Henry Cohn
Researcher, (MSR)

"Experimental Math"
For thousands of years, experimentation has been a powerful tool for mathematical research (trying things out is crucial for developing intuition and examples). However, humans have been limited by our slow speed and limited storage capacity, and we have therefore not been able to get a good look at the mathematical landscape. In the last decade, the use of computers as research tools has really taken off in pure mathematics. Like the telescope dramatically extended our ability to study astronomy, computer-assisted experimental mathematics is opening up new mathematical vistas. In this project we will use computers to try to detect patterns related to some open mathematical problems. No specific mathematical background will be required.

Final Student Presentation (ppt)

Seth Goldstein,
Associate Professor,
Computer Science Department (CMU)

"Let's do Claytronics"
Every year Computer-based devices shrink in size and increase in functionality. Already devices smaller that a cubic inch can compute, communicate, sense their environments and even move around. This trend is pushing such devices out of the computer room and into the real world. In this project, we will investigate how to program ensembles of such devices by harnessing emergence.

The project will use the claytronics simulator along with a new research language, Meld, to introduce emergence, distributed programming, and programmable matter.

Final Student Presentation (pdf). Download movie (5MB)

"Exploring Online Credibility"
In this exercise, we will explore ways that we can try to convey credibility around Wikipedia articles using techniques from information visualization and human-computer interaction. Over the weekend, we will work through design exercises in trying to identify problems that exist today, compare existing literature and other techniques that have been tried to solve related problems, and prototype a system that would reflect the ideas we've come up with. Time allowing, we'll try some basic user testing on the prototypes or start building a first realization of the system.

Final Student Presentation (pdf)

Nicole Immorlica, Post-doc (CWI/Northwestern)

Abie Flaxman, Post-doctoral Researcher, Theory Group (MSR)

"Segregation in Social Networks"
Why do ghettos form in cities? Why do so many of our friends share our political views? In this project, we will analyze and extend the Schelling model, which is a classic economistic answer to this sort of question. Schelling's model assumes only that people don't want to be in an extremely small minority. Under simple dynamics, this assumption leads networks to move towards segregation. The first Schelling models focused on geographical networks with one-dimensional types, and have been used to try to explain things like the black/white division of Chicago's neighborhoods. Motivated by Xbox Live, we will look at similar questions in social networks with multi-dimensional types. We will use the insights we gain to craft a strategy for improving the health of the Xbox Live ecosystem.

Final Student Presentation (pdf)

Robert Kraut, Professor, Human Computer Interaction Institute (CMU)

Carolyn Rose, Research Scientist, Language Technolgies Institute (CMU)

Moira Burke, Ph.D. Student, Human Computer Interaction Institute (CMU)

"Disagreement in Wikipedia"
In this project students will use machine-learning techniques to uncover why some proposals for improving articles in Wikipedia generate disagreement and others are readily agreed to.

Final Student Presentation (pdf)

Meredith Ringel Morris
Researcher,
Adaptive Systems and Interaction (MSR)

"Interfaces for Collaborative Web Search"
Web search is generally considered a solitary activity: browsers and search engine homepages are designed to support single-user scenarios. However, studies of search strategies in educational settings and among knowledge workers reveal that users often desire to collaborate on search tasks. For this project, we will discuss the scenarios in which users want to collaboratively search the Web, and then we'll brainstorm new user experiences for supporting these scenarios, using a variety of user-centered design techniques, such as storyboarding and paper prototyping.

Final Student Presentation (pdf)

Desney Tan
Researcher
Visualization and Interaction group (MSR)

Augmenting Humans with Computational Senses
While humans have ecologically evolved our senses (e.g. sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch, etc) over long periods of time, we are now in a position to create brand new senses using computational sensors. For example, imagine being able to feel wifi connectivity, or hear the direction of the nearest Starbucks. What if we could see in the "non-visible" spectrum or feel the movements of loved ones, even when they're not anywhere near us. Over the course of the weekend, we'll brainstorm interesting new senses, explore technologies that would help us measure and present data to users, and speculate on how this could change our everyday lives. If time permits, maybe we'll even run out to the local Radio Shack, pick up some parts, and build some prototypes.

Final Student Presentation (pdf)

Manuela Veloso, Professor, Computer Science Dept. (CMU)

Stefan Zickler, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science Dept., (CMU)

Elisabeth Crawford, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science Dept., (CMU)

"A Multi-Robot Choreography: Perception, Cognition, Action, and Coordination"
In this project, we will investigate how to create a coordinated behavior with multiple robots. We will concretely design and implement a choreography for a multi-robot dance. We will use the iRobot Create and the Scribbler robots, as simple robotic platforms that we can easily program using the Microsoft Robotics Studio. The goal will be to understand the core research challenges of artificial intelligence and robotics, in particular the integration of perception, cognition, action, and coordination in groups of autonomous robots.

Final Student Presentation (html)