Scribd
Upload
640 views

Computer Science Research Proposal Sample

This document outlines a research proposal for a project to develop a graphical user interface (GUI) to discover and control distributed audio devices. The project aims to create an improved version of existing audio control software by using newer protocols and making the interface more user-friendly. The approach involves researching existing software, protocols, and tools to understand requirements and capabilities before developing a prototype system using a network simulation. The system will allow placing audio devices on a virtual venue layout and controlling them through the GUI. Testing and reviews will evaluate functionality before potential future implementation.

Uploaded by

Ezra Mokua
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
640 views

Computer Science Research Proposal Sample

This document outlines a research proposal for a project to develop a graphical user interface (GUI) to discover and control distributed audio devices. The project aims to create an improved version of existing audio control software by using newer protocols and making the interface more user-friendly. The approach involves researching existing software, protocols, and tools to understand requirements and capabilities before developing a prototype system using a network simulation. The system will allow placing audio devices on a virtual venue layout and controlling them through the GUI. Testing and reviews will evaluate functionality before potential future implementation.

Uploaded by

Ezra Mokua
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 7

Computer Science Honours 2012

Project - Research Proposal

Mitchell Hedges

2nd March 2012


1. Principle Investigator
Mitchell Lawrence Hedges
18A Hare Street
Grahamstown
mitchhedges@gmail.com

Project supervisor
Professor Richard Foss
Head of Department - Computer Science
Rhodes University
r.foss@ru.ac.za

2. Project title
Discovering and controlling distributed audio devices from a Graphical User
Interface (GUI)

3. Problem definition
Sound control is highly important as there are many venues that have distributed
audio devices which all need to be controlled independently. There is currently
a system made by Harman Pro called System Architect which allows graphical
layout of devices, but this system has a few downsides which will be discussed
later on. This research is aimed at the ease of use of a graphical sound system.
After an in-depth analysis of the System Architect software, the development
will take place in order to try and create a new and improved version of this
software by using later software as well as protocols, such as the AES (Audio
Engineering Society) X170 stack, for the controlling of these devices. This also
aims to make the interface more user friendly by using 3D imaging software or
an exact blueprint of the venue in order to control the devices.

1
4. Description of the system
The system that will be developed for this project will ultimately be able to
control the audio devices through an easily usable GUI in which the audio
devices will be discovered and placed around a venue. This venue that has been
chosen will be a hotel, as hotels have a lot of distributed audio throughout their
layout which is not too complicated and cluttered (such as a theatre). The
venue for the system will have to be drawn up by the user in software such as
Google Sketchup, which is simple to use considering its functionality as well as
availability. The other main component that the user will interact with will
be a program written in visual C++ on a windows platform, which will be
responsible for the linking of the audio devices through the X170 stack.

5. Approach to development
The approach that will be used to develop this system will fall under the fol-
lowing incremental steps

5.1 Background research and primary approach


A lot of research will have to take place before the system can even begin to
be developed. Due to the fact that this system is prototyping a better version
of System Architect, there will have to be a lot of in-depth research done to
compare the two. The first stage will be to analyse system architect. This
program will be used thoroughly throughout the research to depict its advan-
tages/disadvantages to the average user. This system uses an older sound con-
trol protocol called HiQnet [1] which will also be looked at and analysed to see
what the difference is between it and the X170 which is a newer protocol, as
well as the one used in this system. The X170 will then have to be researched
and thoroughly understood before development takes place. The reason for this
is that it needs to link to the visual C++ application, which links to the GUI in
order for functionality. Google Sketchup will be the number one tool for imple-
menting a GUI for this system so the scope of this software must be analysed.
This software will be pushed to its full capabilities with its underlying program-
ming features in order to test whether it is capable of interacting with the main
application as well as the X170 stack successfully. The equipment for sound

2
control requires various amplifiers as well as speakers. This can be bypassed by
using a network simulation of the devices which will be done for the first step
of development. There is currently an accessible version of this in the form of a
previous honours students project which will be used for the simulation.

5.2 Secondary approaches


The connection made between visual C++ and X170 devices can be done with
no problems as long as several rules are followed. The only potential problem
would be the link made between Google Sketchup and the C++ application. As
stated above, Sketchup will be pushed as far as it can go in order to connect to
the C++ application. If this is not possible at all, then a layout of the venue
will have to be provided and embedded within the C++ application in order to
place the audio devices around the venue as the user wishes.

5.3 Previous Work


There has been previous work done by honours students at rhodes university in
this field. The networking simulation platform was created by Fred Otten which
is what shall be used in testing the networking capabilities for the system. The
connection between the XFN protocol and the GUI was done by Shane Haw, in
a project entitled ”The X170 Protocol as a vehicle for sound control”. Both of
these projects will be looked at and collaborated with this system.

5.4 Testing
Once there is a working version of the system, it will be tested thoroughly using
different setups simulated throughout the venue. The system will be tried in
different situations and any bugs or problems found will be taken note of.

5.5. Review
Once the system has been tested, any minor bugs will be fixed and any re-
quired changes will be made. The systems functionality will be analysed to
then see where it compares with the other sound control software mentioned
above. Other factors such as network efficiency may be taken into consideration

3
in this step as large venues have a lot of communication between their sound
devices.

5.6. Implementation
Due to the fact that most of this system will be developed and tested by using
network simulation, it is most likely that it will not be implemented. Further
extension of this project may be possible in order to implement it in future when
it is out of its prototype stages and has a reliable working stage.

6. Requirements
Hardware
• Mobile computer in order to take to the venue to map the layout using
the software

• A camera will possibly be used to aid with the design

• Sound hardware and amplifiers may be tested using this simulation; how-
ever this is not necessary as the simulation will most likely be used

Software
• Access to the X170 stack

• Google Sketchup

• Microsoft Visual Studio 2010

• Windows(Platform)

• Adobe Photoshop (for the secondary approach in the case that Google
Sketchup cannot be used)

• Network Simulator

4
7. Proposed Timeline
Date Event
6th March First oral presentation
5th - 10th April Visit and map out venue for project
10th April Be able to connect ruby from Sketchup to the Visual C++ API
30th April Complete literature review
28th May Literature review and Plan of Action due in.
4th June Examinations begin
15th June Examinations end
16th - 20th July Fieldtrip
24th/31st July & 7th August Second oral presentations
30th July Complete analysis of System Architect and X170 stack
14th August Begin main programming component
29th-31st October Third oral presentations
2nd November PROJECT DUE
5th November Website due
21st/22nd November Final research oral examinations

8. Deliverables
A working prototype of the system mentioned above will be handed in along
with the relevant documentation. There will be other documentation such as a
poster and thesis that will also be handed in with the project. The thesis will
include all the relevant information about the project as well as the X170 stack
which will be used in order to build the project.

5
Bibliography

[1] Online, 2007. Available from: http://www.akg.com/site/products/


powerslave,id,948,pid,948,nodeid,2,_language,EN.html.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy