VTURCS » Browse Projects

Browse Active Research Projects

Undergraduates can participate in projects for credits by registering in CS 4974 or 4994. Consult the Faculty Advisor or Research Supervisor before you register for this course.

Participation on a VTURCS project could also lead to an honors thesis for CS majors interested in graduating with honors.

Can't find anything that piques your curiousity? Don't be afraid to check out the Computer Science faculty list for someone who has a research interest you'd like to know more about. They might just have something for you.

A Handheld Approach to Mobile Augmented Reality

Faculty Advisor: Joe Gabbard
Research Supervisor: Joe Gabbard
Description of Work: The Mobile Augmented Reality Lab is researching novel definitions and applications of Augmented Reality (AR) technology. One of our goals is to transition the technology usage from cumbersome head-worn, tethered, and indoor contexts, to wireless and truly mobile user experiences. The specific project at this time, is to employ a camera-enabled handheld computer (e.g., PDA, mobile phone) as a "window to the world", overlaying location-based information onto a real-time video image. We are collaborating with SeeVT with the goal of providing additional user interaction techniques to mobile users across campus.
Application Instructions: Email me to setup a time to discuss more details. Creative approaches to the problem are encouraged.
Project URL: http://
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: jgabbard@vt.edu

Activity Console for Collaborative Computing

Faculty Advisor: Deborah Tatar
Research Supervisor: Joon Suk Lee
Description of Work: Learn how to program Java and Swing for multi-platform applications by working on the "activity console" for collaborative computing applications. You will start with existing code, either clean it up or rewrite it. This is also a path into the design of collaborative computing systems.
Application Instructions: Send email to dolomite@vt.edu and cc dtatar@cs.vt.edu
Project URL: http://
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Pay
Contact: dolomite@vt.edu; dtatar@cs.vt.edu

AdWiki: Designing a Wiki-Based System for Student Advising

Faculty Advisor: Aditya Johri
Research Supervisor: Aditya Johri
Description of Work: Student advising is a critical issue in undergraduate education, especially in engineering. The ever increasing faculty-student ratio in engineering requires innovations in the student advising model. The goal of this project is to develop a Wiki-based online system that can assist students with their advising needs by combining online information with online and face-to-face interactions. The first version of this system will be designed for Freshmen engineering students with later iterations encompassing other years. This project will provide the student with the opportunity to critically apply online community design concepts to solve a real world problem.
Application Instructions: Please email Dr. Aditya Johri (ajohri@vt.edu) to apply or if you have any questions.
Project URL: http://
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction, Knowledge
Compensation: Work for Pay or Credit
Contact: ajohri@vt.edu

Agile Programming for HCI

Faculty Advisor: Scott McCrickard
Research Supervisor: Jason Lee
Description of Work: Software developers are increasingly looking toward agile methodologies to engineer software systems efficiently. However current agile processes, such as eXtreme Programming, do not adequately account for usability issues in the development process. The goal of this project is to leverage a software development process that combines reuse-centric scenario-based usability engineering and eXtreme Programming to create notification systems . Students will gain real world knowledge of cutting edge human-computer interaction and software development issues through application development and will help in evaluating and improving the development process. Experience with eXtreme Programming is a plus, but not necessary.
Application Instructions: Email Dr. McCrickard to apply.
Project URL: http://research.cs.vt.edu/ns/
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: mccricks@cs.vt.edu

Algorithm Visualizations

Faculty Advisor: Cliff Shaffer
Research Supervisor: Cliff Shaffer
Description of Work: Help to advance our research program on algorithm visualization. Options include 1) Create one or more algorithm visualizations to be used in courses such as CS2606. We do our implementations as Java applets. This will extend our library of algorithm visualizations for use in courses at Virginia Tech. For examples of our previous work, see: http://research.cs.vt.edu/algoviz/ 2) Contribute to development of the AlgoViz Wiki (http://algoviz.cs.vt.edu). This might involve developing analysis tools to explore the wiki catalog, or developing information content for the wiki. This work will contribute to our fundamental research efforts to understand what makes a successful algorithm visualization.
Application Instructions: Contact Dr. Shaffer to set up an appointment.
Project URL: http://research.cs.vt.edu/algoviz/vturcs
Area(s) of Research: Computer-Aided Instruction, Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: shaffer@vt.edu

Augmenting Information Rich Displays

Faculty Advisor: Joe Gabbard
Research Supervisor: Joe Gabbard
Description of Work: To date, most augmented reality (AR) applications have focused on overlaying information onto the real-world, to provide information to users such as building labels, geo-rectified wayfinding indicators, etc. In these cases, the real-world background is typically a building, a road-surface, the sky, and so on. This project aims to explore the advantages of integrated information systems, where AR technology is used to augment information rich spaces. This work, for example, may involve using an AR display to augment the GigaPixel display, providing (potentially personal or sensitive) information on top of information. Creative ideas along these lines are also encouraged.
Application Instructions: Email to setup a convenient time to discuss details.
Project URL: http://
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: jgabbard@vt.edu

Collaborative Storyboarding

Faculty Advisor: Scott McCrickard
Research Supervisor: Scott McCrickard, Stacy Branham, Shahtab Wahid
Description of Work: This project explores issues related to the design of user interfaces through the creation of collaborative storyboards. The project team is investigating novel interfaces--large displays, tabletop computers, handhelds/tablets--that can facilitate the creative process.
Application Instructions: Contact the supervisors for details.
Project URL
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Pay or Credit
Contact: mccricks@cs.vt.edu

Creating Location-Aware Notification Systems for Virginia Tech

Faculty Advisor: Scott McCrickard
Research Supervisor: Miten Sampat
Description of Work: As pervasive computing devices become more commonplace, we begin to see applications based on a user's location. Creating applications for such situations carries several technical challenges such as: determining current location, detecting artifacts in the environment, and real-time tracking of parameters that the users want information about. These systems are classified as "location-aware" or "context-aware". Through this project, students will work on creating applications on the seeVT location intelligence platform to build location-aware systems. Projects will involve developing applications for state-of-the-art handheld computers, and conducting usability tests on them. Come with your own domain ideas, or plug into one of the many ideas from around campus!
Application Instructions: Email Dr. McCrickard to apply.
Project URL: http://research.cs.vt.edu/ns/
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: mccricks@cs.vt.edu

Creating Real-World Peripheral Displays

Faculty Advisor: Scott McCrickard
Research Supervisor: Scott McCrickard
Description of Work: Peripheral devices like stock tickers and sports score trackers are moving off the computer desktop and into the real world. The goal of this projects is to build a real-word device that displays information collected online in an interesting way. Examples of existing systems and ideas for things to build are available from Dr. McCrickard, or come up with your own!
Application Instructions: Contact Dr. McCrickard for details and to sign up!
Project URL: none
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: mccricks@cs.vt.edu

Deep Media Blacksburg

Faculty Advisor: Nicholas F. Polys
Research Supervisor: Nicholas F. Polys
Description of Work: This collection, translation and integration of geospatial information is increasingly important for safety, development, transportation and policy. This independent study will examine the feasibility of data sources mashups from numerous sensor modalities including imagery, topography and LIDAR, weather and more. Using datasets for VT campus and Town of Blacksburg, we will integrate them into X3D-Earth [http://www.web3d.org/x3d-earth/]. The X3D Earth Working Group uses the Web architecture, XML languages, and open protocols to build a standards-based X3D Earth specification usable by governments, industry, scientists, academia, and the general public. X3D-Earth efforts encompass client-side, server-side, authoring, and conversion technologies. Credit will be assessed based on the following prototype and report: using real spatial contexts for regional data, the student will document and innovate the translation, integration and delivery issues in producing X3D-Earth Blacksburg.
Application Instructions: Email to setup a convenient time to discuss details.
Project URL: not online yet
Area(s) of Research: Computer-Aided Instruction, Digital Libraries, Human-Computer Interaction, Databases
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: npolys@vt.edu

Demonstrating the benefits of immersion

Faculty Advisor: Doug Bowman
Research Supervisor: Doug Bowman
Description of Work: Immersive virtual environment technology (such as the CAVE) puts the user inside a 3D computer-generated world. Although this technology has been available for many years, we still know very little about the benefits of immersion. When should immersive technology be used, and what advantages should it provide? In this project, the student will implement a simple virtual world and design and run an experiment using the CAVE to demonstrate the benefits of immersion in this world. A wide range of experiments/worlds/tasks are possible.
Application Instructions: Send email to set up an appointment if you would like to apply. Experience with HCI (e.g. CS 3724) and computer graphics (e.g. CS 4204) is recommended, but not required. Experience with the design, administration, and/or statistical analysis of experiments is a plus.
Project URL: http://research.cs.vt.edu/3di/
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: bowman@vt.edu

Designing and Evaluating Notification Systems

Faculty Advisor: Scott McCrickard
Research Supervisor: Scott McCrickard
Description of Work: Notification systems attempt to efficiently and effectively deliver current, important information to users in multitasking situations. Examples of notification systems include instant messengers, stock tickers, and ubiquitous systems. This independent study examines this emerging research area through team activities and semester projects in a fun but challenging environment.
Application Instructions: Email Dr. McCrickard for more details or to sign up.
Project URL: http://research.cs.vt.edu/ns/
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: mccricks@cs.vt.edu

Developing GUIs in Java and C#

Faculty Advisor: Chris North
Research Supervisor: Chris North
Description of Work: In this workshop, learn how to develop graphical user interfaces in Java and microsoft's C#. Concepts include, windows, components, layouts, events, 2D graphics, direct manipulation, and animation. Compare differences and tradeoff's between the two languages. Apply these techniques in developing data visualization tools.
Application Instructions: Email me.
Project URL: http://infovis.cs.vt.edu/
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: north@vt.edu

Digital Government

Faculty Advisor: Andrea Kavanaugh, Manuel Perez-Quinones
Research Supervisor: Andrea Kavanaugh, Manuel Perez-Quinones
Description of Work: Assist with requirments analysis, software design and field testing, or with data analysis from ongoing interviews, surveys and community focus groups. We study the use and impact of information technology on citizen-to-citizen interaction and deliberation. Are online resources increasing civic engagement? For whom -- an elite or a more broad spectrum of citizens? Do we need better tools (or modifications to existing tools) to support deliberative democracy and to integrate online feedback from citizens to government? Which social media are effective for what types of interaction for which users?
Application Instructions: Contact Andrea Kavanaugh by email (kavan@vt.edu), or phone (231-1806). My office is 1137 KnowledgeWorks II (CS Department at the corporate research center).
Project URL: http://diggov.cs.vt.edu
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction, Theory
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: kavan@vt.edu

Do Cell Phones Teach Computing Skills?

Faculty Advisor: Andrea Kavanaugh, Manuel Perez-Quinones, Deborah Tatar
Research Supervisor: Andrea Kavanaugh, Manuel Perez-Quinones, Deborah Tatar
Description of Work: This project, entitled Scaffolding Technology for Low Literacy Groups: From Cells Phones to Desktop Computing, seeks to understand the role that cell phone usage might play in helping adults with low reading and computer literacy to learn computing skills. We are also designing and developing tools to provide an interface between cell phone applications (e.g., contact list, text messaging) and comparable programs on desktop computers (e.g., email, word processing).
Application Instructions: Contact Dr. Andrea Kavanaugh by email.
Project URL: http://
Area(s) of Research: Computer-Aided Instruction, Human-Computer Interaction, Theory
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: kavan@vt.edu

Effects of Displays on Virtual Environment Task Performance

Faculty Advisor: Doug Bowman
Research Supervisor: Doug Bowman
Description of Work: There are a large number of visual displays used in virtual environments (VEs), including head-mounted displays, tabletop displays, and surround-screen displays. We are studying the effect that display type has on user task performance. The student would be involved in designing, implementing, and running an experiment comparing two or more displays. Several potential experiments are possible.
Application Instructions: Email bowman@vt.edu to indicate your interest. Also send a current resume.
Project URL: http://people.cs.vt.edu/~bowman/3di/displays.html
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: bowman@vt.edu

Enhancing 3D ManipulationTechniques

Faculty Advisor: Doug Bowman
Research Supervisor: Doug Bowman
Description of Work: Two widely used object manipulation techniques in VEs are called HOMER and Voodoo Dolls. These techniques both can do general 3D manipulation tasks. The designers of these techniques have teamed up to come up with some possible enhancements that could improve the performance of both. See the ACM CHI 2002 paper by Jeff Pierce and colleagues for more information.
Application Instructions: Email bowman@vt.edu with a resume. Experience in HCI (CS 3724) and computer graphics (CS 4204) is recommended.
Project URL: none
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: bowman@vt.edu

EPIC

Faculty Advisor: Adrea Kavanaugh
Research Supervisor: Adrea Kavanaugh
Description of Work: The EPIC project is an investigation by the Center for Human-Computer Interaction of the use and impact of community computer networking in Blacksburg and Montgomery County supported by NSF. Undergraduate research assistants could help this summer with interview data analysis (using NVIVO software), survey data processing (using SPSS), and/or session logging analysis. If you are interested, please contact Andrea Kavanaugh (kavan@vt.edu or 231-1806)
Application Instructions: Contact Andrea Kavanaugh (kavan@vt.edu or 231-1806)
Project URL: http://epic.cs.vt.edu
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction, Networking
Compensation: Negotiable
Contact: kavak@vt.edu

GigaPixel Display

Faculty Advisor: Chris North
Research Supervisor: Chris North
Description of Work: Design, develop, and experimentally test new user interface techniques for very large, high-resolution displays. Work on VT's GigaPixel Display, a 15 foot tiled display with 100 MPixels, and VICON system, a 3D vision-based user tracking system.
Application Instructions: See me.
Project URL: http://infovis.cs.vt.edu/gigapixel
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: north@vt.edu

Hallway Display

Faculty Advisor: Steve Harrison
Research Supervisor: Steve Harrison
Description of Work: We have a 42" plasma display that will be mounted in permanently next to the door to 110 McBryde. It will be used to display news, lectures, and course info, showcase research, and even be a way to rate classes on a daily basis. Come brainstorm ideas, write code, and design novel means of interacting with it.
Application Instructions: e-mail us.
Project URL: none
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: srh@cs.vt.edu

Information-Rich Virtual Environments

Faculty Advisor: Doug Bowman
Research Supervisor: Doug Bowman, Chris North
Description of Work: Information-rich virtual environments (IRVEs) combine both perceptual (spatial, geometric) information and abstract (symbolic, numeric) information within the same 3D environment. Students working on this project will design, implement, and evaluate a simple IRVE application for a particular domain. Example domains include: -building construction -earthmoving -military -medicine A background in HCI (CS 3724) and computer graphics (CS 4204) is strongly recommended.
Application Instructions: Send a current resume and an indication of your interest to bowman@vt.edu.
Project URL: http://people.cs.vt.edu/~bowman/3di/
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: bowman@vt.edu

Interactive Home Design in a Virtual Environment

Faculty Advisor: Doug Bowman
Research Supervisor: Doug Bowman, Walid Thabet
Description of Work: The current process of design review for residential homes is effective, but costly. We wish to build a small VE application in the CAVE showing the promise of "immersive design" for this task. In other words, users will become immersed in a 3D model of the home, and will be able to make certain changes to the structure while inside it.
Application Instructions: Email bowman@vt.edu. Experience in HCI (CS 3724) and 3D graphics (CS 4204) is strongly recommended, but not required.
Project URL: none
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: bowman@vt.edu

Investigating the Application of Pervasive Computing Concepts to Teaching and Learning

Faculty Advisor: Scott Midkiff
Research Supervisor: William (Bill) Plymale
Description of Work: The focus of this project is to learn how pervasive computing concepts and technologies can be used to enhance the areas of teaching, learning, and other university experiences. Pervasive computing concepts will be studied, and realized using hardware prototyping and development kits. Team-based projects will associate pervasive computing concepts with real-life student experiences at Virginia Tech. Sun Microsystem's SunSpots, Arduino controller and development environment, Crossbow and Sentilla/Moteiv motes, and the Processing programming system will be used for hands-on work.
Application Instructions: Please contact Bill Plymale (plymale@vt.edu) with an expression of interest. Include a current resume and/or a list of technical courses taken and any other relevant experiences.
Project URL
Area(s) of Research: Databases, Human-Computer Interaction, Networking, Systems
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: plymale@vt.edu

LibX

Faculty Advisor: Godmar Back
Research Supervisor
Description of Work: Implement cool web technology with and surrounding LibX. For more information, see http://libx.org/ This project is for anybody who wants to learn modern, so-called "Web 2.0" technologies such as AJAX on both client or server. While our main application area is libraries (digital and traditional), the technology we develop transcends them.
Application Instructions: Send email.
Project URL: http://libx.org/
Area(s) of Research: Digital Libraries, Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Pay or Credit
Contact: gback@cs.vt.edu

Mobile 3D Graphics

Faculty Advisor: Nicholas F. Polys
Research Supervisor: Nicholas F. Polys
Description of Work: Nokia N93 is a hardware-accelerated 3D phone with wi-fi capabilities and high-res camera. This project will devise 3D applications and interfaces for such mobile devices. How do we use the extra speed and dimensionality to improve work, play, and usability? Graphics programming experience such as OpenGL is preferred.
Application Instructions: Email to setup a convenient time to discuss details.
Project URL: not online yet
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: npolys@vt.edu

Multi-threaded, multi-platform Sudoku game

Faculty Advisor: Deborah Tatar
Research Supervisor: Joon Suk Lee
Description of Work: We have a number of multi-person collaborative Sudoku games that differ in the kinds of collaboration they afford to users. Students will work on reimplementing and improving these to use multi-threaded Java application for multi-platform environments.
Application Instructions: Please send email to dolomite@cs.vt.edu and cc dtatar@cs.vt.edu.
Project URL: http://
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Pay
Contact: dolomite@vt.edu; dtatar@cs.vt.edu

NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

Faculty Advisor: Daniel R. Dunlap, Andrea Kavanaugh
Research Supervisor: Dunlap, Kavanaugh and others in the Center for Human-Computer Interaction
Description of Work: We have positions for undergraduate researchers funded by the National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. The projects involve user-centered design and evaluation of collaborative virtual environments and applications. Specific projects include a collaborative learning environment for science students, a knowledge management system for public school teachers, extensions to the Blacksburg Electronic Village, and quality-of-life support for military personnel. Technical questions include -- how can collaborators maintain "awareness" of one another in virtual environments?, how can we log and evaluate "sessions" in distributed systems?, what is the impact of community networking on families and community groups?, how can military personnel maintain their personal lives while serving thousands of miles from home? We will hire at least 6 undergraduates in this program, and probably 8. Students can also arrange to work for course credit of various sorts, including service learning, independent studies, and honors theses.
Application Instructions: Send email to dunlapd@vt.edu, kavan@vt.edu
Project URL: http://java.cs.vt.edu
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering, Systems, Computer-Aided Instruction
Compensation: Work for Pay or Credit
Contact: dunlapd@vt.edu

Parallel Programming with Video Cards and More ...

Faculty Advisor: Wu Feng
Research Supervisor
Description of Work: The world of computing is now irrevocably parallel. CPUs have "topped" out roughly 3.0 GHz. So, while performance in the past has doubled roughly every 2 years due to increases in clock frequency, future performance increases will be due to the doubling of the number of cores in a system every 2 years. As such, we are looking at programming models, environments, and applications on multicore and manycore architectures. Of particular relevance and accessibility for VTURCS students are mapping applications onto traditional multicore (Intel and AMD), hybrid multicore (Cell and PlayStation3), manycore (video cards), and reconfigurable multicore (Tilera TILE64) architectures.
Application Instructions: E-mail a resume to feng@cs.vt.edu. Optional, but preferred, materials include unofficial undergraduate transcript and a brief one-paragraph statement of what interests you about this project.
Project URL: http://synergy.cs.vt.edu/
Area(s) of Research: Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Data Mining, Human-Computer Interaction, Parallel Computation, Systems, Theory
Compensation: Negotiable
Contact: feng@cs.vt.edu

Presenting Information on Large-Screen Displays

Faculty Advisor: Scott McCrickard
Research Supervisor: Scott McCrickard
Description of Work: At one time prohibitively expensive, large screen displays are becoming common in laborabories, classrooms, and even public areas. However, designers often create interfaces for them that look no different than those for typical computers. The goal of this project is to design an interface for a large screen display that takes advantage of their unique characteristics.
Application Instructions: Email Dr. McCrickard for more information.
Project URL: none
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: mccricks@cs.vt.edu

Protein Completion (A Structural Biology Web Server)

Faculty Advisor: Alexey Onufriev, Lenwood Heath
Research Supervisor: Jon Myers, Alexey Onufriev
Description of Work: Structure of a biological molecule is a key determinant of its biological function. However, experimentally available structures (from X-ray crystallography) are missing the hydrogen atoms. Without them, structures are seriously incomplete. We have developed a (first in the world) prototype web application that uses theoretical methods to add the missing hydrogens. Lots of work is still to be done, and we need help in virtually every aspect of the project: PHP, web design, C++/PERL programming, core algorithm development, testing. We are also planning to use the server to address some important biological questions. This is an "instant gratification" project, as your contribution becomes immediately accessible to researchers world-wide + you get your name on the project's credits page (good for your resume...)
Application Instructions: Contact Alexey Onufriev alexey@cs.vt.edu
Project URL: http://chekhov.cs.vt.edu/completion
Area(s) of Research: Bioinformatics, Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering, Computational Biology
Compensation: Negotiable
Contact: alexey@cs.vt.edu

Reimplementing the GeoSim "Sense of Place" module

Faculty Advisor: Cliff Shaffer
Research Supervisor: Cliff Shaffer
Description of Work: Reimplement the GeoSim module "Sense of Place" in Java. For some background about Project GeoSim, see http://geosim.cs.vt.edu. This module allows students to explore a database of counties and states of the United States by "rating" desirable features.
Application Instructions: Contact Cliff Shaffer
Project URL: http://geosim.cs.vt.edu
Area(s) of Research: Computer-Aided Instruction, Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: shaffer@cs.vt.edu

Research in Information Visualization

Faculty Advisor: Chris North
Research Supervisor: Chris North
Description of Work: Information Visualization concerns the graphical presentation and navigation of large quantities of data encountered in everyday situations, enabling people to quickly accomplish otherwise difficult tasks. There are several exciting upcoming projects in this area. Please do stop by and get involved.
Application Instructions: Email or stop by 634 McBryde during my office hours.
Project URL: http://infovis.cs.vt.edu/
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: north@vt.edu

Ski Cross Website

Faculty Advisor: Edward A. Fox
Research Supervisor: Edward A. Fox
Description of Work: Informational web site on the new discipline of ski cross, which will be in the Olympics for the first time in 2010. To include news, interviews, event coverage, and forums. Usability study desirable for formative evaluation.
Application Instructions: Contact Joseph Varnau, jvarnau@vt.edu, cell 703-727-1104, graduating in Management EIT in May 2009. He can provide further details. negotiable reward structure to be discussed.
Project URL: http://www.skiracing.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4818&Itemid=57
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering
Compensation: Negotiable
Contact: fox@vt.edu; jvarnau@vt.edu

Snap-Together Visualization

Faculty Advisor: Chris North
Research Supervisor: Chris North
Description of Work: Assist in one of the following projects that are related to Snap: * Development of Java based visualization components * Development of a web based visualization layout component using ASP * Development of a web based system for developers to submit and update new visualizations * Development of Javascript components for visualization layout
Application Instructions: Email me.
Project URL: http://infovis.cs.vt.edu/snap/
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: north@vt.edu

Social Computing

Faculty Advisor: Andrea Kavanaugh
Research Supervisor: Andrea Kavanaugh
Description of Work: Working with local groups in the community to help them become information producers through the use of tools for non-experts (for example, authoring web materials, customizing content, and collaborating online with wikis or blogs). Various local groups include medical (New River Health District), educational (Montgomery schools), ethnic (Christiansburg Institute), civic (Literacy Volunteers), and socio-economically disadvantaged (New River Community Action, Appalachian Women's Alliance).
Application Instructions: Contact me by email (kavan@vt.edu) or telephone (231-1806); my office is 1116 in KnowledgeWorks II, the CS Department building in the corporate research center.
Project URL: http://www.cs.vt.edu/node/682
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction, Theory
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: kavan@vt.edu

Supercomputing on Video Gaming Consoles

Faculty Advisor: W. Feng
Research Supervisor: Ashwin Aji
Description of Work: Given the extreme needs of today's sophisticated video games, game consoles and video graphics cards in their own right have become supercomputers. The goal of this project is to program *and* optimize a bioinformatics application (or perhaps something else, if reasonable) on the Sony PlayStation 3 and/or the NVIDIA Tesla video graphics card using the CUDA programming environment. (For those interested in human-computer interaction, a nice interface to the above bioinformatics application would serve as a nice project as well, or an interface to our existing codes.)
Application Instructions: E-mail a resume to feng@cs.vt.edu. Optional, but preferred, materials include unofficial undergraduate transcript and a brief one-paragraph statement of what interests you about this project.
Project URL: http://
Area(s) of Research: Bioinformatics, Human-Computer Interaction, Parallel Computation, Problem Solving Environments, Software Engineering, Systems, Theory, Databases, Data Mining, Knowledge
Compensation: Negotiable
Contact: feng@cs.vt.edu

TeacherBridge

Faculty Advisor: Dan Dunlap
Research Supervisor: Dan Dunlap
Description of Work: The Center for Human-Computer Interaction is seeking applicants for 2 NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) positions with the TeacherBridge Project (http://www.teacherbridge.org). Ideal applicants would be highly motivated undergraduate students in Computer Science, Engineering, or related fields who are interested in research with technology and local K-12 teachers. The positions will involve approximately 10 hours per week at $11 per hour for Fall 2004 and Spring 2005 semesters. The tasks will involve research and evaluation related to the TeacherBridge project, system, and participants. This includes a wide range of possibilities such as data collection, analysis, field research, and related tool development. Please contact Dan Dunlap 231-2345 for more information.
Application Instructions: Contact me.
Project URL: http://www.teacherbridge.org
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Pay
Contact: dunlapd@vt.edu

Thought Swap

Faculty Advisor: Deborah Tatar
Research Supervisor: Meg Dickey-Kurdziolek
Description of Work: ThoughtSwap is a simple, yet powerful, tool designed to facilitate classroom discussions. The current version has been used with success in middle school science classrooms and computer science classes at Virginia Tech. It utilizes Tuple Space networking technology and has been implemented with Java in the Eclipse programming environment. We need a motivated student who will help us design and code new features for ThoughtSwap, and possibly help with user studies and observations of ThoughtSwap in action.
Application Instructions: Please write to Meg Kurdziolek and cc Dr. Tatar
Project URL: http://
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: mkurdziolek@cs.vt.edu, dtatar@cs.vt.edu

Updating the GeoSim Module International Population

Faculty Advisor: Cliff Shaffer
Research Supervisor: Cliff Shaffer
Description of Work: The maps and database for the International Population module of Project GeoSim needs to be replaced. See http://geosim.cs.vt.edu to see the current implementation.
Application Instructions: Please contact Dr. Shaffer to set up a meeting.
Project URL: http://geosim.cs.vt.edu
Area(s) of Research: Computer-Aided Instruction, Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit or Volunteer
Contact: shaffer@cs.vt.edu

Visualizing Temporary Usage in Large Java Programs

Faculty Advisor: Barbara Ryder
Research Supervisor: Marc Fisher
Description of Work: Short-lived or temporary objects can be significant source of performance problems in Java programs. We have developed an analysis to help identify temporary objects in large framework-based Java applications. For this project you will develop an Eclipse plug-in to visually explore temporary and non-temporary data structures in Java applications. This implementation will be in Java using the Eclipse libraries for user interface and graphics.
Application Instructions: email fisherii@cs.vt.edu
Project URL: http://prolangs.cs.vt.edu/
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering
Compensation: Work for Pay or Credit
Contact: fisherii@cs.vt.edu

Wii Motes as Classroom Tools

Faculty Advisor: Steve Harrison
Research Supervisor: Steve Harrison / Deborah Tatar / Bobby Beaton
Description of Work: The controllers for the Wii gaming console are ubiquitous not only as a gaming device, but as a hackable interface for physical interaction. Why not use them in classrooms as “clickers” or as a remote pointer to draw on a virtual screen from 50 feet or as means of detecting whether people are paying attention or -- well, what do you imagine they could be used for in a classroom? This project is to (1) identify the limitations and opportunities in the Wii technology (2) brainstorm ideas for using the Wii motes (3) do proof of concept demos (4) develop one or two systems that seem promising. We are looking for 3 or 4 students. Ideally, VTURCS students in this project should have taken CS 3624 (Intro to HCI), but all clever students with an interest in exploring what Wii’s can do are invited. We have access to Wii motes and possibly a Wii game console, if we come up with a good idea that needs one. The Innovation Space (formerly known as the New Media Center) has offered us development space and a classroom to tinker with if we need it.
Application Instructions: Send e-mail
Project URL: http://
Area(s) of Research: Human-Computer Interaction
Compensation: Work for Credit
Contact: srh@cs.vt.edu