Projects

CTGolfer: An Android Application

CTGolfer is an Android application developed by my Software Development course. After a rough few weeks determining whether or not the application was feasible for our class on the iPhone we decided to take the Android route. We spent the rest of the semester learning the routines of developing software with a fairly large group of programmers, and actually coding the application. We used tools such as Zoho, to collaborate files and communicate standards across the entire class, Google Wave, for more immediate communication between members and groups, and the CVS repository included in Eclipse as our standard location for code.

The application returns results from a mySQL database based on a search that the user enters. The search includes golf course name, street address, or city name. The results are returned in a tabbed view, which includes a direct call button using the native phone dialer from the phone. Once a course/location is selected a more information screen appears with all the details about the current course, including a clickable address which opens a native Maps application, and again a clickable phone number.

The benefits of using the native dialer or the native Maps application is that the user can take advantage of all the functions included in those applications. Some included functions in the Maps application are getting directions to that location from the current location, or saving the destination for use later. Similarly with the native dialer, numbers can be saved as contacts, or favorited, etc.

The application is coded in Java, using Eclipse with the Android SDK.

Screen shots:

VGRack: www.vgrack.com

The Video Game Rack, or VGRack, is a fluid, fun and interesting way of finding your favorite video games online! Using Best Buy's open source database, named Remix, I've developed an application that allows people to search, filter or just browse all of the video games that Best Buy has to offer. I developed everything from the ActionScript 3.0 code, to the PHP script's and the mySQL code that calls the information from the database.

The application was created using Flex Builder and Flash.

Unfortunately, I do not own the application and can not update it. This means that errors that you may experience with it are due to the fact that it has not been published correctly. This is something I have no control over but if you notice problems, feel free to contact me and I will pass the issue over.

I found it to be a lot of fun to make and lot of fun to play with. I hope you enjoy it!

Here are a few screen shots:

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This is a video of Java applet that I created for my Graphics class. The objectives of the class were to create a simple robot with simple features. I decided to take it a step farther by adding things like a movable light, and free rotation of the robot based on mouse movement. Features like this help to bring the robot to life, and give the user a better understanding of the robot.

The robot has physical limitations just like a real robot. The first part of the video is me exploring these limitations. As I approach the movement of the leg it becomes clear that a two-dimensional view seems to lack the depth that is required to fully understand the robot. I then show the importance of the free rotation of the robot using mouse movement.

After this point I show some basic examples of how the different properties of the camera can be used. Some examples of this are, moving the position of the light source, changing the light's intensity, changing the radius of the light, and changing which colors the light reflects.

The project was fun and required me to step into a world of graphics which I had never previously dealt with. Within a few weeks, I had a semi-finished applet that I am proud to say was a fun first project.

The project was created by me using openGL with Java in the NetBeans IDE.

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I first have to give recognition to the person who created this idea, Johnny Chung Lee. I did not come up with this idea, all I did was implement my own copy of it. I have developed two different IR LED tools.

The first, is an infrared light-emitting diode pen (IR LED pen). Simply put its a marker with an LED sticking out the front of it that gives off light, just like any other LED. The only difference is because this LED is IR that means that it's wavelength is different from normal, visible light. Its wavelength is generally between 750nm and 1µm and cannot be seen by the human eye, but can be seen by most camera's! Knowing this, it's possible to take a Wiimote (which has a camera that is only visible to IR light) and measure the distance and coordinates between the light source and the camera. The Wiimote than sends that information off to my computer, and using Johnny Lee's whiteboard application, allows us to mark those coordinates and subsequently draw on the screen! In combining the use of the whiteboard application and the pen this becomes a working interactive whiteboard that is extremely cheap and only requires a few pieces.

The second tool, is a pair of glasses with these same IR LED's mounted on the sides. Because the Wiimote, with the help of some software, can calculate the distance and coordinate location (in x,y and z axis) it allows us to trace the motion of our head (because the glasses are located on our head, duh) and give a location dependent view of some image that is displayed on the screen. Basically, It means that if your wearing the glasses and you move around, the image on the screen will appear 3 dimensional giving the appearance that you can than look around certain objects by ducking, weaving, and moving.

Both tools I built myself and in the near future hope to be developing my own interactive applications for them.

Here are a few images of the two tools:

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SheensOnScreen.Com is a website that I created to post information about the Sheen and Estevez family. I made it for fun, but quickly got drawn into the possibilities that the site had to offer. The site uses Wordpress to manage its content, and I have integrated my own customization to the theme and the functionality of the domain. I used my knowledge of PHP to create a very dynamic site which calls from resources all over the web to make the content full, rich, and unique every time. I also used my knowledge of jQuery and Javascript to add those subtle nuances to make the website a little more than the average attractive website.

With little more than just a good idea I became instantly passionate about exploring this website's capabilities and have been indulged in carrying out my ideas.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

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