17 November

1
17 November

• Solving Problems

2
Solving Problems

• What is the problem?
• What are the constraints?
• What can be done to solve or mitigate the
  problem?
• How could computers help?
• Brainstorming
• Pros and cons
• What are the obstacles to this solution?

3
Clever Cats Problem

• What is the problem?
• I have two cats that hide when its time for them
  to go out in the morning
• What are the constraints?
• They cant wear collars
• What can be done to solve or mitigate the
  problem?
• I need a tracking device

4
Clever Cats Solutions

• Brainstorming solutions
• GPS
• RFID
• Bluetooth

5
GPS

• Global Positioning System
• Satellite system used for accurate time and
  location
• Uses trilateration
• Requires line of sight with satellite
• Doesnt work well indoors

6
RFID

• Radio Frequency ID
• Tags contain antennae that enable them to respond
  to radio signals from transceivers
• Most in use are passive
• No battery source
• Radio signal provides enough energy to respond
• 40 cents per tag
• Distance based on antenna of transceiver

7
Bluetooth

• Named for King Harold Bluetooth of Denmark who
  unified warring tribes
• Unifying technology
• Wireless personal area network
• low power consumption
• Short range (from 10 up to 100 meters)
• low-cost transceiver microchip

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Implanted RFID tag

• How do I locate the cats?
• Hand-held device
• Receivers at every door
• Single display
• Light over every door
• How tightly do I need to find them?
• Within a room is sufficient
• How much infrastructure do I want to add?
• Wires that show
• Tear up walls
• Constraint half my house is open rooms without
  doors

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Solution

• Passive RFID tag implanted in each cat
• Handheld device that contains an RFID transceiver
• Needs to have a small radius
• Too large will tell me that the cat is in the
  house
• But I already know that!

10
Final Project

• Teams of 3
• Identify a problem that you would like to see
  solved and design a solution
• Deliverables
• 15 minute presentation
• Web site (mock up or informational)
• Optional handout, speaker notes
• Assignment

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Examples of topics

• Justice system
• Helping people with disabilities or phobias
• Public transportation or parking
• Basketball ticket distribution

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Crime Deterrence

• Use technology similar to the existing GPS
  systems to track individuals who have committed
  felonies in an effort to deter them from
  committing more crimes.

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Navigation for the Blind
What is the problem?
Lack of technology for the blind and visually
impaired.
Wanted to focus on navigation issues. There are
many more issues that can be addressed, such as
website accessibility.
Indoor navigation detailed Outdoor navigation
more broad
The development and use of these two systems
would be slightly different because of their
differences in settings.
14
Virtual Therapy

• With VR technology becoming more and more
  prominent, as well as cheaper, what can be done
  to enhance the Virtual Therapy process?
• The technology used by psychologists and
  therapists can be moved into the classroom.
• Students with learning disabilities, as well as
  anxiety disorders, could be entered into a
  Virtual Classroom.
• The lesson would be aimed much more towards the
  student with the problem.

15
UNC Bus System Solutions

• Computers at each bus stop giving ETAs for the
  next buses
• Warnings to the bus drivers about overcrowded
  stops
• Bus schedules are more centered around high rider
  times
• Easier to read displays on computers at the
  stops, such as search engines for desired
  destinations and the location of the buses

16
Online Parking Planning

• A database will be maintained online and will
  provide travelers with the city, location, cost,
  nearest landmarks, minimum and maximum
  reservation times, and number of available spots.
• Travelers will be able to do queries and searches
  to find an appropriate lot.
• Maps will be available online as well so that
  getting to the lot will not be difficult.
• The traveler will choose a 4 digit code to verify
  their identity and the time when they arrive at
  their parking spot, which will be numbered.

17
Online Basketball Tickets

• Register
• Magic Number Drawn
• Email
• Claim/print tickets
• Go to game