Computer Systems Lab Project Update Oct. 14, 2003

1. Project Proposal
   
   
   • Title of the Project
     
     
   • Objective: Purpose and Scope of the Research Project
     • What are the goals, what is the project about?
     
     
   • Justification: Why is the project worth doing;
     • Why is it a good topic for the Computer Systems Lab?
     
     
   • Description, Procedure and Methodology.
     • How will you accomplish this objective. Do you understand your task,
       have a logical time plan.
     • How will you the research, design, program, and test various phases of your
       project.
     • Have you identified the resources that you will need.
     • What are the tasks/sub-tasks that will have to be accomplished to
       meet your objectives?
     • What materials and programming language(s)/tools will be necessary?
     • What graphics will be needed?
     • What data will be needed and how will they be collected?
     • What method or processes will be used to test and analyze the data?
     • What error analysis will be performed on the gathered data?
     
     
   • Expected Results (also - any value to others?)
     • What results do you expect to obtain from your project?
     • How will the final results and analyses be presented (including visuals such
       as graphs and charts)?
     • What time frame do you think you will need to accomplish the
       identified tasks and subtasks?
     • What form will be used as a work breakdown of your individual tasks
     • How will you plan/track phases of your work
       e.g. Gant charts, task charts
     
     
   • Scope of Study/Limitations
     • Describe the overall bounds/limitations of your work, the research or data
       that will be required
     • You may have to narrow down your research/project objectives.
     • Be specific about what you want to develop.
     • Perhaps select a more modest piece of your original project idea to work on.
     
     
   • Background and review of current literature/research in this area.
     • Demonstrate that you know the background of your topic.
     • What kinds of research have been done before in this area?
     • Is there a "state of the art" today?
     • In what ways may your approach build on or vary from previous work that has
       been done in your project area?
     
     
   • Bibliography - you will need at least 10 references for your project.
     • Read other technical/research papers that are in your project's field.

2. Research Paper:
   • Title, Abstract, Introduction, Background, References/Appendices
   • Include reading technical research papers in your field

3. Code, Testing and Analysis

4. Sample "Iteration Report" format:
   
   Iteration Progress Report
   Iteration 1 Date _______________ Name____________________
   
   
   • Plan:
     • What is the goal or needs of this iteration of the project?
     • What is/are the expected outcome(s) for this iteration?
     
     
   • Design:
     • What is the design for this iteration/version of your project or program?
     • You may want to write the design in some kind of "high level" pseudo-code
     
     
   • Code:
     • Any code for this iteration?
     • Testing - don't forget to write code that will test the success or
       lack of success for this iteration.
     • Coding standards - format your code to agreed coding standards
     
     
   • Testing:
     • Are there any tests that have been used to check the
       success/lack-of-success for this iteration?
     
     
   • Users:
     • Are there any users of your project iterations?
     • Anyone helping you define particular requirements
       or directions for your project?