sábado, 30 de agosto de 2008
eSlate Demo
http://www.eslate.com/files/eSlate.swf
jueves, 28 de agosto de 2008
Software Design and Visit to the Electoral Commission in Mayaguez
- Registration
- Voting
- Counting
Each area has its own software and hardware involved to complete the voting experience.
miércoles, 27 de agosto de 2008
Hardware brainstorming and Researching
We have agreed to meet tomorrow at 10:30 am to go the downtown mayaguez to get more information about the "Comision estatal de Elecciones"
We also called Angel Perez from Rock Solid to coordinate a meeting with him about our project.
Our biggest conflict is the budget since the color lcds are quite expensive so we are searching for economic products.
We also brainstormed with Dani Santiago about our project and different things we should consider for our project, like scaling it down.
lunes, 25 de agosto de 2008
Link regarding Fingerprint Readers
Types of Fingerprint Scanners: http://www.tech-faq.com/fingerprint-scanners.shtml
Interfacing with Microsoft Fingerprint Reader: http://blogs.msdn.com/coding4fun/archive/2007/03/06/1815291.aspx
Interesting Article about fooling fingerprint scanners with Play-Doh: http://www.engadget.com/2005/12/11/play-doh-fingers-can-fool-90-of-scanners-sez-clarkson-u/
Fingerprint Scanners available for purchase (prices range from $15 to ~$500)
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&resnum=0&q=Fingerprint%20scanners&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wf
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834995509
Touch Screen and Encryption Links with corresponding research descriptions
- The touch screen panels go over the LCD screen so they are two different entities. We would need to program the images on the LCD and have the display change as the touch panel is touched. Consider adding a backlight to allow a better view of the screen
- Please note that touch screen panels are sold as components–a controller is required to provide the interface between the touchscreen and the computer (or device).
Links
- 1. Low power and cheap touch screen. Has data sheet on page as well which shows the microcontroller that it comes with to program the screen.
http://www.elotouch.com/Technologies/AT4/default.asp - 2. How to design the layers of an LCD touch screen and other factors that affect the view of the screen.
http://www.fujitsu.com/us/news/inthenews/fcai_20030701.html - 3. Describes how the touch panel converts a flat screen into a dynamic interface. Also discusses the different kinds of touch screen technologies and how they each work (has an extensive table comparing screends and their corresponding controllers!!!):
**I think the resistive is the best way to go since it seems to be the cheapest and mostly used.
http://svconline.com/mag/avinstall_lcd_touchpanel_controllers/
- 4. Touch panel product, large screen, comes with the kit.
http://www.advantech.com/products/84-LCD-Kit-MTH-450-nites-TTL-SVGA/mod_1-2JKIPU.aspx
http://www.advantech.com/products/Display-Solutions/sub_1-2JKFJN.aspx - 5. Touch screens can also be bought separately and installed to work with just about any type of computer. Discusses parameters to consider when designing a touch screen.
http://www.industrial101.com/equipment/touch-screens.aspx?ovraw=lcd+touch+screen&ovkey=lcd+touchscreens&ovmtc=advanced&ovadid=31308152011&ovkwid=231837151011 - 6. An additional site with more LCD screens
http://www.densitron.com/Displays/
---------------------------Encryption Research-------------------------------
**We need to decide a programming language so that we can focus on a particular method the encryption is done in that language.
Links
- 1. A book that teachings encryption based on public key techniques and etc. Only the person who knows the public key can decrypt the information. This is used for emails as well. People who send and receive mail can encrypt an email and only a person with the public key can decrypt it, but they will not be able to encrypt a message using the sends technique. (More research will be done to learn the different ways to encrypt and decrypt information.
http://www.amazon.com/Cryptography-Demystified-John-Hershey/dp/0071406387/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219713914&sr=8-1 - 2. The standards used in data encryption:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Encryption_Standard
http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci213893,00.html
E-Voting System...
Articles
- Title: "Aussies Do It Right: E-Voting"
- Link: http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2003/11/61045?currentPage=1
- Title: "How E-voting Works"
- Link: http://people.howstuffworks.com/e-voting.htm
- Title: "How Fingerprint Scanners Work"
- Link: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/fingerprint-scanner5.htm
- Vendor: Biometrics Direct
- Link: http://www.biometricsdirect.com/index.htm
- Product: BioCert® Authenticator Toolkit
- Link: http://www.biocert.us/BioCertFREE.htm
Capstone Project Approved
- Previous/similar e-voting systems
- Voting process and trends in Puerto Rico
- Managing usability of the system for all age groups
- Understanding the funcionality of every device involved in the system and incorporating them as a whole.
domingo, 24 de agosto de 2008
Sunday Group Preparations
viernes, 22 de agosto de 2008
Updated Project Description
This can be convenient in the case of when a student needs to find a professors office, or office hours, they can use the device to check this information out. The information will be acquired from an online source which will use additional software to synchronize the student's course information and other relevant data. The synchronization will be done via a usb cable.
We are currently brainstorming additional software and hardware features, but we feel that this project will allow us to show what we have learned and will also let us learn new things to apply to the project.
jueves, 21 de agosto de 2008
Surveillance System Project discarded, New Possible Projects
We are strongly investigating the marketing aspect of this product, since Professor Nayda Santiago advised us that it is important to demonstrate that this particular product is marketable.
Also, we are waiting on Alexandra Litchfield to provide us with more information regarding a radar project that is also a possibility for our Capstone Project.
Research is being done regarding different microprocessors since all four of our team members have a Software Engineering concentration and more expertise is required in the Hardware aspect.
miércoles, 20 de agosto de 2008
All Day Research Session
We checked out prices of the cameras and solar cells to power them. The cameras were quite expensive (most were above $200) so we may have to limit our prototype to 3 cameras to save money in the project budget.
We also spent the entire day researching motion detectors but were unable to find out detailed information on how to create one for the project. We are thinking of designing an additional device that works in conjunction to the parking security system which we can design.
lunes, 18 de agosto de 2008
Research Tasks
The idea was acceptable so we can finally now begin the more focused research for the idea without fear of being way off an acceptable project idea.
The team will begin investigating online information on prices and facts for motion sensors and cameras and compile them into a small detailed report to be provided to the professor this week. Hopefully this document will reconfirm the project idea as being a more viable project since during research we may modify some ideas.
As of the moment we are going to research:
- How to monitor battery life remotely
- How to implement solar cells
- How to make motion detectors and how they work (sensitivity - since we don't want birds activating the camera)
- How to stream live camera feed to anyone who is cleared to view security cameras as well as store recorded information.
- Find and compare prices of all items
- How to interface everything together
The team will be meeting tuesday at 11:30 am to discuss research results, and begin an additional session of brainstorming for things that need to be researched.
viernes, 15 de agosto de 2008
Sharing Project Definition with professors
Email excerpt:
"En el pasado han ocurrido muchos actos delictivos y robos porque hay una falta de vigilancia en el area de estacionamiento. Pensamos que esto se podra resolver creando una red de camaras wireless que se activan con "motion sensors" para solamente grabar cuando hay actividad. Las camaras y sensores podrian ser "solar powered" para poder bajar los gastos de luz. Se comunicarian con un mainframe computer con la cual se grabara el video de las camaras. Existira la opcion de ver el video online (video pasado o en vivo). Para evitar que los videos sean muy grandes se limitara el frame rate del video ya que no es necesario tener video fluido. La idea seria conveniente tambien para los JUEGOS CENTROAMERICANOS en mayaguez porque asi habra una forma de proteger la propiedad de los estudiantes y personas que visiten a la universidad. Tambien ayudara identificar los culpables de un robo o asalto (si alguien es atacado)."
In today's class we shared our project definition with Fernando and during this weekend we will begin looking at the different sections of the proposal and see what research needs to be done.
miércoles, 13 de agosto de 2008
An Idea has surfaced
We can use temperature sensors that detect discrepancies in temperatures in a room with predefined conditions. For example the system must be set up knowing the default temperature of the room the system is set up in. If someone attempts to break into a room through a window the temperature will be altered due to the discrepancy in temperatures of the outside environment with that of the inside environment, thus an alarm should sound. Motion Sensors can also be placed around a room to detect heat to prevent a human being from walking about undetected. The idea is to create a security system that detects temperature discrepancies and motion detectors that may indicate an intruder or perhaps a fire where the system is installed. This should protect against intruders and fires.
Also once triggered the cameras will activate and begin recording the events taking place and should store this online for evidence. A computer will be the mainframe for the complete system. An alarm will be connected as well and may require some additional hardware programming to have it sound an alarm as soon as the computer deems it necessary or not, due to current conditions.
Add a feature to allow the motion detectors to activate a camera that streams video onto the internet so from anywhere you can view your house’s condition. Also you can view a historial of sensor activity online given every hour. Set the frequency at which videos are recorded as well as quality.
There are systems that separately include heat detection and motion detection. Ours would combine the best of both worlds. The software would include a sandbox application that allows the person setting up the equipment to draw the layout of the house and place the locations of the sensors. So they appear in the application. Should be able to detect the amount of detectors connected to the device.
The idea will be polished up of course to write a proper proposal which is due in a few weeks, September 8, 2008 I think...maybe...
The professor commented that the idea was acceptable so the battle against the storming of brains is over and now we can focus on research, budgets, time frames for milestone completions of the project.
lunes, 11 de agosto de 2008
First Capstone Blog
1-Javier Torres
2-Laura Cruz
3-Sylvia Rodriguez
4-Angel Vega
The team has meet online a few times this summer to brainstorm ideas for a possible capstone project. So far we have ideas for:
- A student pda which would use a device to synchronize a students college course agenda to that of an online database, keeping the student up to date with a professors updates.
- A roomba vacuum cleaner modification, to help minimize crashes with an accessory that prevents it from scratch furniture upon approaching one before it changes direction
- An instrument tuner that would use analog data and convert it to digital information to be evaluated using computer software
- A temperature based security system using temperature sensors
- A payment system that allows food delivery services to charge credit cards or atms from their cars.
- A voice to text system to help students in class have a text form of the professors lecture, which is sent to their computers or portable devices real time as the lecture is being given.
- Convert black board notes to a computer readable format that students can download. In case the professor missed some notes written on the board.
The team is currently individually investigating additional ideas and backing them up with facts to then brainstorm each individual idea and verify which is the most viable project. Tuesday August 12, 2008, the team will meet once again and discuss their research results and deduce the list of project ideas until one project idea remains to be selected for the capstone project.