Ideas for Projects
------------------

(This is the same document that was distributed to the class mailing
list early in the semester -- it applies equally well to projects
3 and 4. Note also that you may get C programming project ideas from
the CCS114 materials that were distributed in class -- these are also
available on my door.)

NOTE: These are only suggestions! Do not feel compelled to work on
these particular ideas. Feel free to work on an idea of your own
-- also feel free to bounce any ideas off of me (preferably by e-mail).

NOTE ALSO: Some of you have very little prior computing experience
and some of you have lots of prior computing experience. If one of
these ideas looks interesting but too ambitious, feel free to work
on a much simpler version of the idea. If you've never written any
sort of program before, then just getting ANY C program to run is
a significant accomplishment -- I understand this and will take your
background into account. If, on the other hand, one of these ideas
looks interesting but too simple, feel free to make it more
complex/interesting as you see fit!

SOME GENERAL COMMENTS: Programs should be well documented. Papers
should be well structured and carefully written. In particular, every
paper should include a brief introduction and overview at the beginning
and a brief summary and/or set of conclusions at the end. Every paper
should also include REFERENCES to the literature that you consulted
in refining your ideas.


Some ideas:

Read "The Tinkertoy Computer" by Dewdney and write a paper describing
a design for a computer made out of some different sort of 'stuff.'
Show how one could prove that your computer is a "universal machine."

Write a paper on the in-principle possibility of truly creative art-making
programs. Do you believe that Boden's classification of the issues
is helpful? Can you find a significant flaw in one of her arguments?

Write a program (in C or any other language) that generates random
but grammatically well-formed sentences. Suggest or make extensions
to produce rhymes, particular rhythms, or meanings centered on particular
topics. Be sure to include a short English description of what the
program does and of how one should use it.

Write a program (in C or any other language) that generates random
but musically reasonable melodies. You will first need to devise
an output format -- perhaps your program will generate strings like
"Aq C#e Ebw", which might mean "an A quarter note, followed by a
C-sharp eighth note, followed by an E-flat whole note." Suggest or
make extensions to produce melodies that stay within particular keys,
that conform to particular rhythmic constraints, or that make other
specific kinds of musical "sense." Be sure to include a short English
description of what the program does and of how one should use it.

Write a paper that compares two operating systems along several dimensions
(e.g., their file systems, their user interfaces, their multitasking
capabilities) and propose a new operating system that combines the
best features of both. Point out situations in which the best features
might not be compatible with one another, and propose ways to deal
with such situations.

Write a program (in C or any other language) that generates random
dialogs with reasonable "emotional flow." All of the sentences in
the dialog may be "canned" sentences that are hardcoded into the
program, but the program should be capable of producing a wide range
of different sequences. Each sequence should have some emotional
"logic" -- for example, perhaps insults should be followed only by
retorts. Include a page or two of commentary that indicates how far
you think this could be carried.

Create a web page (using HTML) that re-presents some of the information
covered in class so far. Add JavaScript code or Java applets to provide
interactive demonstrations for one or more of the topics.

Use the LogicSim circuit simulator to build a complex digital circuit.
Submit both the LogicSim file for the circuit and a short paper that
describes what you were trying to implement and the strategy that
you used. You may get ideas from books on digital circuit design
that you find in the library. (Include any such references in your
paper.)