Laboratory for Interactive Real-Time Computing Systems (LINCS)
People | Projects
An ability to design and conduct experiments, and to analyze and interpret data.
OCR system in Trinetra
During the detailed design and implementation phases, students do measurements and evaluation appropriate to their technologies in the intended operational environment. Recent examples include data rate of wireless transmission over water, accuracy of speech recognition systems, power consumption of mobile computers, and efficiency of user interaction.
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs.
Electronic design of a new interaction device for smoothly transitioning between maintenance and training manuals. MoRE final report | MoRE final presentation
Assisting seeing impaired to shop, use public transportation, and to “read” signs. Trinetra final report | Trinetra final presentation
New car/driver interface developed for General Motors. GM final report | GM final presentation
Energy generation and consumption monitoring system for an ecology education boat. Voyager final report | Voyager final presentation
The projects develop a prototype system to support the client’s work process. The projects typically explore the evolving areas of context-aware computing and real-time team collaboration. Clients interact throughout the course to provide assistance and advice. A recent example system is an environmentally-friendly “green” boat for a local nonprofit organization that teaches middle school students about Pittsburgh’s river ecology through hands on sample collection and analysis during a voyage on the rivers. Other clients have included aircraft maintenance, offshore oil platform operation, aids for the visually impaired, and aids to assist diabetes patients.
Multi-disciplinary Design and Implementation.
Example Projects. Worklogs | Feedback Process
Trinetra Phase 1 report feedback | Trinetra Phase 2
MoRE Phase 1 | MoRE Phase 2 report feedback
The class revolves around project groups. Each group has the responsibility of designing and implementing one of the system scenarios, generate services, or modify the infrastructure, as well as interacting with other groups to ensure compatibility. Projects typically consist of four to six groups. Groups consist of three to five students, depending on the complexity of the scenario. Groups are composed of students from multiple disciplines including computer science, design, electrical and computer engineering, human-computer interaction, and/or mechanical engineering. These students work under aggressive project goals. A project management council meets weekly to discuss logistical issues. Liaisons between groups are also utilized. Individual grades are assigned based on student work products, individual student work logs, and direct observations by the faculty and TAs.
Project on Mobile Reference Environment (MoRE)
MoRE phase 1 presentation | MoRE phase 2 presentation | MoRE final report
Develop a system to support an end-user client through observing current practice, envisioning how technology insertion will improve the state of the art, deriving requirements, brainstorming solutions, developing an architecture, and assembling technology that realizes the functionally capability to satisfy the requirements.
Pervasive environment.
One full course (Trinetra) with three phases of reports and presentations:
Trinetra phase 1 report | Trinetra phase 1 presentation
Trinetra phase 2 report | Trinetra phase 2 presentation
Trinetra final report | Trinetra final presentation
In order to capture the relationship between the evolving portions of the design and design process, information is entered into an on-line repository. Reports build upon each other and are successive refinements of previous reports. The goal is to document the design evolution as well as the design process. Research documentation is captured in the Kiva, a web based collaborative learning environment.
MoRE dial and electronics.
Dial Prototype, PCB Design, and PCB Component-side and
Solder-side Views
| Dial Final Product | User Interface for Dial Maintenance Application
Another example is the eWatch (Sensing and Notification Platform) circuit board and housing.
Portable Computer with Housing | eWatch Sensors and Printed Circuit Board
The detailed hardware/software designs are implemented using both on- and off-campus facilities. On-campus physical prototyping facilities are used. The state-of-the-art in rapid prototyping is presented. Students exercise primary discipline skills, such as building small, embedded printed circuit boards with processors, memory, sensors, and wireless communications, electronics housings, wireless services, software services, and novel user interaction modalities and interfaces. The projects have end-users. Design through interactions with them about insight and problems related to today’s engineering challenges. Recent users include: Boeing, GM, Voyager, Raytheon, IBM, Chevron, Digital, US Air Force, Lockheed-Martin, UPMC, etc.
Faculty — Dan Siewiorek, Fernando De la Torre, Geoff Gordon, Jeff Hansen, Priya Narasimhan, Randy Pausch, Carolyn Rose, Adrian Perig
Funding Agencies — NSF, DARPA, ONR, PITA, Intel, IBM, Raytheon, NIH, French Telecom