SRC:2012 URC

Back to UNH Student Research Conference

=Undergraduate Research Conference - Poster Session=

Comprehensive Virtualization Documentation System

 * Authors: Chris Reekie
 * Project Sponsor: University of New Hampshire
 * Instructor:Karla Vogel
 * Course:CIS 690

Abstract
This project will develop a wiki based interactive documentation system to accompany the installation of virtualized systems at UNHM. As system administrator for the Computing Technologies department, I have installed and managed physical servers for web hosting, wikis and file shares. It became clear that a physical server system was not sufficient for the increased uses by the Computing Technologies program. A virtualized environment was the most cost effective and resource efficient method to increase both the scope and the scale of our server infrastructure. Using VMware’s vSphere Essentials I have converted our physical servers to virtual machines and manage them using vCenter. Being a student position, it is understood that the next candidate likely will not have the extensive experience needed to manage these resources. What is needed is application specific documentation to enhance the sustainability of the current systems. This documentation will include an in-depth practical account of all systems, describing in detail the hardware and software configurations that are currently in place. It will also include routine tasks to maintain and manage the virtual machines, hosts and infrastructure. Since the infrastructure is in constant flux to address program needs, there will be a segment to address future growth by identifying hardware and software requirements. The resulting project will be a fully sustainable set of interactive documents that will provide future administrators the background tools to continue maintenance of the virtualized lab configurations.

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Capstone Experience: Undergraduate Research Group in Speech

 * Authors:Chad Conners
 * Aaron Green
 * Michael Henenberg
 * Damir Ibrahimovic
 * Aaron Jarzombek
 * Brandon McLaughlin
 * Johnny Mom
 * Even Morse
 * Ted Pulkowski
 * Brice Rader
 * Bethany Ross
 * Johnathan Shultz
 * Skyler Swendsboe
 * Matthew Vartanian


 * Instructor: Michael Jonas
 * Course:CIS 790

Abstract
The goal of the Capstone Program at the University of New Hampshire at Manchester is to provide students with hands-on experience that will enhance their degree and help prepare them for successful careers. Employers consider Capstone a key part of a student’s educational background in gaining knowledge and preparing for future job positions. The class will use CMU’s Sphinx Speech Recognition Toolkit, further the research, and development of previous semester’s work. The goal is to learn and apply speech recognition technology as well as to improve upon many other areas including organization of hardware and software of the system, documentation of work progress, and creation of backup mechanisms. In conclusion, the 2012 spring semester class should leave future groups in position to pursue further research to improve upon the overall quality of speech recognition with its primary goal of improving the accuracy of the technology.

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Android Mobile Joystick for Seekur Robotic Systems

 * Authors:Aaron Jarzombek


 * Project Sponsor:Seekur Robotic Systems


 * Instructor:Karla Vogel


 * Course:CIS 690

Abstract
This applied project is to develop an application to run on Android-based phones or tablets to control the Seekur robot platform manufactured by MobileRobots, Amherst NH. The current controller for these robots is cumbersome and inefficient. It requires the user to strap the device on and use both hands to manage the controls. These controllers are wired or Bluetooth, but each introduces ineffective use to managing the Seekur robot. Since the manufacture of a lightweight device would be a costly endeavor, I am proposing a controller application for mobile devices that are lightweight, Bluetooth enabled, readily available, and much cheaper. My goal is to have a prototype application that will communicate with the Seekur through Bluetooth and provide the "joystick" control interface on a tablet or mobile phone screen.

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SpEAK: Speech Experiment Accessible Knowledge System for Capstone Speech Project

 * Authors:Jacqueline Tims
 * Justin Thibeault


 * Instructor:Michael Jonas
 * Course:

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Embedded Database Design

 * Authors:John Maddaus III


 * Project Sponsor:


 * Instructor:Karla Vogel


 * Course:CIS 690

Abstract
This applied project is to explore an in-memory key-value database system as an indexing service of a relational database. As an employee at Delta Management Associates, I frequently encounter inefficiencies in their relational database and the unnecessary overhead required for simple data retrieval. The main goal of my research is to understand the totality of the costs and benefits of using a key-value database system to link to a relational table in memory to deliver faster response times in queries. I will use the Redis database, an open source tool to conduct the indexing service and MySQL tables to generate prototypes of tables we experience at Delta Management Associates. Once the metrics of performance are determined, I will conduct a series of tests to compare data access speeds of these two systems. The results of my study will primarily verify the capabilities and usability of this concept and secondarily, provide a cost/benefit analysis of embedding a relational database into a key-value database for purposes of data mining.

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=Graduate Research Conference - Poster Session=

CivicCRM Framework to Manage Donors for Nonprofits: From Design to Deployment

 * Authors:Imran Shahzad
 * Project Sponsor:YWCA
 * Instructor:Mihaela Sabin
 * Course: CIS 805 Web Systems

Abstract
CiviCRM (Constituent Relationship Management) is an open-source, web based solution geared to eliminate the need to integrate external programs to resolve the needs of non-profit, small non-governmental organizations collecting and tracking constituency data. The goal of this research project is to use the CiviCRM framework to build a system that manages donations for YWCA New Hampshire. The CiviCRM constituency data of interest that the proposed system will include manage donors, donations, donation designations for specific YWCA programs, and events that facilitate fund-raising. Another feature built within CiviCRM are options easy to configure with other content management systems such as Drupal, Joomla!, and Wordpress.

The primary objective is understanding the process of building a framework for deployment. This includes assembling preliminary documentation for a system to be implemented at YWCA. Another objective is to understand real-world applications of CiviCRM framework that are geared towards managing donations. Finally, the solution of developing a system using CiviCRM will be compared and contrasted with the solution of implementing the system using MySQL and PHP directly.

YWCA currently needs a system with an intuitive user interface to manage contact and donor information with ease of access to update, delete, add, search, or view donors/donations. Majority of the functionality is available without rendering to customization. It is cost effective, minimal operators are required, as well as highly customizable with sophisticated tools developed by community. The end result will be a product tailored to the organization's specific purpose.

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What Version Are you On? An Investigation into Software Configuration Management

 * Authors:Jackie Tims
 * Project Sponsor: YWCA
 * Instructor:Mihaela Sabin
 * Course:CIS 805 Web Systems

Abstract
Software Configuration Management (SCM) is the essential control tool in the software development process. Software design, implementation and deployment can follow an infinite number of paths; add to that the arrival of issues and change requests, and the need for a control process becomes paramount. SCM allows for the identification of configuration items, the ability to attach a version to each item and the production of specific collections of items for testing and release. As SCM has the ability to recover items from previous versions, it becomes a powerful tool for auditing the development process. For the Spring 2012 Donate project development, SCM provided the development control using open source utilities. Configuration items and maintenance of the work products is achieved with the use of Subversion Tortoise SCM and the central repository hosting service provided by Google code. Weekly tag releases were created off the development trunk, having merged in the separated development branches that were updated for the iteration. Awareness on behalf of the developers, for the complexities of SCM and its benefits was achieved.

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Network Modeling Software Use in Research and Education

 * Authors:Alexandr Scripcenco
 * Casey Eyring


 * Instructor:Don Cochrane
 * Course: CIS 825 Networking Technologies

Abstract
Creating a simulation of operational Networks can require Router/Switch hardware, as well as Network test equipment, to emulate client traffic and remote network connections.

This type of functionality can also be modeled using commercially available Network R&D Software. This research focuses on an example application from OPNET Technologies.

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