Here you can find a selection of projects that I have completed during my time at Penn State. Use the navigation on the left to filter the projects based on type and class.
1) This material is provied for viewing purposes only. Copying or reproducing any part of these projects is illegal and unethical.
This project involved analyzing the IT infrastructure at Mount Nittany Medical Center (MNMC) in State College, PA, and determining an IT system that can be introduced at the hospital to help move a specific healthcare service outside Pennsylvania borders using IT-based solutions. Our group decided to implement (fictitiously) a tele-radiology system for the hospital. This project was built upon several mini projects that were completed during the course of the semester.
Note: Information about MNMC included in this project is based on our group’s assumptions and research from MNMC’s website. These assumptions were made to complete the diagrams and analysis for this project. We do not present the following information as representative of MNMC’s actual organization and IT infrastructure.
The final project included the following components:
1. An executive summary (currently unavailable)
2. A market context diagram and analysis with stakeholder analysis and stakeholder conflict analysis
3. An IT infrastructure diagram (Microsoft Visio .vsd file) and a description of the hospital’s applications portfolio
4. An organizational structure chart of the hospital (Microsoft Visio .vsd file)
5. A system context diagram and analysis with descriptions of different interactions and information flows (Microsoft Visio .vsd file)
6. A use case diagram with actors for the tele-radiology system (Microsoft Visio .vsd file)
7. Complete specifications of use cases
8. Wireframe diagrams for the use cases showing correspondence to use case steps (Microsoft Visio .vsd file)
9. Sequence diagrams for the use cases showing correspondence to use case steps (Microsoft Visio .vsd file)
10. Workflow diagrams showing three organizational processes that are impacted by the tele-radiology system (These petri net diagrams should be opened using Yasper)
11. A description of the project methodology that our group followed including rationale and description of steps
12. A project management plan Gantt chart that details tasks for each step in the methodology, suggested timeline, and resources required (Microsoft Project .mpp file)
Entire project zip file is available upon request
View project assignment here
This project involved creating a usable system with goal-directed design methods. Our group decided to design a new Penn State Portal to replace the current portal system used at the University. We called this system PSUortal.
This project involved the following components:
- Problem statement
- Identification of potential users and tasks, development of personas
- Scenarios and task analyses
- Low-fidelity prototyping and user testing
- High-fidelity prototyping and heuristic evaluation
View project assignment here
View final project here
This project involved designing a paper prototype of a mobile phone based on a given scenario. This required identifying the tasks that the user performs in the scenario, and turning these tasks into actions that can be performed using the prototype. After building a paper model of the mobile phone, my teammate and I evaluated the prototype and produced a document explaining the tasks, design, methodology, observations from user tests, and suggested improvements.
View assignment here
View final project here
This assignment involved comparing two potential solutions to a problem and recommending the best solution to a specific audience. I chose to compare building new dormatories and allowing freshmen to live off campus as solutions to the University Park on-campus housing shortage according to the critera of cost, physical space, and social impact.
This paper involved extensive research with the housing department on campus, the Office of the Physical Plant, housing departments at other universities, and the Residence Life program at Penn State. Additional internet research was conducted to determine the feasibility of the proposed solutions.
The recommendation report contains the following sections: Executive Summary, Introduction and Problem Statement, Description of Alternative Solutions, Solution Criteria, Evaluation of Proposed Solutions, Conclusions, and Recommendation.
NOTE: While the majority of information included in this report is accurate based on my research, some estimates were made for the sake of the assignment. Do not use this information as a basis for an proposing an actual solution to this problem without further research. Many other possible solutions to the on-campus housing shortage were excluded for the assignment.
View final paper here
This assignment involved researching a technical device or process and describing it to a specific audience. I chose to write my technical description on digital cameras. This brochure is targetted at people who are currently using film cameras and are considering the switch to digital.
The brochure covers: “What Do I Need to Know?”, “What is a Digital Camera?”, “What are the Benefits of Digital Cameras?”, “How Do Digital Cameras Work?”, “What are the Types of Digital Cameras?”, “How do Digital Cameras Act Over Time?”, and “Who Should Use Digital Cameras?”. This brochure makes use of diagrams, tables, photos, definitions, and lists to clearly present the material to the reader.
View final paper here
(note: this paper is formatted as a brochure and is best read when printed on two sides of a single piece of paper)
This paper is an instruction set that tells a user how to create their first webpage. The goal of this assignment was to determine an audience for an instruction set and to detail instructions for a task that this audience wants to perform. I chose to target my instructions on how to make your first website to small business owners who want to increase the visibility of their company.
The instruction set includes: terms to know, things you’ll need, time required, warnings, what you’ll learn, before you begin notices, steps to create your website, and troubleshooting tips.
View final paper here
The goal of this paper was to research a specific topic related to globalization and discuss the issues associated with that topic. This paper deals with the controversial issue of outsourcing and how it is changing the way of doing business in a global economy. Issues covered in this paper include the current status of outsourcing, the benefits and disadvantages of outsourcing, trends, the changing nature of work, effects on the global economy, and ways to solve some of the issues associated with global outsourcing.
View final paper here
This paper discusses the policy issues associated with online auctions and their relation to electronic commerce. Topics covered in this paper include: the history of eBay, types of items sold on eBay and how they can cause legal issues, problems with online auctions, phishing scams, regualation (and the lack there of) of online auctions, online auction fraud, and potential solutions to fraud issues.
View final paper here
This goal of this project was to describe in detail an emerging telecommunications technology. This paper describes a variety of aspects relating to an important emerging technology: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The paper covers the history of VoIP, VoIP uses, the technology behind VoIP, global trends, VoIP providers, effects on the telecommunications industry, challenges of VoIP, regulations, and the future of VoIP. This project also involved a presenation covering the main aspects of the paper.
View final paper here
View presentation here
This project involved finding a solution for improving the reputation of Penn State through the use of a fictional large monetary donation by an alum. My team decided to use this donation to build a monorail system for the University. Our presentation discusses the reasons behind this choice, its goals, as well as aspects such as the planned monorail stations and possible benefits and consequences.
View PowerPoint presentation here
This assignment required giving a presentation on a subject of importance to business and professional communication. I chose to do my presentation on the aspects of cross cultural nonverbal communication, and how it can impact business communication.
View PowerPoint presentation here
This was a semester long project that involved planning the redesign of an organization’s website using IT project management techniques. Our team developed a project plan that included 398 tasks including tasks in the initiating, planning, executing, deployment, rollout, controlling, and closing stages. We analyzed the different aspects of project management, including: project integration management, scope management, time management, cost management, quality management, human resource management, communications management, and risk managment.
View full project assignment here
View final document here
View work breakdown structure and Gantt chart here (Microsoft Project .mpp file)
View final presentation here
This project involved analyzing a fictional fantasy football company, Yourteam.com. This company has faced problems of productivity, cost, and lawsuits. In addition, they have a poor organizational culture that has led to the problems mentioned above. This paper addresses cultural problems that can be found in an information technology work environment.
View full project description here
View final paper here
This project involved analyzing a fictional fantasy football company, Yourteam.com. This company has faced problems of productivity, cost, and lawsuits. In addition, they have a poor organizational culture that has led to the problems mentioned above. This paper addresses aspects of organizational control systems.
View full project description here
View final paper here
This project involved describing, in detail, various organizational aspects of the School of Information Sciences and Technology. Aspects of this paper include: organizational life cycle, SWOT analysis, legitimacy, forces of change, resistance to change, decision making models, and innovation.
View full project description here
View final paper here
This project involved describing, in detail, the structure of the School of Information Sciences and Technology. Aspects of this paper include: type of structure, response to design challenges, principal functions, centralization, differentiation, standardization, core competencies, hierarchy levels, span of control, bureaucracy, role of technology in shaping the organization, and level of technical competency.
View full project description here
View final paper here
This project involved describing, in detail, the aspects of the School of Information Sciences and Technology as an organization. Aspects of this paper include: environment, history, stakeholders, challenges, competing goals, authority structure, linkages, and dependencies.
View full project description here
View final paper here
This project was a semester long project that involved the development of a JAVA based game. In addition to developing the JAVA files for the actual game, our team was also responsible for developing an XML program that replayed the game after it has been played. We also produced a UML diagram that illustrates the various processes of the game.
View full project description here
View the game’s manual here
View UML diagram here
Download the complete game here (read the readme.txt file for instructions on how to run the game)
Download Sample .java files:
action.java (the primary file that runs game processes)
start.java (defines game settings)
XMLJPanel.java (includes the processes that make the XML execution work)
This project required our group to analyze the following statement: “All undergraduate students in Information Sciences and Technology should/should not be required to show serious competency in the common core of logic and discrete mathematics topics”. The argument included a clear statement of the argument’s premises and required deductive reasoning to make our conclusions.
Full project description is located here
View final project paper
In this project, our group evaluated demand forecasting methods, and presented evidence that would help convice store managers that a forecasting system would improve demand forecasts. We also recommend a forecasting system which uses different forecasting methods for different types of products.
Full project description is located here
View final project paper
This project involved doing mouse-movement experiments to see how Fitts’ Law can be applied to a firm’s website design. In this paper we recommend a set of guidelines for designing different types of web pages, with respect to ‘usability’ and ‘aesthetics’, for different types of users and clients.
Full project description is located here
View final project paper
This project involved investigating either a small business or department on campus and analyzing their network design.
View final project report
This lab involved the hands on creation of a local area network as well as the testing of different transfer rates based on LAN setup.
View final lab report
This lab involved the hands on creation of a wide area network. This included the configuration of a Cisco router, the construction of two LANs to create the WAN, as well as the testing of different transfer rates based on the configuration.
View final lab report
This project was a semester long project involving the creation of an online photo sharing service. In order to create this website, our group had to create and manage a database using mySQL and utilize PHP to connect the website to the database.
“The best undergraduate student project in the last 4 years of Prof Wangs teaching at Penn State.” - Dr. James Wang, Professor of IST 210
View final project website
View final project report
This project involved the creation of an online music distribution prototype website that sells traditional records through secure systems, distributes legal MP3 versions of all songs, creates a community of music lovers, allows users to make their own CD out of SonicJamz titles, and allows users to create their own MP3 radio station from SonicJamz titles.
This project earned our group Dr. Santoro’s “Snickers Award” for the best group project.
Full project description is located here
View final project documentation
View final project presentation
(Project website has been removed.)
This project involved envisioning a car of the future. Our group developed a web-based prototype of the design that include’s the system’s key features. These include a safe and intuitive user interface, secure wireless and mobile networks, and wireless and mobile databases. In designing this car, one had to keep in mind aspects of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), plans for usability testing, as well as ethical and policy issues.
This project also earned our group Dr. Santoro’s “Snickers Award” for the best group project.
Full project description is located here
View final project documentation
View final project presentation
View final project website
This lab involved researching a company that has incorporated information technology into their business practicies. For this lab, I chose to analyze WalMart. The purpose of this lab was to fine tune one’s skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint while learning more about how information technology impacts businesses.
View final paper
View final presentation
Our team was given a business scenario had to come up with a reason for problems in a group in the business. We determined the main problem was a lack of cohesion with the group, and this presentation explained the importance of cohesivness.
I created the Powerpoint presentation for this presentation
View final project presentation
This project involved taking pictures throughout the semester that represented important team building and communication terms.
I was primarily involved with creating the template for the presentation and worked with my team to write up the descriptions of the terms.
View final project (7.6mb file)
This paper explores the definition of “progress” and whether or not new technology can always be considered “progress”
View final paper
This paper explains the problem with computer dependence in today’s society
View final paper
This paper explains how in order to effectively protect our environment, there must be a combination of the use of new technologies to control environmental problems as well as social and political change
View final paper
In this paper I describe the consequences of majoring in Information Sciences and Technology
View final paper
In this paper I describe my reasons for choosing to major in Information Sciences and Technology
View Final paper