Final Project for N301
Your last project will be an overview of some interesting topic of
computer science. You will be expected to present to the class the
results of your investigation. You may additionally write a paper
about your investigation, but this will not replace the class
presentation.
You are to choose some topic in the realm of computer science, and
investigate it more fully. The best example of such a project would
pull in elements from various topics in the class. For example, you
might be interested in computer viruses. If so, you may want to
investigate the kinds of algorithms used in the main viruses, how
'virtual machines' such as that used in java can prevent viruses from
spreading, how viruses are related to machine language (and thus why a
virus designed for a macintosh is very unlikely to affect a unix
machine), how network and internet protocol decisions aid in the
spreading (and prevention) of viruses, and some of the social
implications of viruses.
The kinds of topics you can investigate would cover a wide range, but
your topic should be the topic of some kind of serious research in the
CS community. Some topics you might consider:
- Investigate efficiency of other algorithms
- Learn a machine / assembly language of some other machine
- Investigate how ENIAC or another early computer actually worked
- Investigate the science and mathematics behind computer games
such as "tomb raider"
- Describe XML and the way it might transform data manipulation
- Study and learn one of the 'ancient languages' such as lisp,
pascal, or COBOL (NOTE: I do NOT want you to just use a language
you already know. Tell me about the process of learning a new one)
- Build a simple computer out of actual circuitry (of course
you'll need some EE experience for this one)
- Design and build a robot (You can start with LEGO kits or
something similar if you wish)
- Investigate how computers are used to aid people with
disabilities
- Describe an area of CS research. In our department alone, we
are investigating:
- New ways of searching through large databases (SIFTER)
- How bats process sonar imagary
- Augmented reality (a variation of virtual reality)
- New virtual reality algorithms
- Use of streaming media
Of course this is just a list of topics I can think of off the top of
my head. No doubt you can come up with something of interest to you.
Your presentation will last about five minutes, and you must turn in
at least three pages of documentation including a bibliography and a
summary of your investigation and its results. The best projects will
be
- creative. Use imagination and have some fun
- interesting. Motivate your classmates to learn more about your
topic
- relevant. Relate the project to things we've studied in class
- complete. Take your investigation as far as your time and
skills will allow
- professional. This is 300 level science. You should use
appropriate writing techniques, and produce your report in a way
that you would be proud to use as part of your resume'.
Please turn in a proposal stating your planned project. It should be
about a page long, and it should detail:
- What topic you plan to study
- How you plan to study it
- What you hope to learn
- Any other desired outcomes
The project will be worth as much as an exam. This project is
encouraging creativity and imagination as well as reasoning skill.
most of all...
have fun with this!!!