We have developed the browser extension voice enhancement system (BEEVES), an extension for Mozilla’s Firefox browser which supports voice extension development along with a visual agent. Interviews with extension developers verified a need for a framework which implements and integrates speech-to-text and natural language understanding components. User research suggests the need for a seamless voice experience bringing the benefits of mobile browsing to desktop. What we’ve built on open source components is aligned with Mozilla’s mission to ensure a private and accessible internet for all, and has the potential for enhancing commercial platforms.

Inspired by the Butte County Library (BCL)’s experience with the 2018 Camp Fire, we created ‘Building Better’, a resource website for fire survivor support planning. Most disaster recovery plans lack a survivor support component, so we researched the ways libraries can aid their communities in recovery. We surveyed Camp Fire survivors, interviewed BCL employees, attended library events, spoke with a disaster recovery expert, and researched other libraries’ responses to different types of natural disasters. Libraries can play a vital role in the recovery of their communities after disasters, and ‘Building Better’ can leave them better prepared to aid survivors.

Network traffic and accurate location data draw significant interest from network operators and many other industries for marketing and service improvement potentials. At the same time, such data draw significant scrutiny due to privacy concerns. This project attempts to address privacy concerns by building a machine learning model based on truly anonymized data where all privacy-related information is peeled off. The project solution helps improve consumer confidence by eliminating privacy exposure while allowing the sponsor to save significant resources by simplifying the data wrangling process from complex and disintegrated data sources.

We are working with Pitchbook, a company that provides financial database and platform for Private Equity and Venture Capital professionals. VCs today spend more than 20% of their time searching for the right opportunity to invest in. For that, they have to look at thousands of companies, more than 100 KPIs. To make this process easier and less time consuming, we made Investoscope, which applies machine learning to cluster similar companies according to different KPIs and augments Pitchbook’s abilities to provide data with intuitive and intelligent UX. Using Investoscope, users can better understand volatile markets when making crucial investment decisions

For my capstone project, I’ve been working with the Center on Contemporary Art, or CoCA, a nonprofit contemporary art gallery in the heart of Seattle. Over the spring quarter, I’ve digitalized, scanned, catalogued, provided metadata and researched biographical and exhibition material from the Seattle Times, the PI and the Stranger, to provide context for over 150 archival slides allowing CoCA management, art historians, and art enthusiasts a deeper understanding and visual context of the history of contemporary art in the Seattle area.

How can a public library encourage community members to explore the natural world and historical sites while utilizing library resources? Check Out Kingston arose from an initial partnership between the Kitsap Regional Library - Kingston location and the Wild Society, later joined by the Kingston Historical Society. This project planned a local walking tour and developed backpack kits containing exploration resources: field guides, binoculars, observation and scavenger hunt activities, and bookmarks with recommended reading lists. The Village Green community center will circulate these kits, enabling visitors and residents to check out Kingston with new tools while connecting with the library.

Residents in major metropolitan areas can get nearly anything they want to be delivered to their homes but they’re losing touch with their neighborhoods and communities. The Chimney application addresses this issue by enabling people to continue to enjoy the convenience of modern digital life by connecting them with their neighbors for goods and services, forging strong local relationships in the process. Whether it’s borrowing a simple household item or helping out with a small repair, these interactions will support the growth of a safer, more connected and happier community.

The University of Washington, College of Built Environments was awarded a National Science Foundation grant (part of a 29-country initiative). The initiative is responsible for the CITYFOOD project which aims to tackle the challenge of competing resources in urban environments. The initiative calls for research into sustainable applied solutions. The Star Schemers worked to finalize the survey questions, program, and launch the longitudinal CITYFOOD aquaponic practitioners survey. The Star Schemers developed a business intelligence solution to aid in collection, storage, cleaning and analysis of survey data for reporting. This research is instrumental in discovering innovative solutions to address sustainability issues.

Feeding a growing population is a global challenge which strains food, water, and energy. CITYFOOD is a research project investigating a solution - integrating aquaponic systems into urban environments. Aquaponics is an innovative and resource-efficient agriculture method that combines aquaculture with hydroponics, yielding two sources of food while reducing the resource footprint and ecological impact. To research and scope its viability, researchers require a standardized vocabulary; shared resources; peer-reviewed information; and international collaboration. To facilitate this, we built a robust online portal of applied research, where academics, community leaders, and practitioners can go to research, locate farms, and review best practices.