Towards the Development of a Smart Entry System

A recent work by an MSc Computing student looked at a low cost door entry control system with video, audio and app development.

Towards the Development of a  Smart Entry System

Matthew Jarvis

Abstract
Commercial offerings related to the Internet of Things (IoT) have proliferated in the last decade. Among them is a collection of smart entry systems that enable homeowners to see, hear and speak to visitors, even when they are not at home. Given the relatively low cost of the hardware required to build these systems, a number of developers have assembled similar units using affordable, off-the-shelf components. This dissertation documents the process taken to research, design, build and test a non-commercial smart entry system. In doing so, a contribution is made to the current knowledge within this field. The system is developed in 4 stages. The first 3 involve the construction of individual subsystems, which are integrated in the final stage. Upon completion, evidence is given to demonstrate that the final system functions effectively and that the selected approach was beneficial to the development process.


Supervised by Dr Scott Turner


If you'd like to find out more about Computing at the University of Northampton go to: www.computing.northampton.ac.uk. All views and opinions are the author's and do not necessarily reflected those of any organisation they are associated with

Educational Software

2013

Towards the development of an Educational Software tool designed for teaching children words in foreign languages via the use of games. 

investigation into emerging Web development technologies

Framework for Testing AI

2012
Investigating Artificial Intelligence Within the Social Networking Paradigm 

Kinect, Autodesk and 3D stereo

2011

Walking Through A Virtual Gallery

Computing Courses

BSc and HND Computing Provision (click on the links below for more details of the courses)

• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Systems Engineering) 

• BSc (Hons) Computing (also available part-time)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Mobile Computing)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Software Engineering)
• BSc (Hons) Computing - One Year Top-Up 
• BSc  Computer Games Development
• HND Computing (Compute​r Net​works Engineering)
• HND Computing (Computer Systems Engineering)
• HND Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• HND Computing (Internet Tech​nolog​y and Security)
• HND Computing (Mobile Computing)
• HND Computing (Software Engine​ering) 
• HND Com​puting

The University of Northampton's, Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 

• MSc Computing
• MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• MSc Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Software Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Immersive Technologies)

The contents are the opinion of the author(s) and not necessarily the view of the University of Northampton.

learning foreign languages via the use of games

Recent work by a BSc Computing student, University of Northampton - Andy Matt-Mbuku

Towards the development of an Educational Software tool designed for teaching children words in foreign

languages via the use of games.

Andy Matt-Mbuku

Abstract

Firstly games in general are today an important part of many children’s leisure lifestyle and a growing part of many cultures throughout the world.  More than three quarters of children play games regularly; Parent can watch in amazement as children spend hours to amusing themselves by controlling characters on the screen.

In the past games have been discharged as a distraction to from more important activities such as studying or doing homework.

Nowadays however, there are questions being asked by teachers and other researchers about how this influential concept may be used to support children’s leaning in schools Instead of turning their backs against it, with the new foreign language curriculum for primary school pupils across the England being introduced very soon, there is now an increasing interest in asking whether games might be a powerful new resource to support learning in primary schools.

This dissertation project intends to explore the current thoughts about the role of games in educations which supports children’s learning inside and outside schools, and also highlighting the critical areas of research such as the rising interest in pleasurable learning and the ‘learning by doing’ that many games seems to offer;

This project also acknowledges the challenges and obstacles to using games within the current education system and will aim to provide general recommendations for future games-based learning approaches in schools for teachers, game developers and education policy board.

“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else”. (Albert Einstein, 1955).  

Computing Courses

BSc and HND Computing Provision (click on the links below for more details of the courses)

• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Systems Engineering) 

• BSc (Hons) Computing (also available part-time)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Mobile Computing)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Software Engineering)
• BSc (Hons) Computing - One Year Top-Up 
• BSc  Computer Games Development
• HND Computing (Compute​r Net​works Engineering)
• HND Computing (Computer Systems Engineering)
• HND Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• HND Computing (Internet Tech​nolog​y and Security)
• HND Computing (Mobile Computing)
• HND Computing (Software Engine​ering) 
• HND Com​puting

The University of Northampton's, Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 

• MSc Computing
• MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• MSc Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Software Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Immersive Technologies)

The contents are the opinion of the author(s) and not necessarily the view of the University of Northampton.

Framework for Testing AI

Recent work by a BSc Computing student, University of Northampton - Phillip Pond.

Toward the development of a Framework for Testing AI

 Phillip Pond

Abstract

This paper explains and discusses the development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework. The framework will contain different AI techniques such as Evolutionary Algorithms and Neural Networks. The aim of this work is develop the base structure of this framework providing a proof of concept for the end system. The different techniques and methods are discussed and their theory explained. The design and implementation of the framework is presented along with four chapters showing how the framework would be used at its current stage. Finally giving a discussion of the future work to be carried out. 

 

Computing Courses

BSc and HND Computing Provision (click on the links below for more details of the courses)

• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Systems Engineering) 

• BSc (Hons) Computing (also available part-time)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Mobile Computing)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Software Engineering)
• BSc (Hons) Computing - One Year Top-Up 
• BSc  Computer Games Development
• HND Computing (Compute​r Net​works Engineering)
• HND Computing (Computer Systems Engineering)
• HND Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• HND Computing (Internet Tech​nolog​y and Security)
• HND Computing (Mobile Computing)
• HND Computing (Software Engine​ering) 
• HND Com​puting

The University of Northampton's, Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 

• MSc Computing
• MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• MSc Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Software Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Immersive Technologies)

The contents are the opinion of the author(s) and not necessarily the view of the University of Northampton.

MSc Computing: February 2013 update

The University of Northampton's, Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 

•  Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 
  
  

  • MSc Computing
  • MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
  • MSc Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
  • MSc Computing (Software Engineering)
  • MSc Computing (Immersive Technologies)

  
  

Two new courses to be run in September 2013

MEng Computer Networks Engineering (120 credits):

• Visual Objects Software (20)
• Computer Networks (20)
• Mobile Device Software Development (20)
• Group Industry Project (60)

MEng  Computer Systems Engineering (120 credits) from:

• Distributed Systems (20)
• Visual Objects Software (20)
• Modern Computer Architecture (20)
• Group Industry Project (60)

The dissertation is an important element of the MSc courses. The range and nature of the dissertations on MSc Computing  varies, below are some links to blog postings that I hope give a flavour some of the topics other students have  investigated:

• Web Analytics
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/analytics-enhancements-using-rankings.html
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/msc-dissertationanalysis-of-web.html
• IT in developing countries
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/msc-student-workefficacious-adoption-of.html
•  Augmented reality
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/development-of-augmented-reality-ar.html
•   Investigation into ‘Comet’
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/msc-student-work-use-of-http-push-in.html
•   Combining web-based technologies
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/msc-student-work-generic-google-maps.html

One ex-student has turned his dissertation into a book.

From the MSc program as a whole,  where successful student end up working varies; but I would say lot work in areas that are internet intensive some examples include becoming a consultant in optimising websites to be more likely to be picked up search engines; another is a lecturer. At least one has gone to further study at Universities such as the University of Oxford.

There is a strong practical element to the courses. The emphasis of the whole MSc Computing programme is on developing both technical and Master’s level academic skills through practicing these skills, but after being taught the necessary underpinning theory.

UKPass details can be found by clicking here.

Apply for this course through: https://pgapp.ukpass.ac.uk/ukpasspgapp/login.jsp?institution=N38&course=31469&source=www.ukpass.ac.uk

For more details contact: Scott Turner

Computing Courses

BSc and HND Computing Provision (click on the links below for more details of the courses)

• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Systems Engineering) 

• BSc (Hons) Computing (also available part-time)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Mobile Computing)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Software Engineering)
• BSc (Hons) Computing - One Year Top-Up 
• BSc  Computer Games Development
• HND Computing (Compute​r Net​works Engineering)
• HND Computing (Computer Systems Engineering)
• HND Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• HND Computing (Internet Tech​nolog​y and Security)
• HND Computing (Mobile Computing)
• HND Computing (Software Engine​ering) 
• HND Com​puting

The University of Northampton's, Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 

• MSc Computing
• MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• MSc Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Software Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Immersive Technologies)

The contents are the opinion of the author(s) and not necessarily the view of the University of Northampton.

Cloud Computing Infrastructure

Recent MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security) dissertation work within the School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton, UK by  Hang Xu.

Abstract

Cloud Computing (the Cloud) is getting hot in recent years as well as the Cloud Computing Infrastructures which can be used to the deployment of the Cloud infrastructure for enterprises, communities, or individuals. OpenStack is one of the major cloud computing infrastructure and services providers which have been developed by NASA and Rackspace. Another term, Energy-Efficiency is being considered as a more and more important cloud due to the effect that the IT technologies have made to the environment. Servers, cooling systems and so on are generating a great number of CO₂ emissions to the global. Therefore, the research and technology on approaches about reducing the CO₂ emissions is getting more and more important to the entire IT industry. In this paper, the relationship between the Cloud and Energy-Efficiency will be discussed along with the achievement that has been made to reduce CO₂ emissions in recent years. Then, models for deploying OpenStack will be created and the OpenStack cloud computing platform will be implemented to the models. In the end, the author is going to discuss the achievement of this paper.

Supervisor: Dr James Xue

Computing Courses

BSc and HND Computing Provision (click on the links below for more details of the courses)

• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Systems Engineering) 

• BSc (Hons) Computing (also available part-time)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Mobile Computing)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Software Engineering)
• BSc (Hons) Computing - One Year Top-Up 
• BSc  Computer Games Development
• HND Computing (Compute​r Net​works Engineering)
• HND Computing (Computer Systems Engineering)
• HND Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• HND Computing (Internet Tech​nolog​y and Security)
• HND Computing (Mobile Computing)
• HND Computing (Software Engine​ering) 
• HND Com​puting

The University of Northampton's, Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 

• MSc Computing
• MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• MSc Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Software Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Immersive Technologies)

The contents are the opinion of the author(s) and not necessarily the view of the University of Northampton.