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Why Do Projects?
… My
Thoughts on Things
Omer Rana
[email protected]
What is required and what should I do?
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A project should push you as an individual slightly
beyond your existing skills -- IN UNIVERSITY right?
A project should enable you to explore something you
like related to your course - INDULGE YOURSELF
A project should be doable in the allocated time -- DO
NOT BE OVER AMBITIOUS
A project should look nice on your CV/Resume when
applying for jobs -- GOTTA WORK
Why are you here?
You
are at University for a variety of reasons
Finished A’levels, Finished first degree, Didn’t want to work
yet, Unemployed, Want to change career, Want something
different, Too Lazy
Aim: Change your way of thinking -- your way of
understanding the world around you
More important -- than giving you training in a given area
Lets be idealistic for a while?
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I am here to learn to REASON BETTER
I am here to CHALLENGE MYSELF of what I can do
I am here to QUESTION NOTIONS THAT I HOLD
I am here to see how much I can learn in a LIMITED
TIME
I am here to PLAN my time well, write good
REPORTS, learn to APPLY what I have learnt before
A Good Project is:
Well Planned (Scheduled), Well
Reasoned, Well Written, Shows what
you have learned, Shows Critical
Assessment and Contains Good and
Well Documented Code
My Projects:
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In three main areas: Distributed Computing, Parallel
Processing, Neural Networks/Data Mining
Most are open ended -- will be customised to your skills
and interests in the first visit
Require weekly contact with schedule for next week -- it
is your responsibility to attend the meetings at the
allocated time
Aim to ensure that you do the best project possible
based on your own ability
Projects Overview
Neural Networks and Data Mining
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Data Mining Suite (DMS) -- neural networks, ID3/C4.5,
regression analysis, Bayesian analysis
Write DMS in Java or C -- preferably Java
Develop infrastructure in Java -- with pluggable Java
components
Can work on: Writing code for Data Analysis,
Visualisation or Connecting to Databases with Data sets
Projects Overview
Agent based Computing
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Use AGENTBUILDER to develop an E-Commerce
application -- for music, travel agency etc
Use of mobile agents using AGLETS for network
management, automatic software configuration etc
Investigating Agent security -- what is important,
implemention to demonstrate concepts
Study of scalability in Agent systems -- use of Petri nets
or other modelling approaches
Projects Overview
CORBA and Distributed Objects
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Use of JDK1.2 ORB or Visigenic’s VISIBROKER for
wrapping C code into Java/CORBA objects
Analysis of horizontal CORBA services: Event service
Using Java for linking distributed objects -- write an
ID3/C4.5 application in Java
Developing a mediator using a Java/CORBA object
Projects Overview
Expert Systems using JESS
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Write rules for solving problems -- and develop a front
end in Java
Domains: Scientific Computing, Medicine, Network
Management etc.
Projects Overview
Robotics
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Use of the Mindstorm Kit from LEGO
Develop robots that can be programmed from LEGO
Blocks
Jointly with Dr David Marshall and Mr Mike Daley
Projects Overview
Parallel Computing -- Center for Computational Science
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Learn parallel Java/C programming
Developing financial applications on a 30 processor
Sun Machine using MPI
Steep learning curve in the beginning -- but a very
challenging project
Jointly with Dr Roger Philp (Engineering and Physics)
Projects Overview
Web Page for Parallel and Scientific Computation
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Enhance Web site for Parallel and Scientific
Computation
Use of new Web technologies: Java, Servlets,
CORBA, XML and a number of other technologies
Ability to generate new pictures and show some
creative flair
I will be very selective on who I pick for this project! -this is in no way an EASY project
What Next?
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If you like a project, come see me sometime today for
the fine print
If you would like more time to think, see me sometime
next week -- send me an email to arrange a meeting
Look Mom! - I
got it!!!
Good luck
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It’s your project -- aim to get the best degree possible
Don’t let your supervisor decide -- push your interests
and agenda!
Do what you like -- not what is currently HOT in
industry or what your supervisor thinks is
Read around -- lots of trade press, Web and see what
people think!
Available at:
http://www.cs.cf.ac.uk/User/O.F.Rana/Project/