Types of Projects

Types of Projects Student-proposed projects (that need my approval) Competitions (that need my approval) Approved projects from: other departments/majors (ECE, MAE, BME, …) Florida Tech faculty outside Florida Tech

Approval for Projects Proposal Template Submit as soon as possible cs.fit.edu/~pkc/classes/seniorProjects/opportunities More later Submit as soon as possible Usually multiple rounds of revision before approval Approval by the first day of classes

Team size CSE-only teams CSE + X… teams 2-4 students 1-4 CSE students + students from other majors

Generating Ideas for Senior Projects

Objectives Identify opportunities Generate ideas for an interesting senior project

Imagine Cup A competition for college students organized by Microsoft Would like to come up with an idea and use your senior project to design and build a prototype Prizes + a trip to participate in the final competition Imaginecup.com

Identifying Opportunities: Case Studies

Google: Identifying Opportunities Google.com Early 2000s via https://archive.org/web/ Why is it interesting/useful to you? What is the value? Took advantage of what opportunities? Trends (existing or new ones) Pains Inefficiencies/gaps

Raise.me: Identifying Opportunities http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/need-a-college-scholarship-theres-an-app-for-that/ Why is it interesting/useful to you? What is the value? Took advantage of what opportunities? Trends (existing or new ones) Pains Inefficiencies/gaps

Your Favorite System: Identifying Opportunities Choose an existing system/service/software/… that is most interesting/useful/… to you Why is it interesting/useful to you? What is the value? Took advantage of what opportunities? Trends (existing or new ones) Pains Inefficiencies/gaps

Your Favorite System: Identifying Opportunities Choose an existing system/service/software/… that is most interesting/useful/… to you Why is it interesting/useful to you? What is the value? Took advantage of what opportunities? Trends (existing or new ones) Pains Inefficiencies/gaps Group discussion: additional opportunities? [~4 students]

Reports from Groups Each group Decides the system that took advantage of the most interesting/clever/… opportunities Picks a representative to discuss: the system/software/service/… created value interesting/clever/… opportunities (trends, pains, inefficiencies)

Switching to Your Project

1. Identify Opportunities--Homework Trends (existing or new ones), Pains, and/or Inefficiencies/gaps Ask 3 users if they feel similar pains…

2. Generating Ideas--Homework Identify opportunities: Trends (existing or new ones), Pains, and/or Inefficiencies/gaps Ask 3 users if they feel similar pains… Generate ideas to create value Ask 3 users if the proposed ideas help [Other competitions: cs.fit.edu/~pkc/classes/seniorProjects/opportunities ]

3. Preparing Slides--Homework What are the opportunities/pains? [at least 1 slide] Do 3 users feel similar pains? [1 slide per user] What are your main ideas to improve & create value? [at least 1 slide] Do 3 users think your ideas create value? If not, what are other ideas? [brainstorming with users] [1 slide per idea with feedback from 3 users]

Design Thinking Process Stanford U.

Design Thinking Process (Stanford) EMPATHIZE:  Work to fully understand the experience of the user for whom you are designing. Do this through observation, interaction, and immersing yourself in their experiences.

Design Thinking Process (Stanford) EMPATHIZE:  Work to fully understand the experience of the user for whom you are designing. Do this through observation, interaction, and immersing yourself in their experiences. DEFINE:  Process and synthesize the findings from your empathy work in order to form a user point of view that you will address with your design.

Design Thinking Process (Stanford) EMPATHIZE:  Work to fully understand the experience of the user for whom you are designing. Do this through observation, interaction, and immersing yourself in their experiences. DEFINE:  Process and synthesize the findings from your empathy work in order to form a user point of view that you will address with your design. IDEATE:  Explore a wide variety of possible solutions through generating a large quantity of diverse possible solutions, allowing you to step beyond the obvious and explore a range of ideas.

Design Thinking Process (Stanford) EMPATHIZE:  Work to fully understand the experience of the user for whom you are designing. Do this through observation, interaction, and immersing yourself in their experiences. DEFINE:  Process and synthesize the findings from your empathy work in order to form a user point of view that you will address with your design. IDEATE:  Explore a wide variety of possible solutions through generating a large quantity of diverse possible solutions, allowing you to step beyond the obvious and explore a range of ideas. Prototype and Test http://dschool.stanford.edu/redesigningtheater/the-design-thinking-process/

Feedback and Refinement of IDEAS Day 2 Feedback and Refinement of IDEAS

Feedback and Refinement—Group Discussion (~4 students, ie, ~3 additional users) What are the opportunities/pains? [at least 1 slide] Do 3 users feel similar pains? [1 slide per user] What are your main ideas to improve & create value? [at least 1 slide] Do 3 users think your ideas create value? If not, what are other ideas? [brainstorming with users] [1 slide per idea with feedback from 3 users]

Reports from Groups Each group selects the project that has the most potential presents the project to the class More feedback and refinement