Student Application Template
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This is a suggestion for the kind of information we'll find useful from students in their submissions. Remember -- you're going to be committing to several months' work. The more information and planning you can provide up-front, the more we (and Google!) will have to go on when we're ranking your application. Do not forget adding your submission at SummerOfCode2015/StudentApplications
Name Rohith Madhavan
Contact/Email/IRC nick: rohithmadhavan@gmail.com
Background: I'm a third year undergraduate student pursuing Electronics Engineering at VIT University, India. I use GNU/Linux as my primary operating system and am well versed with Debian-based and Arch-based distros. My technical skills include C, C++, Python and Shell (bash) scripting. I have recently made an image of Ubuntu MATE 15.04 for the Raspberry Pi 2. I am also a research team member at the UAV Lab at my university, where I am working/have worked on projects such as 'Audio Assistance for the Visually Impaired', 'Gesture Based Desktop Interface using the Microsoft Kinect', `Drawing Application using ?PlayStation Move' etc., all of which have been implemented using open source technologies. I feel that I would be a suitable candidate because I have a bit of prior experience related to the project and feel that I can use my creativity to contribute to it.
Project title Input/Output model for multiple simultaneous users.
Project details: (with modifications from Projects page) For decades, the majority of human computer interaction has focused on a single user utilizing one mouse, one keyboard, with a single monitor. Multi-user interaction at the desktop is slowly occurring, with inexpensive new input devices such as the PSMove and Kinect, which may replace or augment the mouse as an input device; and virtual/augmented reality devices may replace the traditional monitor.
Synopsis: Improving support for non-traditional input devices such as Microsoft Kinect and ?PlayStation Move and integrating it with Debian.
Benefits to Debian The ability to control a computer using non-conventional input devices gives more flexibility to the user and also improves accessibility, making it possible for users who find it difficult to operate a keyboard or a mouse, by interacting using gestures instead. Debian will benefit by having a first of its kind modern input system that can be deployed on workstations around the world.
Deliverables: Improving support for both the Microsoft Kinect and the ?PlayStation Move by using Freenect and PSMoveAPI respectively and packaging the same into Debian packages for easy installation. Configuration of the same to improve compatibility with Debian shall also be implemented.
Project schedule: I am willing to start working from the community period onwards. Since I already have access to both the Kinect and PSMove, I can start working early on the project as I do not need to spend time in procuring the same. I expect to complete the project by early/mid August, so that sufficient time is left to compile the reports. I am comfortable with a weekly workload of 40 hours and the project will be my priority during the period of the program.
Exams and other commitments: I will be having my semester exams in the second half of May, after which I don't have any other commitments. So, apart from being busy during the first week of formal coding, I will work on the project throughout the summer.
Other summer plans: NO
Why Debian?: Since Ubuntu, which is based on Debian, was the first distro that I used and was the reason behind my permanent switch to Linux, I wish to contribute back to the Debian foundation for providing the rock-solid base and huge repository of applications which made all this possible. Also, the project idea is of interest to me and I feel that I can do justice to it.
Are you applying for other projects in SoC? Yes, I'm also applying to ?BeagleBoard.org.