Research scientists need to stay up-to-date on advancements in their field, but it is time-consuming to constantly search multiple sources. They need to collaborate with other people with complementary expertise, but discovering them can be a challenge. Scientists also need to become aware of funding opportunities they should apply to, but are not sure which ones are appropriate. Connected to Research delivers relevant publications, key people, and funding opportunities. This personalized portal knows your interests so it eliminates searching, reduces the effort, lowers barriers, and automatically provides the information you need when you need it. It tracks key dates and notifies you of changes. Connected to Research allows you to collaborate and share information with others in your team. This tool also actively monitors a variety of trusted sources so you do not have to. Your time is valuable so now you can stay Connected to Research.

Costco is facing multiple behavioral problems at their IT division including lack of knowledge sharing, motivation to share, lack of transparency in employees skillset and lack of recognition on sharing/improvement efforts by engineers. We are creating BMS, The Badge Management System, to solve these behavioral problems of Costco IT. BMS not only is a software application but it also brings set of business processes in the place. Main purpose of this system is to motivate people to share knowledge among the Costco Family and award recognition on their effort. BMS, with simple concept of awarding badges, will increase knowledge sharing between Costco IT employees drastically, help find right people to ask questions or to consult on their projects, motivate individuals to learn more or learn something new to gain badges to increase their recognition and ultimately their status quo. 

Bainbridge Graduate Institute (BGI) offers two sustainable MBA programs that encourage hands-on practical learning to anchor classroom lecture and discussion. As part of their coursework, students are encouraged to dig deeper into topics as well as conduct research using library resources such as the Resource Database. However, this resource can be difficult to navigate, especially when students are unsure about which resources to use on a project. It becomes even more confusing if interdisciplinary elements are present. The library desires to present available resources in a way that students can quickly access information relevant to the specific courses. The solution is to create research guides that not only present top quality resources useful for class assignments but also introduces students to resources that can used as they move forward in their careers.

According to the University of Washington Undergraduate Advising Office, “Many students are undecided about their majors when they enter college — and many who think they have decided will change their minds more than once before they graduate.” However, changing majors is costly. Students that change majors often end up taking longer than expected to graduate. This means that students must absorb additional tuition and living costs. During the 2013-2014 academic year, the average full-time student paid up to $31,971 in tuition alone. CourseConnect is a proof-of-concept web tool built to help students easily learn about majors they might be interested in, based on their course history and/or academic plan. By using data about courses previous students have taken and the degree they obtained, CourseConnect aims to reduce the risk and costs associated with changing majors by helping students make informed choices when they declare or change majors.

Since the 1970s, the Refugee Forum of King County has been a vital source of information and networking for service providers serving refugees and newly arrived immigrants in the Puget Sound region. However, they relied on paper copies, monthly meetings, and word of mouth to share ideas. This has made it difficult for them to move forward with new goals and reach out to potential new members. Following principles of user-centered design, we helped the organization identify its information needs and built a website tailored to its goals. The process included user testing, content strategy, and documentation to ensure a smooth handoff. The website has the potential to improve the speed and efficiency with which service providers access information about community resources, thus enabling them to better help refugees and newly arrived immigrants in the region. Furthermore, it can serve as a platform for advocacy as the RFKC grows.

Online streaming services such as Twitch.tv allow anyone with a computer to share their gaming experiences with other people who share their passion for video gaming, while making a profit sharing what they do with others. Inspired by popular streaming platforms like Twitch and StageIt (another streaming service for the performing arts), as well as cooking communities like the Food Network, Crumble plans to develop a unique experience for users with an environment specifically tailored for live streaming cooking shows. As a multi-functional, live streaming platform, streamers will have the ability to broadcast at a low budget with a service that offers tools to schedule broadcasts, discover commercial opportunities, and effectively share information with viewers in a cooking context. Viewers will have easy access to cooking education and real-time interaction with streamers. Crumble revolutionizes how users invite the world into their kitchen.

Our work is part of the Game Metadata Research (GAMER) Group’s project: Constructing a Metadata Schema for Video Games and Interactive Media, which aims to capture the essential information about these materials in a standardized, user-centered way. The deliverables of our project include: (1) an XML schema representation of their metadata scheme; (2) a repository of XML instances containing cataloging records of sample video games; (3) a user-friendly data input form for game catalogers; (4) interfaces enabling users to search and browse game records within the database; (5) documentation for users and future maintenance. This project consolidates and enhances GAMER’s previously disparate and incomplete game data into a single, easily extensible format, and delivers a concrete product to help GAMER evaluate their developing metadata scheme. It provides a basis for advancing the GAMER research, contributing to the goal of improving video game organization and access for gamers, catalogers, and researchers.

The UW Department of Global Health website provides information to a diverse audience that includes students, researchers and global health professionals. However, the site is not easy to navigate, and the department desires to improve usability as well as increase visibility of their academic programs. Our research examined three areas: the goals of the department staff, website statistics, and student-user needs.  Website analytics and a content inventory of the current site were evaluated.  Usability testing was performed with students through surveys, user observation, and in-depth interviews allowing us to understand their search behavior and information needs.   The quantitative and qualitative data collected was used to create a prototype taxonomy for website navigation and a suggested redesign of the homepage. Recommendations to improve the website, and address the needs of prospective and current students, were presented to the Department of Global Health for incorporation into their website redesign project this summer.

Teen pregnancy rates vary widely throughout North Carolina, corresponding with access to effective sex ed training, and spiking in rural southeastern counties. Reaching teens in their mode of information behavior and with content that they can relate to and trust presents a barrier to providing effective sex ed. We did extensive research and made recommendations for MyHealthEd, an organization adapting an existing curriculum to create a comprehensive online sex ed program for North Carolina teenagers, and rural high school populations in general. The adaptations will bridge the gap in content, language, and mode of access. The suggestions for content (gamification, interactive peer-peer scenarios, digital storytelling) offer the potential to transform sex education nation- and worldwide, as well as online learning overall.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the lowest primary education enrollment and youth literacy rate of all the regions reported to the United Nations. In fact, more than half of the world’s out-of-school children live in SSA and one out every four children who actually enter primary education will leave before completing the last grade (United Nations 2013). This study examines the design and planning stages of a project known as the Namibian Library Development Program (NLDP) to identify if it has the potential to support primary education in SSA. It uses documentation provided by consultants to the project as well as literature, multimedia, and empirical data to examine relationships between stakeholders and possibilities for school improvements. Ultimately, the study illustrates how NLDP’s innovative and thorough approach could assist primary education in SSA but only if issues surrounding its sustainability are accounted for.