Computing for Good
CS4911/CS6150, Fall 2012, Klaus 1447, MWF 2-3.
Instructors: Gregory Abowd (Office hours: Mon 1-2pm in TSRB) and Santosh Vempala (Office hours: Fri, 9-10am in Klaus 2222)
TA: Yi Han (Office hours: Tue, 1-3pm in TSRB)
Description
How can computing help make the world a better place? Can we avoid wars, alleviate homelessness and improve global health using computers? What are the technical challenges that arise and what humanistic issues have to be taken into account and understood in the process? In the 5th edition of the C4G course, we explore problems faced by developing countries and underserved populations from a computing perspective. The course will be project-centered with teams of students choosing project topics early in the semester and working towards a deployed solution by the end of the semester.
Calendar/Readings (tentative),
Blog (email mterraza@cc to be a contributor)
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Aug 20. Course goals/expectations, skills/interests exercise; list of projects;
Santosh on C4G BLIS experience.
Aug 22. Gregory on Behavior Imaging experience; continue summary of projects.
Aarti Sharma and Val Peterson on foster care tracking project.
Aug 24. Computing for Social services: Russ Holt and Protip Biswas.
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Aug 27. 2:00 Amy O'Dell and Jaclyn Rhodes (Jacob's ladder); 2:30 Amy Phuong/Stephanie Hodges (City of Atlanta).
Aug 29. Cathy Rice (CDC) and Rosa Arriaga. Learn the signs and Epitool projects.
Aug 31. 2:00 Sensor Friendly learning; 2:30 Tamara Daley, INAR.
Ron Oberleitner from Behavior Imaging Solutions.
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Sep 10 Cindy Jackson (Green visualization)
Sep 12 Ami Klin (Marcus)
Sep 14. Pinar Keskinocak (ISYE, Vaccine scheduling); Campus safety, Chris Burke
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Sep 17. 2:00pm Bakary Drammeh (CDC, V2V); 2:30pm Terry Hamlin (CfD).
19,21. Finalize teams; give out Project plan assignment.
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Sep 24. Gregory on Designing for Autism.
Sep 26/28. Teamwork techniques.
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Oct 1,3,5. Project plan presentations.
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Oct 12. Bonus points demos
Oct 15. Holiday
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Oct 17,19. Working Prototype demos.
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Oct 22. Gregory: Evaluation techniques.
Oct 24. Charitable organizations/Nonprofits.
Oct 26. What can we do about the abuse of women?
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Oct 29, 31. Evaluations.l
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Nov 5. Evaluations.
Nov 7. Mike Best: Sustainability; mid-term reports due.
Nov 9. Evaluations.
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Nov 14. Recycling game.
Nov 16. Evaluations.
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Nov 19. The Challenge of Connectivity and an Internet for Everyone.
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Nov 26. Hrushi Mehendale (MeGo Networks).
Nov 28. Usability.
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Dec 1. Economic sustainability.
Fri, Dec 7, 12-3pm. C4G Review day!; final reports due.
Demos+Posters: 12:30-3pm (Klaus Atrium)
Panel: 1:30-2:30pm (Klaus 1116)
Projects and brief descriptions
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Jacob's ladder/Center for Discovery
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Campus safety (Bud Peterson; GT Police)
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Learn the Signs, Act Early program (Cathy Rice, CDC; Rosa Arriaga, GT)
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Homelessness longitudinal tracking (Protip Biswas, United Way)
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Mission Columbia (Russ Holt)
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C4G BLIS (John Nkengasong, CDC)
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C4G Vein-2-Vein (Bakary Drammeh, CDC)
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Indian National Autism Registry (Tamara Daley; Action for Autism)
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Foster kids tracking (Aarti Sharma, City of Atlanta; Val Peterson)
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After school program management (Stephanie Hodges/Amy Phuong, City of Atlanta)
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Sensory friendly learning (Jeannie Bolstridge)
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Green visualization (Cindy Jackson, Maria Linderoth, GT Recycling)
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Marcus Autism Resource Center (Ami Klin)
Grading
C4G is a project-based course where understanding a real problem, finding a solution, implementing, testing and deploying it will be your greatest reward. For those who need letter grades, these will be computed as follows:
- Homework: 10%
- Class participation: 20%
- Initial project plan: 15%
- Interim demo/report/presentation: 20%
- Final demo/report/presentation: 35%
FAQ
Q1. What is C4G?
A.
C4G is a project-based research, education and service initiative of the College of Computing.
Q2. Does it fulfil the CS 4911 requirement?
A. Yes.
Q3. Are any overrides or permits required to register for the C4G section of the class?
A. No additional requirements.
Q4. Do students come up with projects or is there a list of projects?
A. We have a master list of project topics over the summer along with partners in the field for each topic. It will be up to student teams to determine their precise projects based on this list.
Q5. What were the projects in previous editions of the course?
A. Take a look at C4G in Spring 2008 and Fall 2009.