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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students are setting new trails in
computer programming and software engineering through creative projects
completed for community and corporate clients throughout the country.
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Trail Talking: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology senior computer
science and software engineering students explain features of their Mobile
Trail Mapping project during this year’s Senior Design Expo. Team members
were (from left) Eric Stokes, Tim Ekl, Pete Brousalis and David Pick. |
Ten projects were displayed during the Department of Computer Science &
Software Engineering’s Senior Project Expo on campus during the winter
quarter. Work and documentation will continue through early in the
spring quarter.
One team developed a suite of mobile applications that provide
information and maps for persons walking the 30-mile trail systems in
and around Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Mobile Trail Mapping (MTM) project
will be available free this spring for Android, iPhone, iPad and web
devices.
“We wanted to make our project as resourceful as possible for anyone
walking the trail,” stated Eric Stokes, a software engineering major.
The MTM application will provide trail users with information about the
distance to landmarks, up-to-date status messages about the trail
system, and photos and information about historical locations along the
trail. Also, the service will let walkers submit problem reports to help
keep the trail system clean and usable for the community.
“The project was interesting because it was mobile. But it was unique
because it was a wide-open project, with as many uses as we wanted to
build into the system,” stated Tim Ekl, who is majoring in computer
science, software engineering and mathematics. “There were many
challenges –- three programming languages (Java, Objective-C and Ruby),
data being used across different interfaces and multiple mobile
devices.”
Similar MTM systems could be adapted for other trail systems. Other
members of the development team were software engineering students Pete
Brousalis and David Pick.
Other projects featured in this year’s Expo included:
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Proximity Gaming System: A new
software program was developed that allows users to play
games with each other, chat and transfer files without
the need for internet accessibility through an actual
network. Team members were Aaron Blankenbacher, Melissa
Brumbaugh, Mitchell Thieme and Josh Williford.
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Mobile Manufacturing Application:
Specially developed for Roche Diagnostics’ Operations
Center in Indianapolis, the students’ system helps put
manufacturing statistics at employees’ fingertips
through Smartphone technology. This will enhance
manufacturing intelligence systems. Developing the
project were J.D. Hill, Andrew Kruth, Joe Salisbury and
Sam Varga.
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Slit-Scan Image Process: This unique
high-tech project will allow Rose-Hulman alumnus Sandor
Pethes to stitch together images starting from the east
coast of the U.S. to the west coast –- creating one
continuous image in a web viewer. Pethes is planning to
take this cross-country trek this summer. However, he
may start by taking photos along Wabash Avenue –-
America’s historic National Road –- through downtown
Terre Haute, before venturing to downtown Chicago’s
famed Michigan Avenue. Team members were Brian Beutow,
Phillip Iverson, Albert Johnson and Matthew Vargo.
Corporate clients for other projects were Northrop Grumman, Beckman
Coulter and Lexmark International. This year’s projects were supervised
by Shawn Bohner, director of software engineering, and Steve Chenoweth,
associate professor of computer science and software engineering.
The students’ work on these innovative projects has paved the way for
career opportunities. Most of this year’s computer science and software
engineering seniors already have accepted jobs (many with their project
clients), are considering job offers or planning to attend graduate
school.
Learn more about Rose-Hulman’s Department of Computer Science and
Software Engineering at
http://www.cs.rose-hulman.edu/.
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