EPICS
Team UPRC
University Place Retirement Community
Fall 2006 Final Report
Last updated: December 5th, 2006
Vince
Ilhwang
Melissa
Emeka
Eric
Brian
Kendall
Rachael
Our community service agency: University Place
Our project partner is the University Place Retirement Community, abbreviated as UPRC. The retirement community is located north of PurdueUniversity campus on Lindberg Road in West Lafayette. University Place contains housing options for retired persons in the forms of independent living apartments, assisted living apartments, and skilled nursing suites. John Lindenlaub, a resident of UPRC, is our project partner liaison for our EPICS team. He helps us with coordinating meetings with UPRC and provides input about each one of our projects along with giving us helpful information and insight about further problems that could be addressed by our EPICS team.
Our EPICS team was created to service some troublesome areas that have risen in UPRC throughout the team’s 3 years of existence. Such projects involved with UPRC that are currently ongoing this semester are the UPTV system, the Improving Listening Environments project, and Resident Coaching. These projects are further discussed in the remainder of this report.
University Place TV (UPTV)
Project Objective
The UPTV project in the fall of 2006 consists of two parts, a hardware part involving the actual UPTV system, and a software part involving what will be displayed over UPTV. For the hardware part, Ilhwang Chung and Brian Lee will try to debug the audio section that is not currently working, and also try to add a programmable timer that was not completed from the previous semester. Another thing that has to be done is that the device built from last semester needs some rewiring and some documentation needs to be written in order to help futuremembers figure out the hardware. Eric Buysee will be in charge of this part of the project.
For the software part of UPTV, Vince Ruppert isdeveloping a functional database and create a web-based front-end, which will be designed to be used by the UPRC staff to ease in the production of flyers, sign-ups, food menus, and other forms. Another useful feature of the database will be that the residents will have the ability to sign up for events, fill out problem reports, and many other things.
Procedure/Results
Audio Debug:We have measured the audio output resistance; it was done by using an oscilloscope to measure the VPP of the audio output signal and comparing with the same signal that has a series resistor connected with it.
Timer/Switch:Software section for switch & scheduler was built using C# and is almost in the complete phase but the manual control section was not handled. Parallel cable was used to connect computer and the device. More researching is needed to make the current software a web-based application.
Development System:Have fully assembled the current device using the schematics from the past semester. It needs a final testing to see if it’s working properly.
Database:Have created the database and multiple PHP files needed for a functioning UPTV system. Flyers can be added, edited, deleted, with pictures and different templates, viewed through UPTV or a calendar.
Conclusions
Hardware:Development system is fully built but needs final testing before it can be used to test the resistance value found from audio debugging. Timer/Switch section needs to be document in detail so that next semester people can continue on.
Software: UPTV part of database is close to being 100% complete. It may not be final at the end of the semester as there are a few things that still need to be added (re-occurring events, backup, online weather) but these will be addressed early next semester along with my plans to work on the user interface and the rest of the database functions (work requests, sign-ups, room reservations).
Transition Plan
Study the code that has been written for the switch/scheduler section, and continue researching to try and convert it to become web-based. Also, think about how the external switch on the case should be built. For the development system, think what should be modified to improve the current system.
For the database, first meet with new students and see what their experiences are with programming languages and databases. Brief them on what has gone on in the past semester and what needs to be looked at in the first four weeks of next semester (reoccurring events, birthdays, online weather, the search function, user interface, bug tracking, backup) and then start on the rest of the database project, the “paperwork” part.
UPTV / week1 / week2 / week3 / week4Learn about projects and specifications
See what was done last semester
Break up into teams
Review last semester's UPTV
Review last semester's database
Work on the rest of the UPTV part of database
Improving Listening Environments (ILE)
Project Objectives
Dining Room
1.Converse with the residents to obtain an end-user evaluation of the current difficulties present in the listening environment.
2.Measure the sound levels at multiple locations during meal hours.
3.Identify problem areas where noise levels decrease the signal-to-noise ratio at the diner’s ear and make speech intelligibility difficult.
4.Recommendations will be made for further improvement of listening conditions.
The Great Room
1.Survey the current available equipment
2.Link the systems so that they are able to work together when the room divider is removed.
3.Research assistive listening devices (ALDs) that will pair with the sound systems in these rooms to aid those with hearing impairments.
4.Provide UPRC with a cost/benefit analysis for the suggested ALDs.
5.Should they be purchased, implement the use of aforementioned ALDs.
6.Identify other ways to improve the listening conditions in the Great Room.
Rehabilitative Auditory Communication Training (ReACT)
1.Promote the ReACT program to all residents of UPRC.
2.Advertise effective communication strategies using UPTV.
Summary of Procedure
To begin achieving these objectives, the following actions have been taken in the dining room: noise data from last semester was reviewed and it was determined that data collection should be repeated; measurements of room dimensions have been taken to aid in the creation of an accurate and detailed map of the two rooms in the dining room; a sound level meter has been chosen to provide the noise level data which will be collected during lunch and dinner hours over a series of days; finally, a complete test plan has been developed and action will be taken next semester to collect the data.
In regards to the great/education room, exploratory research was conducted over three visits to University Place Retirement Community (UPRC), and it was determined that the current sound system could be connected to the building-wide system already in place. With the help of engineering, building maintenance, and audiologists, it is our belief that the sound systems will be connected by next semester.
Another task in the great room was researching the possible use of assistive listening devices (ALDs) in the great/education room and determining a cost-effective and appropriate system. Recommendations for ALDs will be delivered by the third week of next semester.
A document that will serve as a short orientation for speakers and staff was delivered to the UPRC staff at the end of the semester.
Lastly, Information regarding the ReACT program at PurdueUniversity has been compiled and will be delivered via UPTV.
Summary of Results
It is the opinion of the UPRC team that we will be able to connect the sound systems in the great/education room next semester. It is feasible to incorporate a system of ALDs in this room. We also feel that we will be able to pinpoint areas of better listening conditions in the dining room.
Conclusions
Next semester we will continue work on the projects we started this semester.
Transition Plan for the Project
All of the objectives for this semester’s project have been completed. The team has already developed a semester plan for spring 2007, so it is our belief that transition will be seamless.
Transition Plan
The improving listening environment (ILE) team consists of three different projects: noise collection in the main dining room, assistive listening devices (ALDs) & sound system connection in the great room, and advertising ReACT slides on UPTV. This semester, a new test plan was devised to repeat the noise data collection in the main and four seasons dining rooms. Within the first 4 weeks of spring semester, the implementation of the new plan will take place. Using sound level meters, noise data will be collected in 3 different locations in the main dining room and 2 different locations in the four seasons dining room. These collections will occur over a lunch and dinner period four one day, each measurement will be taken for five minutes. Regarding assistive listening devices in the great room, a sample ALD will be presented to residents to use at their leisure. The sound system connection between the Great room and the Education room will pick up where it left off. A plan for connection will happen within the first couple weeks of next semester. This might involve another meeting at University Place to discuss actions with all parties involved. Finally, the ReACT (Rehabilitative Auditory Communication Training) project, which was designed to promote the program to residents of University Place, will be advertised on UPTV as soon as possible. In addition to the slides that will be on UPTV, there will also be a flyer distributed to residents to encourage attendance to the program.
ILE / week1 / week2 / week3 / week4Implement new test plan for dining room
Sample ALD to present to residents
Make a plan for sound system connection
Distribute ReACT flyers
Display ReACT slides on UPTV
Computer Coaching (CC)
Project Objective
The objective of this project is to provide the residents of University Place instruction to improve their computer skills. We plan to do this by assembling a team of freshman engineering students that are enrolled in ENGR104 and training them to coach the residents in various computer skills. In the past semester, the focus was to recruit more volunteers outside the UPRC team so that the team could focus on the other projects. This semester, we plan to continue that objective by utilizing the services of the ENGR104 class. Our plan is to train the freshman engineering group along with our team in methods of computer coaching. Then, depending on the number of residents interested in computer coaching, the team may not need to participate extensively in providing computer coaching as in the past. Furthermore, we will work on improving our computer coaching service by documenting our training process in a manual, connecting with more volunteers for future semesters, improving our computer coaching methods to fit the resident’s needs.
Procedure/Results:
We matched up 12 Engineering freshmen students with residents of the UPRC interested in receiving computer coaching. The students then contacted their residents and organized a suitable coaching schedule. The students were organized into teams of two students whereby one student would observe the other coaching their assigned resident. This method posed some scheduling problems for some of the students who had difficulty scheduling coaching time with both of their residents for the same time. Students also had difficulty making contact with some their residents for various reasons. To alleviate both problems, the students were instructed to ask for alternate residents and to schedule individually with their assigned residents if scheduling both residents posed problems. Lack of documentation has made organizing the teams difficult. We are provided the students with the project overview and basic guidelines to ensure that they know possible roadblocks and how to overcome them to complete their project requirements. After the students completed their hours of coaching, feedback surveys were administered and the results compiled. Using these results, we will improve the computer coaching process for next semester. We then began recruitment of computer coaches for next semester in the residence halls, the school of technology education, and the BVN.
Conclusions:
Using the feedback received from our coaches and advisors we plan on revising the computer coaching process for next semester. We have a goal of recruiting 9-12 coaches for next semester. Also, we have documented our experience with having ENGR 104 students as volunteer coaches for this project so that next semester we can make an informed decision on whether we will have them as our coaches, and to outline a procedure to smoothly work with the students.
Transition Plan
I will be leading the project again next semester hopefully along with some team members. The only transition plan is to ensure that the documentation of this semester is adequate to get my team members up to speed quickly.
Computer Coaching / week1 / week2 / week3 / week4Recruit and Sign up Volunteers
Sign up Volunteers/Training Sessions
Computer Coaching
Overall Summary, Accomplishments, Conclusions and Future Plans
By Vince Ruppert
This semesters EPICS team began with 8 fresh new faces and zero returning members from the previous year. We had to split ourselves up into teams and blindly take on the responsibility roles. Once on teams, we now had to read past team’s progress on the project the team was working on just to understand what was going on and what we could do. Add into this mix the assignments which were to detail everything that we planned to do this semester. Overall, I think the first few weeks were confusing for most of us and not much got off the ground until halfway through September.
Yet this is where things started to click. Looking back at past meeting agendas, we quickly obtained space in Smitty’s to start work on the UPTV system, we installed and begun coding the database, we met with and trained ENGR104 students so they could begin coaching, we devised plans to link speaker systems and offer hearing systems in conference rooms, and we visited UPRC constantly to revise semester plans and collect information. By the end of November, we have successfully built a test development system for UPTV and measured the audio output resistance, we have created a database to serve as the new means of inputting events onto UPTV and hopefully replace the old VCTV system, we have constructed plans to link the sound systems and collected audio data, we have trained a group of freshman engineers to coach the residents of UPRC and generated a process of repeating this task, and most importantly we have put great focus on documentation so future teams will have an easier transition period that we had.
Through only 8 team members, all of which entered this team with little to no previous knowledge of what was expected of them, we took on 4 projects. After almost a semester’s worth of work now, I believe we have all done an excellent job in progressing further in each project. Computer coaching is now a documented process which will now be routine instead of just coaching manual for volunteers. Improving Listening Environments has big plans for improving the sound quality and availability where UPRC needs it most. The UPTV team expects to finish the timer and switch which will allow more versatility for the UPTV system and prove it to be a more viable replacement for VCTV.
As for the future of this team, I’m sorry to report that both senior electrical engineering students currently working on UPTV will be leaving next semester, and no experienced replacements have been found to replace them. The ILE team will continue their work on improving the listening environments, computer coaching will continue next semester with different volunteers, and it is my personal hope that the database becomes more of a full-fledged project that is able to help solve more problems in UPRC.
Individual Reflections
Vince Ruppert (Team Leader, Database Project)
I think as a team with all new members and only abandoned projects and documentation to initially go off of, we have done considerably well. Things got off to a rocky start in the first 5 weeks or so getting a lot of paperwork out of the way before we could really start on our projects, and I don’t think anyone really knew what they were doing until week 5 or 6. Because of this, I think EPICS needs to lay off all that paperwork in the first 4 weeks and help teams transition and work on projects during the first couple weeks. Maybe it would be different if the team had returning members that knew what needed to be done. I hope that I have been a somewhat effective team leader. I know I should have scheduled more out-of-Tuesday-recitation meetings, especially before presentations, but I think we’ve completed most everything that has needed to get done. Computer coaching for sure has gone from a handful of manuals to a complete process with a successful semester of ENGR104 volunteers. Hopefully the residents of UPRC think this way too and the demand for computer coaching increases next semester. As far as my own project has gone, I definitely planned to get a lot done and I have fallen short of my plan. I feel I should have got more done than I have, but I have another semester to make up for it hopefully. I would like to just be a project leader for the database next semester but it seems that most of the returning members of the team say they can’t be team leader and I can’t expect the new members to be team leader so I may have to again assume the role, and I fear this will again hinder my progress in the database project.