Graduate Student projects and ideas for projects

Last updated 8/19/2009

This page describes current and completed graduate projects I have chaired. It also presents a few ideas and some general suggestions: a two semester schedule for completing a graduate thesis / project and a suggested outline for a project report.

I would like to talk with you about project ideas that you have if they are in an area similiar to mine: interactive multi-user 3D environments (games, virtual reality), Human Computer Interaction experiments, software (scientific) visualization, and software metrics. To get an idea of the successful projects I have chaired look at the titles and abstracts of the completed projects section below.

I like to work with a few (2 to 5) graduate students at any time. Working with more students is not productive for the students or myself.

If you want to do a project in another area like networks, security, databases, e-commerce I strongly suggest that you contact professors in our department that teach those classes and talk with them about master projects. Here is the link to a page that describes research interests of CS faculty.

You do not have to do a graduate project that a professor thought up. Your ideas are probably more interesting, at least to you.

You should browse through recent Computer Science CSUN thesis/projects in the CSUN library. This will give you a good idea about the topics, size, scope, and content of successful thesis/projects. You can also see what professors have chaired MS thesis/projects recently.

Current Graduate Projects

1. Javier Reyes, Data Glove Interface for a Virtual Environment.
2. Ben Riveira, The Design and Implementation of a Kindergarten Educational Software Package.
3. Kris Shinn, Evaluation of GPU Architecture for General Purpose Parallel Comuting.
4. Luis Vasconez, Threat analysis using Fuzzy Logic applied to the Evading and Chasing Algorithm.
5. Dennis Walsh, Collision Detection in Parallel on the GPU Utilizing the CUDA Architecture in an XNA Framework.

Ideas for Graduate Projects

Interactive, multiuser, 3D environments

• Develop 3D scenes that use VR peripherals: data glove, natural point (IR head tracker), i-glasses (head mounted display with head tracing). These devices are available in the VR Lab. Some device driver development for the use C#/XNA, or C/C++ OpenGL maybe required.
• Procedural / Computational Modeling. Use of grammars and other ("AI") algorithmic techniques to generate 3D models of: terrain, humans, animals, emotions, stratedgies.
• GPU programming with CUDA.
• Virtual Worlds. Use of OpenSim [ http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Main_Page ] or multi-user on-line 3D environment tools for the study and analysis of multi-user on-line environments.
• Design and implement Virtual Algorithms (in XNA/C# with or JOGL).
• Extend Irina Goldman's thesis work on 3D exploration of Java programs. Port to JOGL (from Java 3D API).
• Design and prototype an avatar construction kit. Construction could be fanciful (cartoon like), or realistic (starting from photographs). Avatars should have behaviors / gestures.

Human Computer Interaction experiments

• Use Graphical User Interface components. See Erik Kellener's (1996) thesis as an example.
• Navigate and learn conceptual / spatial relationships among objects either in a linked HTML or in a 3D environment (see L. Winner's 1997 thesis).
• How programmers understand and debug errors in programs. See M. Thompson's (1983), L. Carter's (1985), and C Trinh's (1985) theses for examples.

Completed Graduate Projects

1. Atsuya Takagi MultiTouchJ: A Wii Remote and Video Projector User Interface. , May. 2009, abstract (pdf).
2. Neha N. Limaye, A C# Managed DirectX Client Server Library for Shared Environments , Dec. 2007, abstract (pdf).
3. Kristina Shroyer, A Study of 3D Facial Modeling and Aging with Project Applications in MAYA , May 2007, abstract (pdf).
4. Francis Palardy, Automatic Speech Recognition using the Sphinx 4 , Dec. 2006, abstract (pdf).
5. Khaleel Ali, Shading Language for 3D Graphics , May 2006, abstract (pdf).
6. Andrew Alter, Prototype HCI Experiment Framework Driving Simulator, Dec. 2003, abstract (pdf).
7. Francisco Vassallo, Starship Combat Game: Anchors Aweigh, Dec. 2003, abstract (pdf).
8. Chandra Akkiraju, .NET Strengths and Weaknesses, May 2003, abstract (pdf).
9. Qi Fang, A Small Architecture Oriented Volume Modeler, May 2003, abstract (pdf).
10. Joeseph Parham, Facial Animation Using Dynamic Subdivision Surfaces , May 2003, abstract (pdf).
11. Henry Demirchian, Stereo 3D Presentation of the Human Digestive System, Dec. 2002, abstract (pdf).
12. Michael Stark, A Glove Gesture and 3D Position Tracking Interface, Dec. 2002, abstract (pdf).
13. Shaheenur Akhter, Developing Object Oriented Software Metrics for Java , May 2002, abstract (pdf).
14. Radhika Ambatipudi, On-line support for CS's graduate program, May 2002, abstract (pdf).
15. Joythi Bhavaraju, On-line support for CS's faculty information, May 2002, abstract (pdf).
16. Irina Goldman, Visualizing Java Class Libraries, May 2002, abstract (pdf).
17. Yahui Peng, Visualizing databases, May 2002, abstract (pdf).
18. Peeti Jittiphalangsri, "Space Battle : a networked multi user game", December 2001, abstract (pdf).
19. Ying Qian, "Developing a Multi-user, Shared, Java 3D API Behavior Class", December 2000, abstract (pdf).
20. Qi Wang, "3D Graphical Representation of Object Oriented Programs", December 2000, abstract (pdf).
21. Inga Leu, "Troubled Bubbles: A Java 3D Game", May 2000, abstract (pdf).
22. Ervin Bakhshian, "Pepi: a study of Facial Animation with Maya", December 1999, abstract (pdf).
23. Issa Hanna, "A Three Dimensional File Visualization Tool using Java 3D", December 1999, abstract ( pdf).
24. Vartan Nazarian, Video Telepresence: A Remote Control Camera, December 1999, abstract (pdf).
25. Steve Zubelevitsky, 3D Scanner, August 1999.
26. Mark Rothenberg, 3-D Development Tool for LEGO System, June 1999.
    
27. Jonathan Gottlieb, Classes for Persistent Graphical User Input Controls, May, 1999.
    
28. Thomas Huang, Design and Implementation of DOSS, May, 1999.
    
29. Gus Quiroga, A Graphical Simulation Environment, December 1998.
    
30. Paul Firnett, Porting a Software Change Tracking System to Java, May 1998.
    
31. Christian Schulze, Valuation Automation for Windows NT, May 1998.
    
32. Vadim Parizher, Image Tiepoint Collection for Image Processing, December 1997.
    
33. Lynne Winner, Virtual World Command and Output Experiment, December 1997. abstract
    
34. Saad Mashtoub, An Adventure Virtual Reality Game, May 1997. abstract and game snapshots
    
35. Esmail Daraki, X Window Implementation for GO (XWGO), December 1996.
    
36. David Drucker, Designing Graphical User Interfaces, December 1996.
    
37. Erik Kellener, Are GUIs Ambidertrous?, December 1996.
    
38. Lien Duong A Display Independent Simulation Environment, May 1996.
    
39. Ara Juljulian, Theory and Practise of Videogame Development, May 1996.
    
40. Sam Le, Design and Implementation of NICES, May 1996.
    
41. David Tallent, Visual CAI for Binomial Heap Operations, December, 1995.
    
42. Robert Angelino, Monitoring Spacecraft Data in Cyberspace, December 1994.
    
43. Gregory Welz, A Computer Aided Instruction Package for Human-Computer Interface Development: Menus, December 1994.
    
44. Alexander Kasman, CAI for Data Link Layer Protocols in OSI Network Model, August 1994.
    
45. Christine, Salazar, Experiments with Window Shape, 1993.
    
46. Gordon Schunker, Turtle: An Iconic Visual Programming Language, December 1992.
    
47. James Hurrell, Exposure Processing in Window-based Software, May 1992.
    
48. Shyh Chen, SMC++: Software Metrics for C++, December 1991.
    
49. Mark Waldrep, A CAI Application for the Study of Memory Intensive Subjects and its Extensibility through the use of Audio Recording and Playback, May 1991.
    
50. Bradley Swim, Quality Object Oriented Programming: Methods and Tools, May 1990.
    
51. Morteza Khorrami, Process Interaction Simulation in ADA (PRISM_ADA), Janurary 1990.
    
52. Lora Meise, Expert Systems and Training, Janurary 1990.
    
53. Margret Morita, A Database Search and Retrieval System for Simulation Specifications, May 1988.
    
54. Dean Okamura, LISTS: a linked list visualized algorithms lecture tool , 1988.
    
55. Hsuan-hua Chang, CAI for Hashing, August 1987.
    
56. Mei-Yu Lee, CAI for Merge Algorithms, August 1987.
    
57. Steven Pomeroy, Interactive creation of facial expressions, 1987.
    
58. Fred Mikami, PRISM: A Computer Animation System, May 1987.
    
59. Robert Melendez, Visible Microprogramming: A Computer Assisted Instruction Package, January 1987.
    
60. Daniel Howell, Simulation in a Terminal Independent Environment, August 1986.
    
61. Charles Lavine, Automated Compelisa Analyzer, May 1986.
    
62. Gary Kind, Computer Animation of Binary Tree Operations, January 1986.
    
63. Georgia Lulovics, Computer Assisted Instruction for Computer Science, January 1986.
    
64. Ridge McGhee, Virtual Screens for Visual Simulation, January 1986.
    
65. Lorinda Carter, The Effects of Indentation on Program Comprehension and Debugging , August 1985.
    
66. Chung Trinh, Program Errors and Complexity Experiment , May 1985.
    
67. Chainn Wang, CAI for Recursion , January 1985.
    
68. Teresa Sun, CAI for Linked List Algorithms , January 1985.
    
69. Thong Nguyen, CAI for B-Trees Algorithms, January 1985.
    
70. Victoria Hsu, CAI for Sorting Algorithms, January 1985.
    
71. Rin-Rin Hsu, CAI for Binary Tree Algorithms, January 1985.
    
72. Nan-Lai Hsu, CAI for Memory Management, January 1985.
    
73. Juhsien Liu, Run Generation: CAI for External Sorting , August 1984.
    
74. Maria Lopez, Stacks and Queues: A CAI Prototype, January 1984.
    
75. Marc Thompson, Effects of Algorithm Design on Program Development and Modification , January 1983.