Vijay Kumar Computer Science School of Computing and Engineering

1. Vijay Kumar Computer Science School of Computing and Engineering University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, MO 64110,USA kumarv@umkc.edu Research in Computer Science and Telecommunication Vijay Kumar

2. The objective of any research is to solve an unsolved problem, to solve an old problem using new approach, and to identify a useful problem for investigation. The art of doing research does not depend on research areas but research objectives and their outcome do. The topic for this presentation is computer science and telecommunication research. Research in Computer Science and Telecommunication Vijay Kumar

3. The research can be categorized as • System research: Design and develop schemes to improve system capability. • Application research: Design and develop schemes to provide new functionality to the system. Research in Computer Science and Telecommunication Vijay Kumar

4. System research Comparatively harder problem mainly because the researcher must have some knowledge of system architecture. Research in Computer Science and Telecommunication

5. Application research This is the best research area for student for the following reasons: • A large set of simple to hard problems • Minimal resource requirements and most of them are available to nearly every student • Easy to supervise and mentor • Parents can provide valuable help during research • Solution approach based on simple logic Research in Computer Science and Telecommunication Vijay Kumar

6. Problem identification One should start from household activities. For example, an energy saving solution is highly useful. Example: What is the minimum number of times and how long shouldrefrigerator and freezer doors be open without wasting energy. Resource requirement: A laptop or desktop, a stop watch (can be a buzzer), and a refrigerator unit of course. Benefit: Student can gain a highly useful information which can be immediately implemented. Research in Computer Science and Telecommunication Vijay Kumar

7. Enhancement More number of parameters such as outside temperature, outside setup (how many items surrounds the unit), air circulation space, and so on. Research in Computer Science and Telecommunication Vijay Kumar

8. How to find the answer (research) • Define the problem (hypothesis) • Define objective • Literature survey • Define input and output parameters • Collect data • Draw graphs • Conclusion and future direction Research in Computer Science and Telecommunication Vijay Kumar

9. Some interesting research problems • Identifying coverage area of cordless phone • Which is faster: a mouse or a touchpad of a laptop? • Resiliency of a GPS (In the presence of congested road with many turnings, the unit may get confused or may not provide correct navigation). • Does the position of a router (upstairs or downstairs or basement) affect wireless connectivity and data transmission rate? • Does the presence of other wireless devices (microwave, cordless phone, remote control, etc.) affect router performance? Research in Computer Science and Telecommunication Vijay Kumar

10. Some more interesting problems • How outside temperature affects computer performance? • Which is user friendly in MS…word-ribbon or pull-down menu? • Which is better (energy-efficient, less strain on disk, etc.) for a computer-turning on and off frequently or turning on and off after leaving it on for at least 2 hours or turn it off after a week? • Sensor programming to detect temperature, heat, etc. (harder problem) • Data broadcast using Bluetooth (harder problem) device Research in Computer Science and Telecommunication Vijay Kumar

11. So one should remember research is • Fun • Entertaining • Rewarding • Satisfying (it does not matter what the end result is) Do not be afraid of it. Research in Computer Science and Telecommunication Vijay Kumar