Our Dunedin SHIFT students have completed their first group projects and presented their finding to their colleagues and project sponsors. Thanks to our awesome industry hosts: G-Factor (CoDriVR), Ocean Browser Ltd (OB3), Otago Museum, and Cook Brothers Construction.
Whilst the results were outstanding, "frustration, disappointment, achievement and euphoria" were the rollercoaster of stages the groups described their experience of the first studio projects. "We learned a lot from each other. Each of us has our own skills - [and worked] together for the common goal," says SHIFT student Tzu Chien after presenting with her group.
Their "Behavioural Feedback" project was based on data on teen drivers, collected from the CoDriVR driving simulator developed by Dunedin tech firm GFactor. Using mapping, G.I.S solutions and animations, the group produced an easy to use, programme for high school students to be inspired towards good driving behaviour, and to report back their own experience on the driver-simulator.
Real-time data visualisation was the project aim for the group who worked with OB3. "We learned a lot on this project." commented Shift student, Thang, at the project presentation. The project involved using Agile methodology, implementing data visualisation using Python, team and client communications and exploring relational and non-relational databases. The group produced a well presented and interesting talk about their project to the cohort.
Otago Museum described their group's successful project as a "great first step in the future of the museum". The SHIFT students developed the first stage of an interactive interface with the museum's displays. The aim was to create greater engagement for visitors when viewing galleries and exhibitions. The overall project required research, data analysis, user experience, product testing and evaluation, besides developing the website, incorporating QR codes and considerations for adding video and audio pop-ups.
Another SHIFT group were tasked with creating a functional prototype on the Cook Brothers Construction website staff-portal to incorporate their video conferencing and collaboration tools. "I wanted to put myself out of my comfort zone and take on a challenge," said SHIFT student, Indu, when discussing her work at the project presentation. Adding a news section to the portal provided that challenge for the group, having to modify existing code and encountering issues that were unexpected along the way. But overall the satisfaction of providing Cook Brothers Construction with a functional prototype that will then go on to be developed was a great experience.
A huge thanks to our industry project hosts for their valuable support of the SHIFT programme.
The SHIFT cohort are now into studio project two, and are looking forward to their Industry Speed Networking event, Friday 21 August, 2pm - 4pm to help match them with a host for their 200-hour industry project. To register your interest as a potential project host, please add your details here, and the SIGNAL team will be in touch.
Studio projects: Round 3
The next round of project submissions closes Friday 31 July, and we would love to hear from you if you have a project idea that a SHIFT team could assist with over 6 weeks.
Do you have an idea for your business or organisation, but have had to park it? Could it be the start of a productive line of work? Perhaps some research, assessing, testing or user experience design project that will potentially add to your bottom line?
We would especially love to hear about software development or testing, data-driven projects and anything related to geo-spatial information services.
A group of 3 - 5 SHIFT students will collaborate and consult with you to find solutions, and you just need to be able to meet with them for one hour a week, or turnaround emails questions within 24 hours!
Contact Kylie for more info on 0800 990024, or email your questions or ideas to dunedin@signal.ac.nz.
