Computer Systems Lab
Project Abstracts and Categories
2002-2003

  • 2000 Student Ideas
  • 2001 Student Abstracts
  • 2002-2003 Student Portfolios

  • 2002-2003
    1. Applications of Operating Systems/Open Source
      • Student: Matthew Colyer
        Title: The Luminance Open Source Educational Desktop
        Abstract: The Luminance Desktop aims to be the premier open source educational
        desktop. It will be comprised of many other open source projects. The Luminance
        desktop does not aim to reinvent the wheel and rewrite every single application.
        Rather its goals is to create uniformity and ease of use to the a small
        subset of users, students and teachers. All software forming the luminance
        desktop will be Open Source, in order to promote the Open Source philosophy.
        The priorities of the project are ease of installation, ease of networking,
        functional for educational tasks, speed of operation and reliability. The
        Luminance Desktop is not solely software it is also hardware specifications,
        naming conventions, administrative conventions and networking conventions.
        However, the Luminance Desktop does not aim to take the educational world by
        storm and therefore promotes interoperability and standards compliance.
        Luminance will adhere to already existing standards whenever possible.
      • Student: Neal Deckant
        Title: Emulation of a Z80-based System
        Abstract:
        This project is the construction of a Gameboy emulator, a Z80-based system.
        If this project is completely finished and working in time, the program can
        load up a Gameboy ROM (Read-Only Memory) images and be able to play them,
        giving the user the same display and control as if he or she played the
        cartridge on a Gameboy. The emulator is simply a program that allows a user
        to play game images.
    2. Computer Simulation and Modeling, Computational Computer Science
      • Student: Alycia Chin
        Title: A Study of the Parasitic Bacteria Wolbachia
        Abstract
        This document chronicles the progress made on a research project throughout
        the year. The research centered on making a simulation of a population and
        modifying this population according to the effects of the parasitic bacteria
        Wolbachia. Modifiying factors included types of Wolbachia, types of organisms,
        and environmental factors.
      • Student: Charles Vu
        Title: An Analysis of Option Pricing Models
        Abstract:
        The stock options market is a trillion dollar industry and many models
        exist which attmept to price stock derivates. Previously, most attempts
        at analyzing the merits of each option model have used theoretical economic
        analysis. However, no attempt has been made to analyze how the models
        perform in the actual options market. The goal of this project is to perform
        an empirical analysis of the option pricing models.
      • Student: Nicholas Shelly
        Title: A Comparison of Stock Selection Strategies
        (Also see Joseph Hess in Web)
        Abstract:
        Project Overview
        "A Comparison of Stock Selection Strategies" entails the comparison and
        analysis of various investment strategies by proven security analysists in a
        computer science environment. The project compares and analyzes the
        successfulness of several leading investment strategists including William
        O'Neil of Investor's Business Daily and Warren Buffet, Chairman and CEO of
        Berkshire Hathaway and second on Forbes' 2002 list of Richest Americans.
        After acquiring the stock's data from an outside source, the program tests
        several different variables, such as the size of the portfolio, long-term
        versus short-term concerns, and the current condition of the economy.
        Although an ultimate evaluation of each investment method is still under
        investigation, a defnite correlation has been determined for O'Neil's
        cup-and-hand and a stock's long term success. Over the duration of the year,
        considerable research has conducted that is required for the in-depth subject
        of the computerization of stock strategies. However, at times the research
        has used time that may have otherwise been used for preliminary coding.
        Note: A corresponding project, constructed by Joseph Hess, provides an online
        database to track stock movements and provide relevant data to the user
        for easy access and interface.
    3. Computer Vision and Image Processing
      • Student: Evan Herbst
        Title: Camera Calibration by Corner Detection
        Abstract:
        The most annoying characteristic of calibrating digital measurement devices--and
        cameras in particular--is the time and effort required. Generally, cameras must
        be used to take several pictures of some set of orthogonal planes, fed some data
        from their packaging or otherwise helped along. This project aims to make calibrating
        a digital camera an easy task for the user by performing most calculations without
        input and using minimal input data in the form of pictures.
      • Student: William Barratt
        Title: Steganography Using Computer Images
        Abstract:
        This project investigates a method for encoding text messages in computer
        image files, a process called steganography. Steganography is not well-known
        to the public but has existed in different forms for thousands of years.
        The usefulness of steganography is not confined to sending secret messages;
        it is also possible to use hidden data to efficiently store an accompanying
        caption with an image. Through judicious choice of file type and algorithm,
        it is possible to hide data in an image with no effect detectable by methods
        other than pixel-by-pixel comparison with a known original. Because of the
        vast number of image files (including both photographs and design elements
        that are frequently used in Web pages) available on the Internet, steganography
        can go undetected if carefully created and placed.
    4. Computer Algorithms
      • Student: Pierce Umberger
        Title: Design and Implementation of an Efficient Search Engine Algorithm
        Abstract
        This document details the paramaters of the project concerning development
        and implementation of an efficient search engine algorithm. Emphasis will
        be placed both on speed, as well as relevance of search results. The focus
        is the creation of a fast and efficient search engine that returns effectively
        ranked results in an easy to read format that is conducive to easy interpretation
        of search results.
      • Student: Yan Zhang
        Title: New Quantum Mechanical Model of Lossy Information Propagation and Transmission
        Abstract:
        A quantum mechanical model of information propagation through a lossy medium
        is presented. We assume that the signal undergoes a series of transformations
        and losses in a closed system. We then describe the idea of a compensation
        device used to restore the original information after the signal quality
        degrades. We prove that this restoration of signal loss is possible in
        principle, and calculate the transmission ratio required for successful
        compensation. The model is fairly general and could be applied to many
        physical systems. A specific scenario, the transmission of light signal
        through a single-mode fiber, is presented as an example.
      • Title: Making Combos: Tree Creation and Navigation (Computer Games also)
        Student: Robert Marney
        Abstract:
        This document is the final project paper in LATEX form, designed for HTML
        format. The project itself is a program that will determine the best move
        or move combination, called "combos", for a given situation and a given
        fighting game. I do not attempt to create an AI or an independent game
        structure, merely to analyze existing move trees or frame data automatically.
      • Student: Ben Ellis
        Title: Permutations in Cryptography
        Abstract:
        Permutations possess mathematical properties important to cryptography.
        Algorithms related to permutations can be used to speed implementation of
        substitution, transposition, and more complex cryptographic operations.
        Importantly, permutation rank algorithms allow for the creation of unique
        permutations from unique integers in a modular field.
    5. Security
      • Student: Yulin Zhuang
        Title: Creating a Java Telnet Client
        Abstract:
        This project is intended to generate a web-based secure telnet client,
        that will be accessible to any computer with a web-capable browser
        program. It will support SSH encryption as well, to enable people
        without access to the usual SSH telnet programs to make secure connections
        to a host computer from any computer with a web-capable browser program.
    6. Artificial Intelligence, Games, Modeling
      • Student: Austin Rachlin
        Title: Solving the Majority Classification Problem
        Abstract:
        This document presents my project proposal for my senior techlab computer
        systems project. I am attempting to create an algorithm that will solve the
        Majority Classification Problem in an efficient and successful manner.
      • Student: Ryan Archer
        Title:Creation of a Role Playing Game AI
        Abstract:
        My techlab project is to create an AI for a computer role playing game (RPG).
        The AI present in current computer RPGs is minimal at best, relying on
        simple randomization and scripting to control NPC (non-player character)
        actions within each game. I hope to improve on RPG AIs through my project.
      • Student: Yoyo Zhou
        Title: Artificial Intelligence for Five-in-a-row
        Abstract:
        This project aims to create several artificial intelligence programs to play
        five-in-a-row. The strengths of different approaches from game theory and
        artificial intelligence to the problem of five-in-a-row will be compared.
    7. Computer Graphics and Modeling
      • Student: Immanuel Buder
        Title:SETI Visualizations: Development of Graphical Utilities for Explaining SETI
        Abstract:
        The SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) program has been active
        since 1960. It publicises itself well with many text-based sites. However,
        few graphical utilities exist to explain the program. The purpose of this
        project is to develop such utilities using OpenGL and possibly POV-Ray.
      • Student: Jing Chan
        Title: Performance Oriented Massively Multi-player Online Role-Playing Game
        Abstract:
        This project is to create a prototype of a Massively-Multiplayer Online
        Role-Playing Game that's geared towards performance-oriented processes for
        the servers. This would allow the servers to operate on average machinery
        and save costs to the server-side users.
      • Student: Mike Herring
        Title: 3D Network Visualization
        Abstract:
        3D Network Visualization uses TCP/IP protocals and multicasting to compile
        a three-dimensional scene in OpenGL showing network connections and
        bandwidth/transfer rate.
      • Student: Linh Pham
        Title: Portal to the Past
        Abstract:
        The purpose of this project is to code a virtual three-dimensional museum
        program. A user can move around in this museum and click on the exhibits,
        accessing video clips of important moments in modern American History.
      • Student: Michael Hull
        Title: Upper Hand Project
        Abstract:
        This Project involves the creation of a user-controlled, graphically-animated
        human hand for possible use in the future as an interactive tool.
      • Student: Michael Turpyn
        Title: Creation of a Particle Engine
        Abstract
        Many special effects in the gaming and movie industry are created using a
        particle system. The point of my research project is to find a way to make
        this process easier. I plan on creating a particle engine in OpenGL, and then
        modifying it for windows. This program will be a flexible skeleton that
        allows the user to easily create their own particle system by entering very
        little input.
      • Student: David Sterling
        Title: Utilization of OpenGL and DirectX in an Interactive 2.5D Game
        Abstract:
        This project is an investigation into the various components and research
        areas involved in designing and developing a 2.5D vertically scrolling
        "shooter". OpenGL, DirectX, and C++ is utilized.
        This project is an investigation into the various components and research
        areas involved in designing and developing a 2.5D vertically scrolling
        "shooter" with OpenGL, DirectX and C++. Foremost among these is terrain
        generation, including the use of height maps and algorithms and its actual
        implementation. Other topics include particle systems, user input and windowing
        systems.
      • Student: Richard Green
        Title:A Video Game
        Abstract:
        All the gory details about how to make a video game are outlined here. The pains
        and toils, and a good deal of conjecture fill the confines of this paper. What
        code there is can be found in the coding section at the end of the document.
    8. Database Theory
      • Student: Michael Tazcak
        Title: A Database Management Tool that Supports Multiple Connections and Query Languages
        Abstract: (Also HCI)
        Different database servers have slight differences in query languages that
        do not allow for direct transfer of information from one to another. Many of
        the current non-profit database management tools are web-based and only
        support a connection to a single database of a single server type. The final
        goal of this project is to create a non-web-based user-friendly graphical
        interface for database management that can span multiple connections to
        several different servers at one time. This would allow for a quick and easy
        transfer of information between different database systems.
    9. Networking
      • Student: Mike Herring
        Title: 3D Network Visualization
        Abstract:
        3D Network Visualization uses TCP/IP protocals and multicasting to compile
        a three-dimensional scene in OpenGL showing network connections and
        bandwidth/transfer rate.
      • Student: Sami Siddiqui
        Title: The Development of a Wide Area Network (WAN) and OpenGL Representation Using "Understanding
        Internet Protocols through Hands-On Programming"
        Abstract:
        The following project documents the creation of a Wide Area Network (WAN)
        using the reference guide, "Understanding Internet Protocols Through Hands-On
        Programming" written by J. Mark Pullen. The book is divided into sections
        pertaining to the individual components of the network and thus, chapter by
        chapter, the user completes assignments that aid in the construction of the
        final project. In conjunction with the reference guide, a simulation software
        package titled NetworkBench also facilitates in the development of the WAN
        by executing the coding written by the user as well as providing the correct
        output as a comparison to sample code. The primary goal of undertaking such
        a project is to gain insight as to how networks that are used in day-to-day
        business actually function from a computer aspect. However, such a program
        is a more creative way of gaining this knowledge as it allows for hands-on
        programming, which aids in the learning process. In addition, another component
        of this project is an algorithm that creates a visual representation of the
        network using OpenGL. Such a representation will allow users to better
        understand the concept of a WAN by providing a visual aid that depicts how
        the WAN functions on an elementary level.
      • Student: Christopher Doyle
        Title: The Creation of a 3D Client/Server Application
        Abstract:
        In this project, a world will be build that can be experienced by multiple
        clients at once in three-dimentions. The clients will be able to interact
        with the world and each other, because the application is being build with
        a client/server model. Many facets will need to be developed, the actual
        network code, the network strategy for transfering data effeciently, how to
        describe a world in 3D as a file, and how to draw it, with updates of the
        state of the world from the server. I will be building this in steps, because
        to test it well, both the network and the 3D parts need to be working to
        some degree. As a result, much knowledge will be attained in the area of
        compression, relevant 3D math (linear algebra), knowledge of the OpenGL
        API, and the network commands of C++ and how Linux handles them.
    10. HCI - Human Computer Interaction
      • Student: Kelly Geoghegan
      • Title: Creating a Drawing Program with an Advanced Gui Interface
        Abstract:
        This project creates a drawing program that is simple to use but not
        limited in its capabilities. The final product will be a user-friendly
        drawing tool kit for the computer animator in which the user can, for
        example, create and manipulate circles, squares, and triangles etc. on
        a blank canvas.
      • Student: Sarah Hagan
        Title: Creation of an GUI Application to Analyze Reproduction of Wasps with a Bacteria Infection
        Abstract:
        Scientists create models to predict the results of their research. My goal
        was to create an application that would help scientists develop models. To
        focus my project, I choice a certain model and topic of scientific research.
        To foster interdisciplinary research, I chose a biotechnology topic: bacterium
        research. I created an interface that allowed for maniupulation of bacterium
        models. I used wxPython to code my user friendly application.
    11. Computer Architecture (See Applications of Operating Systems)
    12. Computers in Education
    13. Encryption (See Algorithms)
    14. Database Applications, Expert Systems
    15. Web and E-Business applications
      • Student: Ryan Landoll
        Title: Creation of an Intelligent Task Manager
        Abstract:
        This article describes the basic conception of the Creation of an Intelligent
        Task Manager, Organa, as well as some of the background behind its conception
        and design. Organa is a program that will consist of three components - a
        Schedule Viewer, a Task Manager and a Scheduler. These three components will
        fit together to offer a package that will allow students to organize their
        assignments and achieve success at managing time and course load.
      • Student: Laura Strickman
        Title: Datakeeper: An Online Form-Filling Database
        Abstract:
        The average high school student fills out dozens of administrative forms
        during their high-school career, everything from field trip permission slips
        to information cards for teachers' files to many repetitive emergency care
        forms. It would save much time and frustration if the students' pertinent
        facts were stored digitally. Then whenever a form was required, the data needed
        could be released via email to whoever requested it, or printed out easily.
        To ensure security for the information, the students could select which
        information to release to which form.
      • Student: David Chao
        Title:A Restricted Database Compiled by PHP and MySQL to Store Navy VRML
        Data in Comprehensive Tables
        Abstract
        The U.S. Navy designs ships using a CAD system. Since the navy has multiple
        locations where ships are designed the result is the redrawing of parts
        for diffrent ships. The same radar is used in several ships but since
        there is no central location to store the VRML files they are lost. I want
        to create a database that would allow the user to search for a desired part
        and download it from the site. Parts that were not found by the user could
        be drawn and then uploaded to the site. The site would have to be restricted
        to navy users.
      • Student: Joseph Hess
        Title: An Online User Interface for Tracking Stock Portfolios
        Abstract: (HCI category also)
        Currently, an abundance of websites offer online services to track the
        performance of stock portfolios. However, the most comprehensive options to
        this effect may require a fee and usually do not provide advice tailored to
        the investor. Additionally, the online environment is often subjected to
        undesired amounts of clutter and advertising, distracting users from their
        main purpose and unnecessarily complicating the online experience. An online
        user interface offers wide-ranging analysis of stock performance and counsel
        on managing the portfolio based on a concurrent study in technical analysis
        and other strategies used to predict stock movements. This project represents
        the confluence of the convenience of other online interfaces, the personalized
        guidance typically reserved for other media, the efficiency of data storage
        in databases manipulated by simple query languages, and basic principles of
        the design of user interfaces in order to create a single destination for
        viewing past performance, current conditions, and future possibilities.
      • Student: Corey Mays
        Title: Making a Restricted Database that Stores and Allows for the Easy Accesss of VRML Files for the US Navy
        Abstract:
        The U.S. Navy designs ships using a CAD system. Since the navy has multiple
        locations where ships are designed the result is the redrawing of parts for
        different ships. The same radar is used in several ships but since there is
        no central location to store the VRML files they are lost. I want to create
        a database that would allow the user to search for a desired part and
        download it from the site. Parts that were not found by the user could be
        drawn and then uploaded to the site. The site would have to be restricted to
        navy users.
      • Student: Steve Yang
        Title: Integrated Online Library Catalog and Account Tracking System
        Abstract:
        For my Senior Computer Systems Research Laboratory project at TJHSST, I will
        be creating an improved online library tracking system that fully integrates
        member features with a catalog database.
      • Student: Sana Yousef
        Title: Business Inventory Management System
        Description:This program would be useful for retail stores by helping stores
        track and order supplies/items. A store would be sent a list of items in the
        latest shipment. The store would then be presented with an easy way of both
        checking for discrepancies and reporting them back to the distribution
        center. The store could also order items from the distribution center. The
        store would then be able to track its shipments, to better get an idea of
        when new items/supplies are going to arrive.
        Abstract
        Problem: There is no current way for a store to track incoming shipments, and
        the old method of paper and pen checking-in is time consuming and an
        electronic method would be useful.
        Method: Online tracking and ordering system would greatly decrease time needed
        to check in orders while also giving the stores an upperhand with customers
        as they would be able to know what items would be arriving in the next
        shipment.
        Tools: This program will have to combine many languages and scripts in order
        to achieve the goal. Some things that will be used are: php, MySql, and html.
      • Student: Ivan Hall III
        Title: Development of Secure Internet Chat Program
        Abstract:
        As digital communication becomes more predominant, so does the need for
        privacy and securities. Millions of users use text-messages . This project
        is intended to help solve this problem by creating a IRC system in which the
        RSA algorithm, a popular method of encryption is incorporated to protect the
        contents of messages and/or data.
      • Student Mark Terrell
        Title: An Interactive Activity Management System
        Abstract
        The Interactive Activity Management System is an online databasing system
        designed to simplify the busy lives of TJ students or anyone else in need
        of organization. It is a MySQL/PHP based website that allows users to post
        information to save them time and from frustration.
      • Student: George Ding
        Title: Dynamic Web-based Content using HTML, PHP and MySQL
        Abstract:
        To program a script that will help in the organization and presentation of
        a large amount of information. The information, in the case of this site
        East Asian movie reviews and Chinese and Japanese song lyrics, will be stored
        in databases. The script will extract the information from the databases and
        show the user the reviews or song lyrics available and allow the user to browse
        by title, artist, rating, genre, etc. or allow the user to search for a particular
        movie or song. When a movie or song is selected, the script will load a page
        after again accessing the database, which has the review or song lyric in it,
        along with other information such as the year the movie was released, or the
        composer of the song. Such a script can never truely be finished, but I plan
        to start out with a version of the script including only the default case,
        then gradually add in features through functions in the script. To check if
        the script is working, I need information in the MySQL database. Simultaneously,
        while working on new versions of the script, I will be inserting information
        into the database. Then, I will access and test different parts of the script
        and see if the correct information is accessed and withdrawn by the script.
    16. Computers and Music