CST 300: Week 5

Teammates' Goals

It is important to know the goals of your teammates so that you can help encourage them. My teammate Katie is a systems administrator with aspirations to become a software engineer. The following is my response to her educational and career goals:

Hi Katie! I think it's a fantastic idea to combine your IT background with a bachelor's degree in computer science. There are many people who have a deep understanding of how computers work programmatically but have little-to-no knowledge of the IT side of the house. Combined knowledge of software development and systems administration will take you far towards your goal of working in your chosen industry. 

My teammate Mike is an aspiring game developer. Not only does he want to work on games, he also wants to create tools for other game developers to use. Here is my response to his educational and career goals:

Hi Mike! It's awesome that you plan on making game development tools. I hear so many students talk about making their own video game, but you want to make the tools that they use. That is a pretty specific focus and will probably have a smaller pool of applicants. You seem to be passionate about the field and are eager to learn anything necessary to succeed. 

Capstone Ideas

Financial Management App

• One of my first Java programs was a bill manager written for my mother. It is a basic desktop program that transfers data back and forth between a graphical user interface and an XML file. It functions as a digital version of a financial logbook. I would like to expand on this idea and create a full blown financial management program.
• Having multiple checking and savings accounts, especially across more than one bank, can make financial management a headache. This program will help users consolidate all expenditures by providing a central location for them to enter information about their bills and transactions. I am considering additional features.
• I plan on storing data in the cloud and incorporating a network-based login feature. I would like for this to be a mobile app or perhaps web-based.

Crisis Intervention

• My idea for this was partially inspired by Stuff Ride, a previous capstone project.
• I have dealt with people facing various crises in their life such as suicidal thoughts, mental illness, and substance abuse. It helped them to have someone to talk to. Sometimes, however, there is no one for them to talk to. I would like to create an app that helps people in crisis find someone to connect to.
• Users will select the type of crisis they are experiencing and submit a request for help. Other users with the app will see this request and have the option of connecting with the person in crisis, possibly intervening before a bad situation gets worse. 
• Similarly, users will be able to mark themselves online and available for chat. They can select the types of crises they specialize in. I may also incorporate a friends list, although app users can remain anonymous. 

Grocery Planner

• This mobile app will store a grocery list for the user. When an item is entered, the app scans the websites of local grocery stores to presents the user with the lowest 3 prices within a certain radius. The app will update these prices every day that an item remains in the list. 
• When an item is purchased, users will enter the price they paid. The app will save this number along with other pertinent information. Average and total amounts spent on items will be available. Data will be collected from all users so that average prices and other statistics can be compared across regions.
• I would like to incorporate a suggestion feature based on past grocery purchases. The algorithm will determine the likelihood that the user will need a certain (previously purchased) item soon and suggest that it be added to the grocery list.

Summary

One of the most beneficial things I learned this week is that there are many free software programs available to me as a CSUMB student. I knew of student programs for Microsoft Office, but I wasn't aware of the free access to photoshop or other editing programs. I am looking forward to learning how to use them.

I am strongly considering earning a master's degree online. The point that stuck out to me the most about graduate programs is the "professional student mindset" con. Although I have work experience, it isn't in the computer science or teaching fields. I prefer sticking to what I know, and I am comfortable being a student. I don't want to experience imposter syndrome when I get out to the work force again. However, I do believe that everything will work out one way or another, and I am beginning to consider internships in the field.