Why Do Projects? Omer Rana … My Thoughts on Things

What is required and what should I do?  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?  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:  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  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  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  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  Write rules for solving problems -- and develop a front end in Java  Domains: Scientific Computing, Medicine, Network Management etc.

Projects Overview Robotics  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  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  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?  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 to arrange a meeting

Good luck  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: Look Mom! - I got it!!!