Reaction All Years

Elmridge Tennis Club: Condition Survey and Noise Control Analysis

Project Summary:

This project consists of solutions, limitations, and improvements offered to the Elmridge Tennis Club for the purpose of increasing memberships and re-vitalizing the courts. With the addition of a new layout for the pickleball courts, on top of the e

Client Judith Young, Federico Fernandez (Club Contact)
Professor(s) Francesco Tangorra, Laura McHugh
Program Civil Engineering Technology
Student Team Members Eric Crozier; Jophet Mbala; Amin Sayed

Project Description:

The project has been categorized into two sections: the pickleball court layout survey and an acoustic evaluation of pickleball activities effects on the surrounding neighbourhood. The pickleball court survey consisted of a stakeout of the proposed dimensions for a new court layout at the Elmridge Tennis Club. The acoustic evaluation involved a noise control experiment and feasibility study, providing the club with solutions as well as research surrounding the volume of pickleball and the effect these games have on the surrounding neighbourhood.

Natural Rhythms

Project Summary:

Did you know that there is an electrical current present in the atmosphere? From the ionosphere to the surface of the Earth, you can harness about 250 kilovolts of energy. With this immense potential, we can potentially use this as a source of power.

Client
Professor(s) Carolyn Lorimer,
Program Electrical Engineering Technology
Student Team Members Spencer Ottens;
Annabelle Faia

Project Description:

The Natural Rhythms project aims to prove that we can harness the energy from Earth and convert it into electricity. Knowing that there is a voltage potential present in the atmosphere, why hasn’t anyone thought of using this voltage to power up a house?
We consume a lot of electricity and climate change is a problem. Limiting ourselves to use sustainable power can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, that contribute to global warming.

UXD/UID Mobile App Project

Project Summary:

A User Experience/Interface Design (UXD/UID) mobile app project for Key to Thrive academic coaching.

Client Tina Mackey
Professor(s) Sean Sytsma,
Program Interactive Media Design
Student Team Members Zarmeen Malik; Vanessa Isabela Denny; Yik Hang (Vicky) Fong; Aiden Famili; Yuka Ishii

Project Description:

The team designed a mobile app for a company called Key to Thrive. They worked with Tina Mackey, the Academic Coach and Founder, in order to learn more about the business and its’ needs, conduct user research, and create preliminary designs for a mobile app that will be developed in the future. A variety of research and design documents such as personas, flow diagrams, mood boards, style tiles, wireframes, and prototypes were prepared for this project. Effective project management and exceptional organization allowed the project to be completed successfully and well ahead of the deadline.

R.I.S.E. Academy Promotional Video

Project Summary:

Our team from the Interactive Media and Design program is tasked to create a high-quality 2-minute video highlighting student experiences and stories at R.I.S.E. Academy, why they chose R.I.S.E., and how it positively impacts their everyday lives.

Client Rebecca Chambers
Professor(s) SuCheng Lee,
Program Interactive Media Design
Student Team Members Ciara Robinson;
Keylah Willette;
Jessica Fares;
John Belda;
Abhiram Manoj Sivavilasam

Project Description:

The project consists of a team of Algonquin College students from the IMD program: Ciara Robinson (Team Lead), Keylah Willette (Team Second), Jessica Fares (Minute-taker/Designer), John Belda (Editor/Operator), and Abhiram Manoj Sivavilasam (Editor). They are working with Rebecca Chambers at R.I.S.E Academy. They will use a three-step process: Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production to create a 2-minute video to help R.I.S.E. Academy promote themselves to potential sponsors to obtain funding.

8th Orleans Scout Group Website Redesign

Project Summary:

8th Orleans Scouts partnered with Algonquin’s IMD program to revamp its website, enhancing communication and attracting new members. This modernization aims to maintain the group’s status as Eastern Ontario’s largest Scout group.

Client Andrew Robertson – 8th Orleans Scout Group
Professor(s) SuCheng Lee
Program Interactive Media Design Team Members:
Student Team Members Allen Redshaw;
Kimberly World;
Jehad Ghadie;
Alvan Akinmoladun;
Jana Tahir

Project Description:

The 8th Orleans Scout Group, the largest in Eastern Ontario with over 180 members, has embarked on a vital project to overhaul its outdated website. This initiative, driven by the critical need for improved communication and engagement, has been entrusted to a specialized team from the Interactive Media Design (IMD) program at Algonquin College. The project’s goal is to create a modern, user-centered website that not only streamlines internal communication among current members but also enhances the group’s visibility and appeal to potential new volunteers and Scouters. Facing challenges in keeping up with digital communication standards, the group recognizes that the current website’s limitations are a barrier to growth and effective engagement. By leveraging the latest in web design and interactive features, the new website aims to provide a more accessible and engaging platform. This forward-looking endeavor is poised to significantly impact the group’s ability to attract and retain members, ensuring the 8th Orleans Scout Group remains a vibrant and integral part of the community.

Ingenium’s Wayfinding App for the Visually Impaired

Project Summary:

Ingenium improves accessibility with its Wayfinding App, ensuring an enjoyable and informative museum visit at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

Client Ingenium
Professor(s) Adesh Nilesh Shah, Adam Robillard
Program School of Media & Design – Mobile Application Design and Development
Student Team Members Serdar Ulutas;
Bruno Eduardo Sousa;
Teagan Clayton;
Juneid Gaffar;
Samatar Robleh;
Thomas Lee;
Montserrat (Mons) Gomez

Project Description:

Our project was to help Ingenium to make an accessible mobile application technology that can be expanded upon and reused across all their museums – starting with the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum. They wished to do this by creating a Progressive Web App (PWA) using the STQRY platform, and connecting it to wayfinding IoT technologies such as Bluetooth Beacons. The specific focus for this app is to support their blind and visually impaired visitors, by creating an app with an audio and guiding focus, allowing anyone to be able to visit the museum and learn more about its exhibits. Keeping this as the core focus of our vision, we also looked at how to make the STQRY platform work for us, benefits and limitations of various implementations, and generally how to make a mobile application integrate into the museum experience, not distract from it.
In our initial research, we were able to have two excellent interviews, one with a woman with experience in museum accessibility we got in contact with through the Canadian National Institute of the Blind, and another with a senior developer of the STQRY platform in New Zealand. We were able to gain a lot of insight into where to go with the design and development of our program from these. Our discussion with the visually impaired community highlighted that they are often the last to be considered in the testing of relevant apps. Meanwhile, our conversation with the STQRY developer revealed that reaching out to people could lead to unexpected outcomes, such as gaining access to the STQRY backend. Alongside these, we also used research from Ingenium and other museum’s on how the public interacts with museums and this technology, and were able to survey 80 museum-goers on their preferences.
The STQRY platform is a type of content management system, which we did not have experience with through our studies before, requiring us to learn how to use it and best implement it for both users and content creators. We also learned about wayfinding IoT technologies, such as Bluetooth beacons and NFC chips, as well as backups such as QR codes. We were able to go to the museum multiple times to scope out our plans, and determine aspects such as the best ways to lay out the beacons along the open-ended paths and what information is most important to convey to visitors.
In our work with the STQRY, we ran into problems and limitations of the platform that prevented us from meeting some of our objectives. Some of them we were able to work with the STQRY team to get solutions and updates to the platform to solve. Other issues that will take longer to fix have been compiled into a document for our client and STQRY to solve in the future. However, there were some time-saving and error-reducing measures that we were able to identify and create solutions for in the form of a companion app for content creators of the mobile application to use. It is a simple and lightweight Next.JS project that allows users to do tasks such as check on the system’s health, create consistent organized filenames, and apply consistent, accessible styling across the app.
In our user testing, we discovered a problem between how the beacons, STQRY, and the Android OS interact, causing the wayfinding application to not respond as expected. We were able to come up with an alternative solution using NFC chips for users to tap their phones against and get the same result. While there is expected to be more research into beacon compatibility and the issues that arose, this is still a more user-friendly experience than the current QR-code standard. Going forward, there is also the ability to quickly and easily update the content (including audio, using AI Text-To-Speech capabilities), add additional languages, and use this system as a template to expand into other museums.
In conclusion, our project has successfully established the groundwork for an accessible mobile application for Ingenium’s museums, with a special focus on supporting blind and visually impaired visitors. Despite encountering challenges with the STQRY platform and wayfinding technologies, we have developed innovative solutions that enhance the museum experience. Our efforts have paved the way for future expansions and improvements in museum accessibility.

GottaGo Website Redesign

Project Summary:

Our project aims to revitalize GottaGo’s branding and website, focusing on user experience and aligning with its advocacy goals. We have researched target audiences and competitors, identify key issues, and implement strategic solutions.

Client Bessa Whitmore, Meghan Ede / GottaGo
Professor(s) SuCheng Lee,
Program Interactive Media Design
Student Team Members Matthew Tzavelas; Jesse Gauthier; Arany Paramalingam; Amir Beladi; Hoda Rahmani

Project Description:

GottaGo Ottawa, a dedicated campaign advocating for accessible and clean public facilities, has collaborated with our team for a comprehensive website redesign.
As a non-profit organization, GottaGo focuses on influencing major stakeholders, including the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Tourism, to enhance public amenities such as toilets and water fountains. Our project begins with meticulous planning, where we engage with GottaGo to understand their goals and requirements, ensuring a tailored approach. The subsequent phases involve detailed research on target audiences and competitors, identifying branding and website issues, and proposing strategic solutions.
The IMD Team aims to create a consistent and modernized website, complete with style tile, low-fi and high-fi wireframes, and SEO improvements. Our 10-week timeline includes weekly updates, ensuring regular communication and feedback. In week 10, we will present the revamped website, reflecting our commitment to elevating GottaGo’s online presence and impact.

Student Transcript Automation

Project Summary:

Using UiPath RPA, our project automates uploading student transcripts from Outlook to the Jira management platform, which improves HR efficiency, reduces manual effort, saves time, and minimizes errors for Student Advisors at CSE.

Client Communication Security Establishment (CSE)
Professor(s) Adesh Shah, Adam Robillard
Program Mobile Application Design & Development
Student Team Members Giselle Mingue Rios
Diego Auza
Majed Refai
Jaryn Zubryn
Carl Espiritu

Project Description:

The Communication Security Establishment (CSE) Human Resources Student Program seeks to implement a Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solution using UiPath technology to automate the process of uploading student transcripts to Jira, an applicant management tool used by the department. This solution aims to enhance the operational efficiency of the CSE,
minimize manual intervention, reduce errors, and streamline the management of student transcripts.
The RPA solution will involve integrating with the MS Office 365 Outlook inbox and the Jira platform. The automation process will include the following steps:
Monitoring Outlook Inbox: The UiPath bot will monitor the designated CSE HR department’s Outlook inbox or folder for incoming emails.
Data Capture: When receiving an email with the subject line “Request for transcript” the system will capture the sender’s email address and last name.
Attachment Handling: The UiPath bot will save any attachments in the email, typically in .pdf or .doc/.docx format, in a temporary folder.
Uploading to Jira: The system will automatically upload the received attachment to the respective Jira task, matching the email address and last name from the email with the information associated with the issue.
Email Notification: The system will notify the student applicant, informing them their transcript has been received.
Throughout our two-year program, we managed to gain a solid understanding of various technologies. However, implementing robotic process automation (RPA) presented a challenge for our team as it was a new technology we had not learned in our program. To overcome this obstacle, we committed to learning RPA from scratch, taking advantage of training materials, online resources, guidance from our professors, and the UiPath partnership, with various courses and tutorials. This effort allowed us to effectively meet the requirements and learn UiPath and Jira in the desired time, leading to the automated solution’s successful development.
By implementing this RPA solution, the CSE Human Resources Student Program will improve the efficiency of its HR processes, save time and effort for Student Advisors, reduce the margin of error, and minimize manual effort in managing student transcripts. This automation initiative will enable the department to focus on more strategic tasks and provide a better overall experience for student applicants.

Watts up With My Vape?

Project Summary:

This project analyzed the components of a vape puff at three different wattages: 10W, 20W, and 30W. Collected through 2,4-DiNitroPhenylHydrazine (DNPH) cartridges. The puffs were then analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

Client
Professor(s) Martin Lee,
Program Biotechnology – Advanced
Student Team Members Madeleine Valiquet, Cheyanne Jeffrey, and Ethan Carter

Project Description:

In 2022 in Canada younger people, in the teenage to young adult age range, were more likely to vape than older Canadians. The e-liquid in vapes contains harmful toxins such as aldehydes and other carbonyls. Generally, higher the e-liquid temperature gets, the more plentiful the carbonyls become.
The puffs from Flavour Crafters 0 mg/mL (of nicotine) Watermelon vape juice were collected by 2,4-DiNitroPhenylHydrazine (DNPH) cartridges at three different wattage settings on the vape 10W, 20W, and 30W. The puffs were eluted out of the DNHP cartridge with acetonitrile and collected as a liquid. Those liquid samples were run through the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) instrument to analyze the components in each puff.
This project not only shows the dangers of vapes but also how a component like wattage in a puff can change the level of danger. Due to the widespread use of vapes in teens and young adults it is a necessity to comprehend how the toxic carbonyls can change based on vaping habits such as increasing the wattage.

Populii Branding Redesign and Web Re-visioning

Project Summary:

Populii aspires to be the top online hub for businesses enhancing their corporate culture and workforce skills. Our IMD team focuses on projecting professionalism and trust through branding and web design.

Client Greg Smith & Mathew Burns, Populii Inc.
Professor(s) SuCheng Lee,
Program Interactive Media Study
Student Team Members Cassie Kukkonen
Jess Huynh
Iain Lahaie
Jessie Mbekou
Christian Ward

Project Description:

The project aims to unify Populii’s online presence. By integrating comprehensive solutions to cultivate and sustain vibrant corporate cultures, this initiative brings together two distinct brands: the Culture Shaping Collective, dedicated to fostering positive corporate cultures through skill development, and Orgfitech, focused on validating cultural growth, under the broader Populii brand.
Leading the rebranding efforts, our team ensures the seamless integration of the Culture Shaping Collective into the Populii brand while preserving Orgfitech’s unique identity within this expanded brand ecosystem. This strategic rebranding effort is tailored to resonate with Populii’s target business-to-business markets, aiming to establish a clear and coherent brand message.
Through a detailed approach to visual identity and messaging refinement, our objective is to deliver a digital platform that consolidates Populii’s offerings in culture shaping and learning enhancement, highlighting the brand’s leadership in fostering sustainable, healthy organizational cultures.