iSchool Capstone

Award Winner

2014

DSA: Data Structures and Algorithms for TypeScript and JavaScript

This project addresses the lack of well tested, comprehensive, and statically-typed data structures and algorithms for TypeScript and JavaScript. In JavaScript the only data structures provided are arrays, and string key hash maps. This limits the ability of JavaScript developers to solve problems; where other data structures would work better with less code and more efficiency. Having a comprehensive library of well-researched data structures and algorithms will increase the productivity of JavaScript and TypeScript developers. Success was gauged by documentation for public APIs, extensive test coverage, and published public modules containing the completed library. Surveys were also conducted on various online development communities in order to determine the utility and quality of the library.

Dynamic Data Quality Monitoring System for ONCOLOGY

Millions of people are suffering from cancer and tumors. We need to make a difference! With dedication to ensure patients can receive the most effective treatment possible, the Presage online monitoring system are developed to improve the cancer drug development process and gap current technology limitations. The web application provides online data monitoring by enabling scientists to cross check data and ensure both accuracy and precision of predicted results by switching different classification algorithms. Also, they are able to interact with charts and graphics demonstrating historical data comparison and distribution. Even without accessing the app, they will receive highly customized digest reports containing details about outlier images. We make information intuitive and innovative.

Fidgt

Running can be a therapeutic activity, however, our interviews have shown that using a smartphone to change music or access metrics can be disruptive. To solve this we created Fidgt, a touch-enabled ring that allows runners to control their smartphone in an eyes-free manner. We enable runners to use discreet and simple interactions while on the move, without breaking their concentration or slowing down their run. Over the course of six months we have iterated on a series of hardware and software prototypes that demonstrate our solution. As we further refine the size and functionality of our product, we aim to continue testing our device to validate our design with more runners.

Improve Your Odds: PEACOCKS and the Evolution of Skillset Matching

Skillset matching is essential when organizational demands evolve, and new project opportunities arise. Alignment of people to meet changing needs is often based on instinct and tribal knowledge rather than optimized and informed by relevant data. Investing in people as valuable business assets requires knowledge of current skills, and awareness of future opportunities to align interests with growth. University of Washington Information Technology (UW-IT), like many large organizations, has limited visibility into the vast skillsets, experience and interests of its numerous staff. PEACOCKS provides a framework and tool prototype that systemizes human characteristics such as skills, experience levels, and growth interests, then applies a taxonomic schema to match project requirements with optimal team members. PEACOCKS is a vessel for collecting and organizing valuable knowledge and insight into staffs’ talent, experience, and growth potential. Built for UW-IT, this prototype is a customizable foundation that could be leveraged by other organizations.

Improving Metrics for Library Comparisons

With approximately 9,000 public library systems across the United States, the Seattle Public Library (SPL) faces the challenge of identifying a network of similar library systems for collaboration. The current comparison and analytics are somewhat basic and only take into consideration traditional library measures. These measures do not capture the complexity of the diverse communities in which the libraries are rooted. The goal of this project is to build on these measures and incorporate demographic data to enable a holistic comparison. Additionally, rigorous statistical analysis methods will be applied to the data in order to improve the accuracy of results. By identifying and collaborating with similar libraries, SPL will be more effective at serving its community.

Leto

Project Leto consists of an augmented reality mobile app, ARtemis, and a collaborative virtual web environment, Apollo. With the amount of people attending networking events it is often difficult to make meaningful and lasting connections. ARtemis allows for instant information and social connections by providing virtual badges with relevant information viewable through AR technology. Apollo provides a platform for project management and remote collaboration, which is often hindered by the diverse amount of tools in different locations. It integrates and organizes the current resources available to users (Github, Google Drive, Lucidchart, etc.) into a single workspace that clearly outlines the project. Together they embody Leto’s goal of supporting social and professional networking, communication, and collaboration. Success is gauged by the time saved in the communication process with ARtemis and the actual workflow with Apollo. Together, ARtemis and Apollo build an ecosystem where people are encouraged to collaborate and solve problems.

MIST – Mobile Cloud Infrastructure for Environmental Disaster Relief

In the event of an environmental disaster, coordinating relief efforts involves hundreds of stakeholders, and mistakes can mean the difference between life and death. Accurate information is crucial, and a lack of infrastructure can impede collaboration and communication between rescue teams. In our research, we met with emergency volunteers, disaster researchers, and the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team to identify user needs in disaster scenarios. We leveraged our findings to develop MIST – a ruggedized, portable server infrastructure designed to bring the power of cloud technology to isolated emergency situations. With custom engineered hardware and software, MIST provides a centralized environment to communicate and share data on desktop and mobile devices. In addition, we developed an Android application that automatically transfers data between MIST and other rescue teams. With MIST, rescue workers can rapidly collaborate and share information between teams, reducing avoidable mistakes, and helping them save more lives.

NetJeeves: Bringing Light to the Network

With networks being as complex and many-layered as they are, problems can exist in staggering varieties and walking through them blind provides no solution for future occurrences. NetJeeves is the beginnings of a network manager that brings disparate elements of network management together and provide users with a simple, but clear overview of their network state. NetJeeves reduces clutter while highlighting the most relevant issues in a highly visual interface, providing information that can be used to diagnose issues that may not be solved by automated fixes. With NetJeeves, informa-tion about the network and connected devices are given at a high-level without becoming a black box for users, as may occur in other existing technologies, ensuring transparency of the network without overwhelming users.

Speech.is: Extending Namecoin Anti-Censorship Technology to the Web

Online free-speech is under attack: over 50% of internet users live in countries with medium to high levels of censorship. Legislation like SOPA, PIPA, and the upcoming Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) treaty are all attempts at forcing internet blacklists on the free world. Speech.is provides interoperability between a special censorship resistant top-level-domain name, ‘.bit’, and the rest of the web. A ‘.bit’ domain name is a lot like a ‘.com’ or ‘.net’ domain name except that no government can take control of it. Speech.is makes it possible for anyone to surf websites on the censorship resistant Namecoin domain-name-system using their regular web browser, without any add-ons and without changing any system settings. Speech.is provides a safe haven for internet users on the web, where governments cannot seize domain names nor selectively censor websites. Speech.is effectively neuters the censorship provisions of the TPP and represents a major blow against censorship and big step forward for the web.

The Ghost Anatomy Project

In anatomy courses, effective visualization of the human body contributes to success in learning the curriculum. Despite their educational value, effective, hands-on visualization of the human body are subject to physical and economic constraints. The Ghost Anatomy Project is a 3D volumetric display which allows users to interact with a holographic-like, anatomically correct model of the human body. It utilizes the Pepper’s Ghost illusion to create a 3D visualization, WebGL for rendering, and a Leap Motion for gesture-based interaction. The interface allows anatomy students to study the human body in an effective, hands-on manner with less economical and physical constraints than cadavers, and more accuracy and flexibility than plastic models. Welcome to the future of anatomy education.