By SARA GIBONEY, UNK Communications
KEARNEY – A thrilling virtual reality game, a wireless keyboard that allows users to control any device by typing in the air, research on email phishing success rates, and designs for a NASA robot that will collect materials in space.
University of Nebraska at Kearney seniors in the Computer Science and Information Technology Department were challenged with the task of creating projects based on their interests and knowledge they gained in their CSIT classes over four years.
The result was innovative and creative inventions, research and ideas.
The project was required for seniors taking capstone courses in Computer Science and Information Technology. The seminar classes aim to provide experiences and background that prepare students for an actual working environment.
“The project allows students to apply what they’ve learned over four years,” said Sherri Harms, professor and chair of the CSIT Department. “They get to choose their own project, which increases student creativity.”
Students chose projects based on their major – computer science or information technology – and their interests.
Jacob Oertle of Kearney, who works as a wrestling coach for Kearney High School, designed a website for KHS sports. Rachel Feddersen of Kearney, student involved in BlueGold Brigade, worked closely with the UNK Alumni Association to create a mobile app that features the 10 UNK traditions.
Sam Middleton, a senior applied computer science major from Kearney, created a virtual reality game with classmates Ian Lim, Ben Wagner and Gerardo Quintero. He worked on virtual reality games before, but was excited to use HTC Vive, a more advanced technology than he had used in the past.
“This was also the first multi-player game I’ve worked on, so I learned a lot about balancing games and making sure every player has a fair chance to win,” he said.
Students presented their final projects to their classmates, peers and faculty during finals week at UNK.
“The final project shows that you can be creative with technology,” Harms said. “By choosing the project that they want, they’re able to demonstrate creativity, project management, scoping, design, implementation and presentation.”
In May 2016, there were 158 computer science and information technology graduates among the University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska at Omaha. There are currently 2,700 job openings in computing in Nebraska, Harms said.
Careers in CSIT include computer and information systems managers, computer network architects and support specialists, computer programmers and systems analysts, data warehousing specialists, information security analysts, network and systems administrators, software and web developers, and search marketing strategists.
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Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu Source: Sherri Harms, 308.865.8123, harmssk@unk.edu
