Student research opportunities
Relational Desktop Manager
Project Code: CECS_647
This project is available at the following levels:
Masters
Please note that this project is only for higher degree (postgraduate) applicants.
Supervisors:
Dr Shayne FlintDr Ramesh Sankaranarayana
Outline:
Linux, Mac OS X and Windows desktop user interfaces are all based on the same information model - files organised into a hierarchical structure and sets of operations which can be applied to files of a particular type. While this model has stood the test of time, is it really the best framework within which to interact with a computer? After all, it is the relationships among things such as files, emails, people, projects, events, meetings and time which are the focus of much of our thinking and day-to-day activities. For example, when working on a specific project, I would like to have easy access to the people, emails, documents, and other artefacts 'related' to that project. I would also like to see these artefacts organised in 'relation' to time or version.
So, why not build a Desktop Environment which puts an emphasis on the visualisation, exploration and manipulation of relationships among things rather than the things themselves?
In 2011/2012 a MComp(Hons) student developed and evaluated a prototype Relational Desktop system. This aim of this new project is to continue the development of this system into a practical tool for end users.
Goals of this project
Development of the 'Relational Desktop' into a practical tool for end users.
Requirements/Prerequisites
Demonstrated ability to apply sound software development practices and to program within a Unix/Linux environment.
Student Gain
Deeper knowledge of software engineering. Experience in working from specifications and with software engineering tools such as Eclipse, Mercurial and FindBugs. Contribution to an exciting development in operating system user interfaces.
Background Literature
A Requirements Specification and Architectural Design Description (prepared by a 2010 MComp student) as well as a research thesis (submitted by a 2012 MComp(Hons) student) will be made available to students taking this project.
