LIST OF PROJECTS

AMAN BAKSHI

April 3, 2015

Read more projects:

http://www-scf.usc.edu/~amanbaks

1) SMART SWIPE

A mobile application that allows the user to broadcast the content he is browsing from his

mobile to desktop or another mobile device.

HOW DID I GET THE IDEA?

I was browsing for some new suit and came across a stylish one. I wanted to show

my friend but instead of giving him this long link, I took a screenshot of browser

content and shared on messenger. What if, there was a way in which my friend (if

permits) could view on his browser what I am seeing on mine and without sharing

any link.

HOW IT WORKS?

It is based on reverse of PUSH Technology. In PUSH methodology example RSS Feeds

or facebook Notifications, the server sends a push to the clients who are listening on the

network. These mobile applications are running in the background and the servers push

data to them when needed.

Reverse of this technology, is where the server is instead listening to the clients. The

application is connected to one specific server where this client is registered. A user on

this client device can broadcast by a swipe of a finger, as soon as the server is notified of

the swipe, it broadcasts the content on the other registered device by using its browser.

A use case example for shopping for a dress, say I am browsing something on my mobile

and want to see in larger view or just want my friend to see that as well on his laptop, by

just a swipe on my browser. It is immediately broadcasted to my friend in a new tab .

Offcourse, the security concerns are taken into consideration to not allow any malicious

web page.

This application has been extended over to broadcast on same platforms as well. Android

to android.

Note that this application DOES NOT require any hardware like today’s day broadcasting

services.

I foresee this application as next generation sharing. Gone are days when to show

something I need to actually transfer to a friend or take a screenshot.

2. Dead-Reckoning Guidance a.k.a Blind Date

We rely on GPS for navigation, GPS can guide a person to meet another person. If the

person is blind, haptic feedback is there to guide him based on navigation signals.

What if the satellites go down and there is no GPS ?

Blind date is based on the concept of the RSSI strength of Bluetooth technology.

Received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is a measurement of the power with which a

signal is sent out. Every new connection, packet sending/receiving is done at a particular

strength.

How it works?

The requirement for this application is that both the blind person must have this

application installed on his phone. The application starts on both the phones and one

blind person should select that he shall be the one who shall walk. We refer him as the

'FINDER'. The other blind person shall stand still with his application on. The app has a

in built COMPASS, that directs both in a paricular direction (North Pole by default). To

signal the blind person if he is revolving in right direction to lead to the north pole, the

app uses set of VIBRATIONS. Faster vibrations as the angle is close to north pole and

slow as gradually he movesaway from north pole. The person who stands still faces in

opposite pole i.e south pole.

Once both their respective poles (basically each other), then the 'finder' starts moving. As

he moves, the app on the person who stands still, sends out SOUND WAVES at a

particular frequency different from the one noticed by human ear. These are caught by

the radio signal reciever within the app of the 'finder', that does FOURIER

TRANSFORMATION to find the frequency. Based on how high is the frequency, a

particular quadrant is located in which the person is located.

Now is the turn of RSSI. As the 'finder' moves, both of the person send/recive packets.

The RSSI is affected by obstacles like chair, table, people etc. Note that room can be

crowded. So, the app sends packets continuously and noting the average RSSI value

based on which it directs the 'finder' to walk in that direction with average RSSI location

again using the vibrations. Finally leading to the blind person standing still.

3. Genealogy App

Map and locate where your family is from, has been, and what notable events happened.

Pings you when you are within a particular radius of say, great-grandmother's birthplace,

or a historical war or a happening club as you walkaround a town.

Geo tag photos with time and going forward, friends can connect as a family. Imagine

being able to get a push notification that showed an important family or historical photo

to you as you stood or walked by that location.

HOW DID I GET THE IDEA?

Last summer, I had a trip to one of the tourist spots in bay area. One of my friend

who previously went there suggested a list of places to see. He mentioned to go to

point A and then B and then recalled that point C lies on way to B with a small

detour.

Then came the thought, what if we had an application that can guide us of some

attraction or venue when passing through, based on user preferences and choices.

It can be coupled with apps like TripAdvisor and give reviews of new places as

well as we pass through. All based on the power of maps.

How it works?

Powered by Google Maps, the application track the geo location of the user. It kind of

behaves like a social network. It learns from a user. So for instance, a user A of the

application visits a place which offers exclusive Hot Air Ballon ride in Napa Valley. He

marks the location on the application and gives reviews. Another user B, is going through

the valley and if he is a person interested in Outdoor activities and explorations, based on

his given preferences, then he is notified of this location. He too adds some votes and

feedback and that is how the application learns.

All storage is on cloud and works real time.

4. Smart Receptionist

Windows 8 application based on concept of IFTTT (If-This-Then That)

We are a part of the century where task handling has been given in hands of our multimedia

devices. You click pictures, you download files, you surf internet. The applications today ask

for your preferences. What if the app was smart enough to do what you want instead of

bothering you ?

Smart Receptionist is an application based on this concept, basically for windows 8 phones

that uses artificial intelligence to provide the user with a rich experience where he can get his

task done without letting the application know every time.

HOW IT WORKS?

The application when starts afresh, has no details about the user. It does not know what he

likes or dislikes. It learns over time. So for instance, you clicked a picture, the application

would give you an option saying: 'WOULD YOU LIKE TO POST TO FACEBOOK ?' or,

'DO YOU WANT TO EDIT IT IN INSTAGRAM?' or , 'DO YOU WANT TO ADD TO A

DOCUMENT'? or, 'DO YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH YOUR CHAT BUDDY ON

WATSAPP' ? etc. These options are preloaded on the application when new. A user may

choose from these options or can also select to enter his own choice, for instance 'TWEET

THIS'. The application pushes these preferences to the server for updates. The server uses the

cloud for storage of user preferences.

For new users, it gives these options scattered from all other users. So users vote for their

options and if they rely mostly on say “SHARE ON FACEBOOK” for any new photograph,

that is the very first option a new user gets and if chosen it automatically manages your

pictures. It can be controlled by user as well.

Based on his option, the application saves this option and next time for same action, it

automatically does a reaction which the user had chosen over the last time or the most over

the period. This saves a lot of time and clicks. So, write a note, sync with Evernote. So, 'If-

newText-then-syncWithEvernote'.

The application uses a memory which can reside over the cloud. Windows offers each user

with a cloud storage. User can choose either to have his app storage over the cloud or on the

phone. As the infrastructure for this application expands, we could also host it at a designated

server.