Project Overview

A software project for the Discovery Center developed to use the touch screen monitors that are on DC premises which are currently unused. The Discovery Center of Springfield has approximately forty touch screen monitors it is currently not using, and is allowing a combination of Missouri State University students and Otterbein College students to develop a software application that could be of service to the Center.

Summary Vision Statement

The touch screen application project should provide the Discovery Center with an application which will give their customers added information about their current exhibits and events. Instead of having these touch screens going to waste, it will offer them a way to make their customers experience more enjoyable. A primary focus of the application would be to be accessible to a younger audience, as the Discovery Center’s is primarily a children's science museum. Another compelling reason for this project is that it can give the students working on the touch screen application a better understanding of the software development, and software engineering processes.

Major Features

  • Should have a sturdy frame to hold the touch screen monitor
  • Will have a graphical user interface so that the touch screen provides functionality
  • The user interface must be simple enough for the projected younger audience
  • The application will have a defense mechanism that will recognize when unruly visitors use the application in a manner that is unintended
  • The application will have a map of the Discovery Center’s facility, with 'clickable' labels on where different exhibits are - that give information about each exhibit, as well as labels where the facilities restrooms are located
  • There will be scrolling marquee with information about upcoming events at the Discovery Center.

Final Result

After both Otterbein and MSU students completed their coursework, I (Dr. Pete) fine-tuned the code and delivered it to the Discovery Center in early July 2009. They received two JAR files, MapMaker.jar and MapDisplay.jar, representing the back end (Otterbein) and front end (MSU), respectively. I also wrote a new user guide that reflects the delivered code.

Those products plus all development materials are available here in the ZIP file PeteFinalVersion.zip

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