TopDoc Pre-Proposal

Levi Adair

Dunni Adenuga

Brooke Bullek

Bobby Cao

Jason Corriveau

TopDoc

Background

Medical education involves repetition of concepts over years until it becomes second nature, just like a language. In medical school, doctors must memorize thousands of terms. These range from bones to arteries, and other systems in the body. Many times, medical students have to rely on using flash cards or other conventional methods of doing drills in order to memorize all of these new terms. However, all of these methods have their weaknesses. People can lose flashcards or write them incorrectly, they also can forget to study on their busy days. In order to have students and doctors in the field brush up on their medical knowledge or even learn new concepts, a mobile application could be used.Instead of books and tedious readings, an application can utilize puzzles, games, and quizzes to promote fun and interactive learning. Overall, a mobile app can significantly improve the convenience and effectiveness of medical education.

 

Executive Summary

A mobile application can be useful because many people have smart phones and use them frequently. If someone wants to learn,  they can open the application whenever they are free. Interactive games, puzzles and quizzes would be used as study tools. After the user takes the quiz, we can implement an algorithm based on their score to tell user they should learn more in a particular area. This application could also be tailored to specific fields; because of this a neurosurgeon would not have to waste time studying bones in the hand. Further, the application needs to be able to customize the learning for each individual; each doctor will need to review different subjects at varying amounts. In addition to the learning aspect of the application, we could also implement a search function. The search would be used for doctors to look up concepts that they need quick information on. Instead of having to look through Google search results or use a book, the terms could all be logged in the application. This application can be done in either Android via Android SDKs and the use of Java, IOS via IOS SDKs and Swift, or both.

 

Goals

  • Creation of games
  • Creation of puzzles
  • Creation of quizzes
  • Implement an algorithm to track user learning and show where they need improvement.
  • Have an intuitive and fun application

 

Viability Analysis

The most difficult part of developing this application is that we are not experts in the medical field. So we will need a database of medical concepts and facts. We will also need a third party to verify our information because there could be issues with incorrect or incomplete information. Another difficulty is  just how to apply medical concepts into a game and puzzle since that will require a lot of thinking and creativity. Lastly, we will have difficulties creating algorithms that decide what information people should study and the frequency they should study.

 

Risks and Rewards

A risk is that since this application is created by purely computer science students, we do not really know  how deep we want the users to know the concept. Further, our lack of medical knowledge will provide some challenge in identifying the most important topics for different doctors to review. Also, there is a risk for having incorrect information or having information misinterpreted and of course for a person practicing in the field this possibly can mean major harm to others. However, the reward is this can be a great application that millions of people in the medical field can utilize to learn or brush up in medical concepts during their free time and on the go. Of course this will mean better doctors, which can result in more lives being saved.

 

Closing

Learning medical concepts can be a chore, with a mobile application learn concepts can be intuitive and fun. Also interactive learning promotes deeper understanding of a concept as well. Millions of people in the medical field can use this and in turn become better in their field.

 

LifeAtHere PreProposal

Levi Adair

Dunni Adenuga

Brooke Bullek

Bobby Cao

Jason Corriveau

Life at Here

Background

Bucknell University is a 4-year college in the middle of nowhere. Many events, such as parties, games, dinners, talks, and concerts, are organized by different student organizations at different times and locations to maintain a healthy social scene. There are usually posters advertising some events and students usually have to take pictures or enter events into their Google Calendar in order to keep track (personal experience). It’s important to have a central location for all of these events. For events available to outsiders, more specific location information should be provided as well as useful information that can help them navigate the campus (e.g parking locations). Lastly, another difficulty that many Bucknell students face is keeping track of appointments and meetings with fellow students and Bucknell faculty. As such, it would be really useful to have an application that allows students to schedule and track meetings with others on campus.

Executive Summary

A good solution to this problem is a mobile phone application that contains regularly updated events on campus, along with event details such as time and location. Personal user accounts (or more favorably, integration with Bucknell students’ and faculty’s personal Google Calendar accounts) could offer the advantage of tracking personal appointments, an addition that would fit nicely with the theme of LifeAtHere and keeping campus commitments in one centralized location. This app can also be used to push urgent information to the student body. Events would be pushed to the app and students can select the events they’re interested in and would receive reminders about the events. For visitors, Google Maps can be integrated with the app to provide directions and help them navigate the campus. Visitors, instead of having access to Bucknell community’s personal appointments, would have ready access to the school directory.

 

Viability Analysis

It is possible to build this app, but it is important to determine the system by which the school events get added, the different level of access, etc. Another important decision would be to select a platform: Android/iOS. Further, this project would require close interaction with the CAP Center to learn about the ways events are organized and advertised. University-backed APIs (in addition to the CAP Center) could be used as resources to automatically provide the latest event details, rather than relying on a strictly student-run or crowdsourced method of adding new events (which hasn’t worked well with similar apps in the past). We would also have to work with Public Safety to learn about provisions created for visitors on campus. Additionally, to create appointments with other Bucknellians, the system would likely have to integrate with both the currently implemented “Room Request” on myBucknell and Google Calendar. Lastly, this app would probably require online access, so it’s important that the “bucknell_guests” WiFi access is always available and working effectively. To create this app, knowledge about mobile computing is necessary.

 

Risks and Rewards

If this is accepted and adopted by the campus community, this app would be a game changer in the way social life is organized on campus. As final year students, this is an opportunity to leave a legacy in a useful way. This project would not require too much financial commitment but would require time, especially when integrating already existing programs with our project. Also, the school may not be in support of some events posted on the app and/or students may be unwilling to post their events if the app is policed by the school. It’s important to find a compromise. Another issue that we will have to work around is that some app features, such as “appointment making” should only be available to members of Bucknell University and not visitors. Hence, we will have to request that users login to their Bucknell accounts, as they will otherwise not have access to specific features. Finally, one last risk associated with building this sort of app is that a similar app is already in existence. The “Bucknell” app, available on Android and iOS, is able to provide directions to visitors, along with a few features for currently enrolled students. Since this app already exists, the risk is that users may not want to download yet another “Bucknell” app onto their phone. Perhaps we can consider the solution of implementing and updating currently existing features in the “Bucknell” app.

 

Closing

The company should consider investing in this app because most of the tools required for building the app are open source. It’s also a fairly uncomplicated solution with a possible large impact. A centralized hub for viewing and scheduling upcoming campus events (and appointments) would fill a noticeable void in Bucknell’s otherwise technically savvy community. The pre-existing official Bucknell app leaves much to be desired as far as campus events and making appointments are concerned. LifeAtHere can be used by new and prospective students to learn about Bucknell’s social scene even before learning about the environment. If made into an app, LifeAtHere would be a viable means of keeping students in the loop and showing visitors/prospective students that Bucknell has an active and vibrant community.

Jason Corriveau Pre-proposal Trip Sharing Platform

Trip Sharing Platform

Background

Currently, there is no great way for users to create and share lists of places to visit with friends or the public. A system that would provide this opportunity has the potential to help users discover exciting places to visit, both locally, and to places that they want to travel to. Ideally, creating a platform, with both a web and mobile platform, can allow users to share lists of places they want to go and track their progress.

 

Executive Summary

A social mobile and web application is necessary to create a solution to the problem discussed above. First, the platform could pull popular locations off of Google maps, as well as allow users to enter new locations.  Then, the app could sync with Facebook in order for users to get lists of places to visit from friends. With these locations and a friend system in place, users will be able to connect with one another and share their “lists of places to visit”. Lists can be shared privately with friends, along with publicly. A sample use case is that locals from a town can create a list of the best restaurants to visit in the area. Then, others from the area can get a chance to discover these restaurants which they may have missed in the past. Finally, the mobile platform as it can allow users to “check in” and update their progress on locations visited, along with the app providing recommended places to visit based upon their current location. By integrating a web and mobile app, users will be able to have the convenience of accessing the platform on the go, while also being able to use it on any computer if that is their preference.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

Viability Analysis

There are two major challenges that I see this app facing. First, there could be a challenge with getting a list of different places to visit and categorizing them. It would be very useful if people could search for types of locations, such as parks, restaurants, museums, and more. However, it could be a challenge to identify and categorize places as they are being gathered from Google or another location. Second, another challenge with this app is that it will be most useful when there are plenty of users. Users will be able to recommend local “lists of places” to visit, as these are the easiest for other users to travel to. As such, a challenge arises for users in rural areas that may not have many other users, as their local “lists of places” will be much smaller than others.

 

Risks and Rewards

The biggest risk with this app is the ability for it to be manipulated by places that are looking to gain popularity. For instance, nothing would stop, for example, a restaurant from including itself on a list of the best places to visit in a town. As such, consideration should be put into who is allowed to create public lists of places and perhaps a rating system for these lists. The largest reward with the app is that it revolutionizes travel plans. The app has potential to be used by a variety of travelers as they visit popular attractions and be a convenient way to make sure they visit all of the attractions that they planned to see.

 

Closing

Overall, there is potential for this project to be something that is picked up by travelers across the country. By introducing a web and mobile app, users will be able to integrate the system into their lifestyles and use it on the go. Further, through the mobile app, users can be recommended local places to visit, which can create a fantastic user experience. With the Facebook integration, the platform will serve as the easiest way for friends to share itineraries as they schedule or recommend trips to each other. Overall, with integration from Facebook and Google Maps and the creation of a web and mobile app, this concept has the potential to be a big hit.

Jason Corriveau Pre-Proposal Excurvant

Jason Corriveau

Excurvant

Background

Excurvant is a company that is looking to be the leading, next generation travel agency. To do so, they want to be a one stop shop where users can share their travel experiences with other others, explore areas that they would want to travel to, and be able to book their trips! Currently, Excurvant is still in development, and aims to have an excellent user experience and user interface. Overall, the main goal is for the platform to be personalized and also have a seamless uploading experience.

 

Executive Summary

In order to achieve the goal of creating a customized experience for users, I propose that the app should ask the users about their travel experiences when they first sign up for the app. For instance, users can identify locations that they regularly go to, locations that they want to go to, and more. Then, the app will put a higher priority on showing these locations to users as they “explore” different locations. As far as creating a better sharing experience, it will be essential to be able to share content on Excurvant to other social media platforms. The main purpose for doing so is that this feature will provide a way for more potential users to be exposed to the platform and will help the platform gain more attention. Overall, these two solutions serve to make the experience personalized and also improve the sharing experience with the app.

 

Viability Analysis

The largest difficulty in connecting a platform such as Excurvant to other social media platforms is in finding a seamless way for Excurvant to communicate with these other platforms. It is likely that the best way to do so will be by just providing the URL to the address where a user’s Excurvant profile is hosted. However, in an ideal world, there should be a better way to integrate Excurvant with pre-existing social media. As far as a customized experience goes, it is important to make sure that users are able to see the locations they are interested in visiting, without it completely taking over the content found on Excurvant. This will be a balancing act, and a study may need to be done in order to identify the preference of users.

 

Risks and Rewards

The solution of creating a smooth way to connect Excurvant with pre-existing social media platforms has a huge reward if it is able to happen. The main risk, however, is that in working to integrate with current social media, Excurvant would be limited in its features and functionality. With regard to customizing Excurvant towards users preferences, there is a risk that user experience may be worsened by incorporating their preferences. However, by testing the personalization of the media shown to users in a controlled case, this risk can be limited.

 

Closing

Excurvant can gain a huge amount of exposure if the platform is able to be integrated into pre-existing social media. If this is accomplished, many more people will be exposed to its features. Additionally, be implementing a system where users have a customized experience, the platform will be able to help users discover locations that they want to travel to next, and eventually the platform can help them book their trips. By dedicating resources to this project, Excurvant will hit the ground running in getting more users and optimizing user experience.

Jason Corriveau Pre-Proposal Bucknell Appointment Hub

Jason Corriveau

Bucknell Appointment Hub

Background

Currently at Bucknell University, there is a system in place to reserve rooms on campus (EMS). Separately, to schedule appointments with specific people, you have to contact them, which can be done through many different ways. It can be easy to lose track of some appointments with people on campus, considering that they are likely made through emails, text-messages, and in-person conversations. Just as bad, it could be easy to lose or confuse information regarding the agreed upon meeting room! As such, there is a need for an integrated system which can allow both students and faculty to seamlessly coordinate meetings on campus. Further, done well, this appointment hub can shed light on an all-purposes appointment maker app that could be used in all facets of life (in an ideal world).

Executive Summary

One idea that comes to mind is fully integrating Google Calendar and the EMS system together. Through EMS, students or faculty will be able to identify the most optimal time to schedule meetings, and also offer a selection of open rooms to meet in (assuming that such a meeting room will be necessary). Then, through EMS, there will be an option that will allow you to send Google Calendar invitations, which include the attendees and the room where the meeting will be held. Once the appointment is in Google Calendar, both students are faculty will be able to have all of their appointments in one centralized location. A goal for this system is to improve upon the mobile functionality of EMS. This is important, given that meetings can be discussed in a setting without laptops, such as immediately following a class. A student or faculty should be able to quickly pull up an app, which can connect to EMS and find the best time to meet with another person. With such a system in place, students and faculty should be able to schedule appointments quickly and have all appointments in one centralized location. Further, this can avoid conflicts, such as if a professor welcomes two students to the same office hours for two separate problems. WIth the new system, all appointments can be scheduled quickly, such that these conflicts are avoided and appointments are remembered.

Viability Analysis

While a great idea, there could be a few challenges with this project. First, we would need to find a way for Bucknell’s system to quickly and effectively communicate with data from Google Calendar. Second, we would need to implement Bucknell’s EMS system into a mobile app, which is also able to sync with the web client. Lastly, I am not currently sure who created Bucknell’s EMS system, and whether or not this is a system that we would be allowed to modify.Assuming we are given access to the development side of EMS, we could look into seeing if connecting to Google Calendar and creating a mobile app is feasible.

Risks and Rewards

The largest reward in creating this system is that Bucknell fully adopts our new version of EMS, thus improving the convenience of scheduling appointments. One risk to this project is, given that I have not developed for this system, it could be a great deal of work to implement a mobile app. If the mobile app subsequently does not gain popularity, the work would not have much overall benefit for the community.

 

Closing

Overall, it is quite obvious that there is a need for appointments to be easier to make and keep track of, here on campus and overall in life. A great solution to this problem would be to integrate EMS, a system that allows users to schedule “events”, with Google Calendar. Utilizing EMS is helpful, as it already has access to a list of available rooms. Then, integrating with Google Calendar will allow users to find times and rooms where all attendees to an appointment are available. Finally, creating a mobile app for scheduling events and appointments through EMS would allow such appointments to be made quickly, without the need of a computer. Overall, Bucknell is in need to a more centralized way to schedule appointments, and the best way to do so is building on a pre-existing solution, EMS, and integrating Google Calendars to keep track of both events and appointments.