEM ON-SITE. 2) THIS WOULD THEN BE REDUCED TO A WHOLLY SOFTWARE-BASED MODIFICATION TO THE EXISTING SYSTEM. *ALTERNATIVELY, THE STANDARD TERMINAL INTERFACE COULD SIMPLY BE EMULATED, AND DISTRIBUTED TO END-USERS FOR PRACTICE WITH EITHER OPTION OF IN-PERSON GRADING OR ELECTRONIC SCORING

Title

Child Safe Web Browser

Category

Communication

Problem

All computers come with internet browsers, however they don't come with child safe internet browsers. There are many web pages that contain inappropriate material for children, and we constantly hear stories of child predators on the internet.

Solution

Provide a web browser with built in filters for parents to control which sites their kids are allowed to view. The web browser will also give parents the ability to disable downloads, and prevent children from running certain programs.

CS Component

Web browser, internet

Title

WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT

Category

BUSINESS

Problem

THE LEADERSHIP ELEMENT OF EMPLOYERS IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY LACKING. OFTEN, THEY ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY TASKS OF THEIR SUBORDINATES AND, AFTER A WHILE, THEIR BUSINESS CONSISTS OF A BUNCH OF "RIGHT ANSWER, RIGHT NOW" PATCHWORK FIXES FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO. ADDRESSING THESE PROBLEMS THE RIGHT WAY IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS AND SO COME MORE PATCHES COVERING MORE HOLES.

Solution

1) THE ABILITY TO MODEL THE "CURRENT" AND THE "CORRECT" STATE IN THE FORM OF DATA ELEMENTS, MAYBE ON SOME SLIDING SCALE 2) APPLY VARIOUS PATHFINDING ALGORITHMS TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE WAY IT IS AND THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. NOTE: THE COMPUTER SOLUTION CAN NOT CALCULATE THE "CORRECT" STATE. THIS DATA MUST COME FROM EITHER EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYERS, OR (IDEALLY) SOME MIXTURE OF THE TWO

CS Component

STATE MODELING AND ACTION-PLAN-SUGGESTION SOFTWARE

Title

Smart Classroom

Category

Education

Problem

Children learn in different ways, and while some children may be strong on a particular subject, others may not understand the material as well. Children are required to learn the material taught in a class, and usually have a deadline (such as a test date) in which they must know the material by. If a child does not understand the material well, they may not do well on a test, and end up behind the rest of the class, never truly grasping the material.

Solution

Provide software to schools that help students learn the material taught in class. The software will provide problems for students in the various subject matters they are learning in class. If a student understands the material well, they can move on to the next subject, or next set of problems. However, if the student does not have a good grasp on the subject, it will review the material and give the student new problems to solve until they have learned the material.

CS Component

Education software

Title

MEDIC-ALERT IMPLANT

Category

HEALTH

Problem

IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM, PATIENT INFORMATION MAY BE LIMITED. IF THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED ADVERSE REACTIONS TO SOME MEDICINE, ARE ALLERGIC TO SOMETHING, OR HAVE SOME OTHER ODDBALL HEALTH CONDITION, STANDARD TREATMENT PROCEDURES COULD POSE A THREAT.

Solution

CURRENTLY, HARDWARE EXISTS TO IMPLANT ELECTRONIC ID TAGS IN DOMESTIC PETS. THE ABILITY TO WRITE AND READ DATA TO AND FROM A SIMILAR DEVICE WOULD ALLOW ITS USE IN HUMAN SUBJECTS AND THE BENEFITS FROM THERE ARE INNUMERABLE. MAYBE GPS EVENTUALLY FOR USE IN CHILDREN (IE. RECOVERY OR EVEN CONTACT PREVENTION FROM KNOWN OFFENDERS WHO ARE ALREADY MONITORED)?

CS Component

SOFTWARE TO TRANSLATE BETWEEN *VERY* LIGHTWEIGHT DATA ELEMENTS STORED ON THE DEVICE AND MEANINGFUL IDENTIFICATION, MEDICAL, AND OTHER INFORMATION.

Title

Student Tracker

Category

Education

Problem

Students are skipping class without excused absences.

Solution

Students could carry around a card with them and once they enter a room the card would talk to a computer in that room and take attendance that way. Also, if a student were sick, a doctor could write into a program that they not go to school for several days, and it would talk to the schools computer through their card.

CS Component

Computer, RFID, Bluetooth

Title

Online Voting

Category

Government

Problem

People are not going to the poles because they cannot make it, or because they do not want to wait in line.

Solution

Create an online voting ballot that would use some form of identification given to the voter at time of registration.

CS Component

Internet

Title

Secure Speed Limit

Category

Govt

Problem

The increase in accidents due to people going over the speed limit.

Solution

To install sensors in each main street (like the cameras). These sensors will send signals to cars (which they will have sensors as well) to setup the max speed they can go. Therefore, no one will go over the speed limit in a particular street. This way the number of accidents will be reduce.

CS Component

sensors, software, Wireless Technology

Title

Private Math Tutor Online

Category

Education

Problem

Online Math classes are very boring and hard to understand to many people.

Solution

To develop an interactive software that will challenge and help each student to develop his/her math skills. Exercises will change depending on the level of the student.

CS Component

software

Title

Welfare Reform

Category

Govt

Problem

People that lives at the government expense and never wanting to improve their situation.

Solution

To truly investigate if applicants really qualify for welfare by making an investigation of things they own. Provide help for a fix number of years to people that truly needs help, and over that period of time, provide this people with tools (education) to improve their economical situation.

CS Component

software, GUI and databases

Title

Traffic Widget

Category

Transportation

Problem

Many people have to drive through heavy traffic to get back and forth to work. In areas with a lot of bridges people often get held up when the bridges go up. While the news gives traffic reports, not everyone is able to watch the news before leaving for work.

Solution

Create a program, possibly a widget, that can give up to date traffic conditions, such as accidents and heavy traffic, as well as bridge lifts, road construction, and closed roads.

CS Component

Internet, widget software

Title

Affordable Wireless Surveillance

Category

Security

Problem

Managing multiple construction sites can be a real pain sometimes. For example, driving 30 miles to and from a job site just to make sure a your subcontractor showed up to work when they said they were going to is counter intuitive; not to mention a total waste of time and money (especially when driving a work/utility vehicle). Theft on the job site is also a real problem. It seems the only way to combat these problems is to simultaneously monitor all these locations. Unfortunately there are no affordable solutions on the market.

Solution

The ideal solution would be to stream video from each device in the field to a web browser on your pc, laptop, iPhone, etc. marketed under $100 per unit. Each unit will weigh less than 2 lbs. and resemble the shape of a hemisphere.

CS Component

Webcam, Wireless Mobile PC card, Motion Detection Device, GPS, Rechargeable Power Supply, User Software, and the hard part will be the interface and/or firmware b/n the camera & the pc card.

Title

Smart Road Signs

Category

Safety

Problem

Let's say you're driving down a country road with little to no street lighting at about 45 mph and the speed limit changes to 35 mph. Ooops! You didn't see the sign and Roscoe P. Coltrane is staked out with a radar gun right around the corner. Sound familiar?

Solution

What if your vehicle had a device that alerted you of nearby road signs while driving? All the sign would need is an embedded RFID chip. Think of all the money tax payers could save!

CS Component

RFID tags, portable RFID detector with firmware/software and a GUI

Title

iPad

Category

Entertainment

Problem

There are a lot of portable options on store shelves for people who just want to listen to music, watch movies, and scroll through photos or other art. However, there are no portable products for developers of music, film and other art.

Solution

The solution is a high resolution touch screen about the size of a widescreen for a laptop, similar in look and feel to an iPhone, but with advanced software for the development of music, film and other art.

CS Component

Processor, embedded OS, touch-screen display, USB capability, wireless capability, audio and video cards and sound devices, camera, holographic keyboard display if we can fit it in the budget...

Title

Hindi, Urdu, Pashto, Farsi, etc. online translator

Category

Government

Problem

There are a lot of online translators that do a decent job of translating full pages of Spanish, French, etc. and now even Arabic, but there are no online translators similar to Google Translate that I have found which can translate full pages of Hindi, Urdu, Pashto, Farsi, and so on.

Solution

An online translator similar to Google Translate for Middle Eastern and South Asian languages current unavailable anywhere else.

CS Component

Translating software, database(s) of words, display module

Title

Private cellular phone and network system

Category

Personal networking (not sure)

Problem

Everyone is forced to use means of communication provided either by the government or corporate America, which essentially translates to a lot of money and a potential loss of privacy.

Solution

"web" networks and cellular phone networks run by individuals which span smaller regions rather than the whole globe

CS Component

special wireless hardware and software (i can explain more fully in class)

Title

Communication Encryption Router

Category

Internet

Problem

With the current internet setup it is possibly for companies and the government itself to conduct illegal (warentless) spying on internet traffic from a US citizen.

Solution

This box would sit between your computer and a cable or DSL modem, or between your regular router and the modem. If it detects that you are communicating with some one else with one of these boxes, it will establish an encrypted connection using AES encryption between the two parties. The key could be negotiated or inputted manually for a specific server (for complete security).

CS Component

A box similar in size to a router.

Title

Global Wireless Internet

Category

Internet

Problem

There are areas where you cannot get a wireless signal.

Solution

Modify existing cell phone tower technology to be able to send and receive (wireless) signals on the 2.4 GHz range.

CS Component

Wireless Antennas, Servers to handle the load.

Title

Wireless Mesh Network

Category

Internet

Problem

Anonymous internet access id being coming a thing of the past, and is very important.

Solution

A Mesh network (similar to "Mesh Network Node in a Box" as I just noticed this idea was already submitted) where those interested what buy a simple box that would search for any 'nodes' in its range and get internet from these. Areas would at first be scares and thus have to be connected by either a satellite system, or some other way lanwise.

CS Component

A small box with wireless capabilities that would connect and could be connected to. Satellites?

Title

Private IDs

Category

Business

Problem

Social Security abuse and credit fraud is a real and large issue. Many people use family or neighbors stolen SSNs to establish services because their credit isn't "good enough".

Solution

Create a private sector database not associated with a particular government. A more accurate identification network that doesn't simply ask for a number from a customer. Allows implementation on a larger, potentially global scale.

CS Component

Software database, identification hardware (finger/facial), recognition software.

Title

Best Course Selector

Category

Education

Problem

When you go to select courses, you never know if they are going to overlap with each other, you have to wake up at crazy hours of the morning just to get ready for the day, or you have to stay out past your bed time.

Solution

The best course selector takes in a few pieces of information from you like when the earliest time is that you want to wake up, what days do not work very well for you, and what is the latest time that you want to stay at ODU. It takes into account the professors that are rated the hardest and the time in between classes in making its decision.

CS Component

Application software for the course selector interface on a computer with or without a network, or on the internet. Algorithms to sort through the variables and a database to store the information about the student.

Title

Music and Video Suggestions

Category

Entertainment/Advertising

Problem

Many people have different tastes in the types of music and the videos that they like. New machines like the iPhone and Nokia's device that is soon to come out will be battling for market share among millions of people. One company needs an edge.

Solution

Let's say you just downloaded some music from Nokia's music store. A new music video just came out for one of those songs. Put that music video in the suggestion list. Maybe the person will like it so much that they will buy it.

CS Component

Application software that can fit on a small device. A system that looks through recent purchases and visits to certain audio tracks and videos and creates a suggestion list.

Title

Dorm Room Matching

Category

Health

Problem

There are so many bad stories about dorm room mates. Why is this? Is the selection of who you will room with any better than the days of random placement or first come first serve placement?

Solution

You can have a different take on the dimensions of compatibility idea. Give a student the ability to be able to sign up for the program where they answer a few questions about themselves. They are then matched with the person or persons that they are compatible with and won't be yelling and screaming at. If it works, they may be best friends for life.

CS Component

Application software that used as a standalone system or on the internet. The algorithms to take the answers to the questions and come up with the most compatible students to room together.

Title

Strategic Business Expansion

Category

Business

Problem

Where is the best place to put a store? Is it a place where there is hardly competition or a place with a lot of competition. Can I take into account the actual people that would come to my store to get an exclusive advantage?

Solution

When a customer purchases a product at your store, you can record their address. You can then calculate how far of a distance it took for them to get there. Based on that information, you can find out where you need to build a store so that your customers will almost always have to drive a shorter distance than to any other competitors store and gain an advantage.

CS Component

Application software that takes the customer information from a database and formulates the place where a store would be best situated. A GUI to output the store's location and the number of customers expected to enter and the increase in the company's bottom line.

Title

What was that song?

Category

Business

Problem

Many people hear songs and love them so much that the tune is stuck in their head. Maybe they just have the music in their head and not the words. They don't know it, so they can't possibly by the CD with that song on it.

Solution

Have a web site where you sing the tune and using voice recognition capabilities, match it to the song and show the CDs with that tune on it.

CS Component

Application software on the internet, the database of songs, and the algorithms for voice recognition and matching.

Title

Personal Taste

Category

Food

Problem

People go to resturants ordering foods they've never eaten or tend to order the same meal every time because they know it's good. When you're making dinner at home you also generally make similar meals or rotate dinner plans every several days. Where's the diversity?

Solution

There are millions of recipes online with many different favors. If there were a database people could try a particular meal and check off their "enjoyment level" some general flavor trends could be calculated to suggest a variety of new meals and/or drinks to try.

CS Component

Database

Title

Traffic Alert System

Category

Traffic

Problem

There is a lot of traffic on the interstate system in virginia and the current alert system on 610 AM usually relays old information.

Solution

Implement a new text messaging system that relays route specific, up to date information to the driver.

CS Component

Databases, Web interface to sign up with, and cell phones

Title

Weather Alert Keychain

Category

Health

Problem

Weather related disasters are becoming a greater concern of all people around the world. People are dying because the emergency alert service cannot communicate with everyone fast enough.

Solution

Key chains that can receive updates to warn people in areas of disaster prior to a suspected event. The warning can come from cell phone towers and the device prints out a simple message, or blinks to alert people away from media outlets.

CS Component

Mechanism to interpret signals. Software to send out updates/alerts and broadcast them to appropriate areas without disturbing those not in danger.

Title

Consumer Level GPS Tracker

Category

Finance

Problem

People often find that their time is being stretched thin and get easily frustrated over each lost minute, especially in traffic and lines. They lost time doing menial things they could/should avoid but may not be aware of how their time is really spent.

Solution

A GPS or WIFI tracker that can run on a PDA/Cell Phone/Smart Phone that creates a log for a person of their location throughout the day and e-mails it to them so they can be better accountable for their time or make adjustments (routes to works, fewer trips to the living room/break room). !Personal use only the negative implications are quite obvious!

CS Component

Software that takes advantage of a present wifi connection or GPS system that can run on one's handheld device. Locations can be programmed in to facilitate the log and it could be put to use when one creates a log of their time spent on a project(time in comp room vs kitchen) or necessary for those who are very time conscientious.

Title

House Tracker

Category

Finance

Problem

The market is always changing with personal items in a house. If everyone recorded their receipts on the most expensive possessions they'd have retail value recorded but not eveyone knows what their true values are. Do they have things that's value has decreased or are there unknown collectables?

Solution

A personal database of items in your house can be stored and specified market updates can give a person their overall value of goods in the house or select individual items. This would allow the home owner to choose if something is worth selling for profits or how much insurance they need on their house.

CS Component

Database, Market analysis.

Title

House Tracker

Category

Finance

Problem

The market is always changing with personal items in a house. If everyone recorded their receipts on the most expensive possessions they'd have retail value recorded but not eveyone knows what their true values are. Do they have things that's value has decreased or are there unknown collectables?

Solution

A personal database of items in your house can be stored and specified market updates can give a person their overall value of goods in the house or select individual items. This would allow the home owner to choose if something is worth selling for profits or how much insurance they need on their house.

CS Component

Database, Market analysis.

Title

Software Time Tracker

Category

Finance

Problem

There are currently programs that will work like stop watches for keeping track of software projects, but many require direct interaction. As a result most information on time spent on a project is estimated guessed passed on progress.

Solution

A program that looks for defined application to run and takes in the files they create/modify. The program may also record time spend on web browser or e-mail clients to give a full perspective on time devoted. The key is automation, but also specific instruction for the user. !Prevention of "Big brother" applications is imperative to its success!

CS Component

Software that can interact with the operating system to determine when a project related application is being run. Files/programs can be assigned to different projects so the records can be kept separate. The program may also warn of too much time spent on one project or remind the user how long it has been since their last contribution. Results are printed for the user's analysis.

Title

Electronic prescriptions

Category

Health

Problem

Doctors prescriptions are easy forged, and commonly misread, and sometimes patients are even prescribed medecine that kills them.

Solution

Establish a national database for prescriptions that can be accessed at pharmacys nationally, and since it will be computerized there will be much fewer errors.

CS Component

Database, and a system that organizes these prescriptions.

Title

Fixing relatives computers

Category

Fixing computers?

Problem

Relatives always ask us to to fix their computers because some random program does not work, and since we are computer science majors we are required to fix them.

Solution

Create a program that would be able to connect to a similar platform (i.e. Windows) and would be able to connect securely and would be able bypass any firewalls upon request of the user, and give the "fixer" access to the system.

CS Component

web interface, servers.

Title

City Bus Detector

Category

Transportation

Problem

Using the city buses for transportation can be a waste of time. Most of the time the buses would 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 the want to take or transfer to and would have an alarm that would ring to let the user know where the bus is. It would also provide information about the condition of the buses (if a bus is broke down or an accident might caused a delay).

CS Component

A computer software that would store information about the buses that the user would chose and what the user want the device to do when the bus is in close range(for example an alarm can go off when the bus is about 10 minutes away).

Title

African Games

Category

Entertainment

Problem

African with busy schedules finds it hard to interact with other African or play African games. And it is hard for others interested in the African cultural to have time to communicate with other Africans or learn about Africa by communicating with African people or those who may know about Africa.

Solution

African gaming software that users can install on their computer. This gaming software would allow users to play African games on their computer (by themselves or with others) and with others via internet. It would also provide a communication device that allows people to communicate via internet.

CS Component

Computer software that have the gaming and communication software. PC, internet.

Title

Restaurant Efficiency

Category

Business

Problem

Restaurants are always receiving complaints about a failure to keep up with a party's needs such as refilling drinks, cooking food as requested, seating customer's with a minimum wait, etc.

Solution

A more revolutionized approach for the entire restaurant including smart drink glasses that notify the server when they need refills, smart grills/ovens/microwaves that cook food to perfection, and a computerized host board that organizes and creates an optimal list of tables for parties. This allows all server's to be seated in a correct pattern and ensures that parties of 2 don't end up at 6-top booths.

CS Component

Logic software for host board, remote sensors for cooking food correctly and table needs. Server's have a remote to notify host board software when a table is clean and ready to be sat again... etc.

Title

Lineup Creator

Category

Entertainment/Sports

Problem

Creating a lineup and accounting for many factors of competition is a difficult task for managers at all levels of play. From creating the most competitive lineup in the professional games to ensuring playing time at the youth recreational games, all managers have much to consider.

Solution

Software that accounts for a player's ability levels in all facets of the game, history of success or failure against the opposing team, and scouting reports of the opposing team that would allow certain player's to perform better against the team. For recreational levels, lineups can be created for a balance of playing time.

CS Component

Software using statistical analysis.

Title

Student Focus Aid

Category

Education

Problem

Students often find themselves distracted by other things when they should be doing homework like TV, web browsing, video games, etc.

Solution

Create a software application that can "lockout" the user from using certain features on the computer. The student can identify times to work on a project during the week. During that time, if the student tries to access a computer game, the application will prevent the program from running. If the student tries to access the TV, the computer will keep the TV from powering on.

CS Component

Software that the student can set before hand and prevent procrastination.

Title

Waiting Sucks!

Category

General

Problem

Waiting in line is a waste of time. Especially when you have to wait for a long time. Example... DMV, ODU parking office

Solution

1) Allow users to conduct bussiness over the internet. 2) Create an online scheduling system allowing individuals to schedule an appointment.

CS Component

internet, database

Title

Easier Pass

Category

Transportation

Problem

Traffic jams at toll boths cause hours of delays. Extensive back-ups even prevent easypass users from moving through.

Solution

Tolls are charged to vehicles by their license plate.

CS Component

scanners, database

Title

Easier Pass

Category

Transportation

Problem

Traffic jams at toll boths cause hours of delays. Extensive back-ups even prevent easypass users from moving through.

Solution

Tolls are charged to vehicles by their license plate.

CS Component

scanners, database

Title

A.M.R.

Category

Health

Problem

To many seniors find it difficult to keep track of when they need to reoder their medications.

Solution

The A.M.R. will keep a DB of the current inventory and alert doctors for refills if nessacary. The user will then be told when they can pick it up.

CS Component

DB, network to doctor, simple output, and perscription printer.

Title

POT Begone

Category

D.O.T.

Problem

Too many pot holes.

Solution

install pothole detecting cameras to monitor hi traffic areas.

CS Component

cammeras, DB, user I/O

Title

R.R.N. (Real Random Number)

Category

All

Problem

the random number genorators in most computers are flawed. they use a table to generate physdo random numbers. this is not good for real smulations.

Solution

there is a website (random.org) this uses atmospheric noise to create random numbers. my plan is to create a small hardware device that uses the same principle.

CS Component

hardware, software driver