Reaction All Years

Project Description:

Re4m is an Eco Fabricator that designs and builds with rescued and reclaimed materials. It began when the Owner and Lead Fabricator Heather Jeffery was working for a local retailer and noticed an issue with commercial waste. The retailer was throwing old displays claiming it was easier than recycling the product. Heather decided that there was opportunity to reduce the amount of commercial waste headed to Ottawa’s Landfills. This moment was the catalyst for what the company is today. Re4m now uses these reclaimed materials from the community to build and design furnishings, fixtures, displays and products for businesses.
Heather was finding the Material Recovery Process a little cumbersome through the current route, where all communication with potential pickups and clients occurs via email. They found it difficult to arrange material collection when not enough information was provided, and to manage all ongoing recovery submissions.
Our main goal was to make the overall procedure for users submitting materials more detailed and streamlined, which in turn made the process of locating and filtering through the submitted materials easier for the Client. Customers are now required to enter certain information before a submission will be accepted which includes pictures, dimensions (size and weight), type of material, condition, and attaching their location to ensure it remains within the pickup range (Ottawa, Ontario.)
Re4m is now able to view these listings and accept or reject based on the pictures that customer post, generating an appropriate response or status (Accepted/Rejected, In Review, Seen/Pending), that is shown to the Users. They may filter all submissions through a bevy of different characteristics (active or past, category, etc.) The Re4m team can now also post updates on current material needs for Users to help better reach their needs for current projects.
There is now a login feature which enables customers to feel safe with their credentials. This helps them monitor all their submissions, and easily contact the company for pickup. Maintaining a simple, easy design to make the product accessible to all users was imperative to ensure overall usability for all potential customers and submissions.
With these abilities, on top of creating a userbase, this Product not only makes their procurement process easier, but will help with the overall goal of their entire company by making it possible that even less waste goes to landfill because Users themselves will be aware of any products not being used by Re4m.
We learned many lessons along our journey from our first introduction as a team, to meeting our client, to ending up with a tangible product. There was an immense amount of time and effort put in to ensure the quality of our work. Using the knowledge and skills we have learned along the way throughout our time at Algonquin College in the many courses taken before, it has culminated into this final project where all of them were used in conjunction to bring you this Project.
Thanks for taking the time to check it out!

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Project Description:

WannLynx provides a Terminal Screen Management system to Gas Stations and C-stores in the United States. Currently running a successful C-Store pilot in Virginia, WannLynx can provide their clients with simple and effective advertising methods allowing C-Stores to increase consumer interaction and sales. This marketing strategy is done via WannLynx’s FuelLynx device and Quiklynx cloud-based server. The FuelLynx device is connected to the gas station terminal on site and Quiklynx provides remote management that allows for easy branding and flow on content displayed on the terminal screen. Through the Quiklynx customer profiles can be created quickly and easily and third-party ads and content can be displayed to the customer based on their specified profile. This ensures that no matter the user, the terminal always displays the most relevant information

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Project Description:

The Let’s talk Butts Campaign was founded in July 2019 in Mississauga, Ontario by Lisa Chen as a part of her Stage 3 community outreach project for the Canadian Conservation Corps. The campaign aims at eliminating cigarette butt litter through cleanups, outreach, litter mapping, creating butt collection cans, and reaching out to stakeholders. The project has since then scaled and reached people from Canada, Vietnam, Philippines, and United States. The campaign was funded by the Canadian Conservation Corps and TakingITGlobal, and it is currently funded by Chantiers Jeunesse.

Users can access the website in English or French and use an interactive calendar and map to find cleanups near them. Organizers can also use the submission form to submit events that are happening in the future, or provide data for an event that already happened, like how many butts were picked up, how many bags used, how many people participated, etc. The website also contains a mailing list that users can sign up for to receive updates about the Let’s Talk Butts mission. A guide for creating butt cans is on the website, as well as a map to submit them to notify local environmentalists of their location.

The website was designed using the Python Django web framework. It uses an internal SQLite database for data storage needs. Additionally, the calendar is implemented with the JavaScript FullCalendar API, and the map is made with the JavaScript Leaflet Map API. Ajax calls are used in some places for a more seamless UI experience. The project is styled using the Bootstrap CSS framework.

The backend of the website was implemented with a REST API, in order to provide easier scalability for future projects on different platforms. Other apps or websites can issue requests to these endpoints to get data or content from the database. For security, the website itself uses the baked in session authentication provided by the Django framework, and the protected API endpoints can only be accessed with the proper authentication tokens.

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Project Description:

Our client, Peter Talajic is an academic advisor at Algonquin College managing the Computer Programming students. Under normal circumstances, students who progress through their program without interruption require little management regarding their expected course progressions. However, under a variety of circumstances, students may experience interruptions in their studies that may result in a progression in need of modification. Manually analyzing each students previously completed courses and their programs specific requirements can be a tedious process for the academic advisors, so we worked together with our client to begin the creation of a Web Application capable of viewing and managing student and program related data, as well as generating predicted student progressions. These generated progressions were created by comparing the students previously completed courses to their program specific requirements. They are then saved for later usage and/or modification and sent to the student for verification.

The idea of the application is to create a more seamless experience when managing these student progressions for the academic advisors for the Computer Programming, Computer Engineering Technology and Computer Systems Technician programs. Eventually, the application is to be modified to accommodate batch data analysis for all students within the mentioned programs to automate the creations of the predictions for the advisors at Algonquin College.

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Project Description:

Our client wanted an accurate, automated way to redact sensitive information from classified documents. The solution we came up with was to use UiPath to create a robotic process automation (RPA) that automatically goes through documents searching for keywords in order to redact. In order to do this, we’ve created a blacklist file where the user is able to input whatever word they want found and redacted from a document.
The process begins with the creation and encryption of the blacklist file. Once the user creates the blacklist file (both .txt and .csv formats are accepted) and fills it with the words they wish to be redacted, they’re able to run the program and choose the blacklist file to encrypt. Once the user inputs the correct password, the program encrypts the blacklist file. Once the blacklist file is encrypted, it’s ready for use.
In order to run the automation, the user must decrypt the blacklist file they wish to use. The user will be prompted to choose which blacklist file they want to use, and once they input the correct password, the blacklist file is loaded into the program for use.
On top of the blacklist file, our program also allows the redaction of images, names, and social insurance numbers (SIN). The name redaction works the same way as the blacklist, where a user creates a names list file and enters which names they want redacted.
Once this is all done, you’re ready for redaction. The program will prompt you to choose which file the user wishes to redact. The program currently supports the redaction of .txt, .docx, .pdf and .csv files. The user is also prompted with options to redact images, names, and SIN. Once everything is selected, the program will open the document and redact anything that was entered into the blacklist file, along with whatever options were selected. The program then creates a copy of the original file as a new, redacted file.
Our program also supports the redaction of entire folders instead of just single files. The process is the exact same, the user just needs to choose the folder option instead of the file option. This feature allows the user to redact multiple files of different formats instead of having to manually choose file by file.
Features aside, one key aspect of our program is that it doesn’t use a database or anything external, so it’s a very secure, light program that is easy to use. Not only does this solution save our client money, it saves employees valuable time from doing mundane, repetitive tasks over and over.

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Project Description:

A smart system is driven by Arduino or PLC. Multiple temperatures and humidity sensors are distributed inside the farm. Multiple cooling fans are arranged on the surrounding walls. Floor heating is laid on the foundation. These sensors transmit temperature signals to Arduino or PLC. The processor will control the start and stop of the cooling fan, heater and humidifier according to the program setting. After setting a high and low-temperature threshold, the farm can be kept at a stable temperature and humidity to ensure the animals’ health. In addition, a conveyor belt will be laid at the bottom of the feed trough, and a water tank will be set above the feed trough. These devices are controlled by a timer inside the Arduino or PLC. The feed is regularly transported from the feed storage tank to the feed through a conveyor belt. The water tank will automatically store water.

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Project Description:

This device uses the sun to preheat air as it enters the furnace in order to reduce its workload. In a gas furnace heating system, outside air passed through a heat exchanger, such as an HRV, into the intake of a gas furnace. Then, the furnace heats up the air to room temperature before distributing it throughout the rest of the building. In a country with colder weather like Canada, this process is the culprit for the majority of a household’s energy usage. The economizer intervenes in this process. By using the sun to preheat air, less energy needs to be spent by the furnace to heat to room temperature. Therefore, it economizes the process and lowers a household’s energy bill.

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Project Description:

An oven-lift transfer mechanism is designed and built for Tetra Society, to automate the process of inserting and removing items from an oven. The mechanism’s design will be based on functionality, safety, and ease-of-use for individuals with disabilities. The device will be able to safely lift 22.5 kg (50 lbs.) from the oven on a tray, then transfer the tray carrying the roasting pan or pot to the top of the oven and vice versa. The device will be easily stored and will not interfere with the layout of the kitchen. It will also be adjustable to fit any oven. The goal of this oven transfer lift is to safely conduct this operation numerous times without failure.

In order for this project to be a success the following criteria must be met:
· The machine must be capable of safely lifting upwards of 22.5 kg 50 lbs.
· The machine must have a factor of safety of 2. The machine must be reliable, therefore, able to operate multiple times for multiple years before failing.
· The machine must be operable with a foot-controlled control pad or a mounted control pad.
· The oven-transfer lift must be storable under the oven, or folded in front of the oven to minimize the space used by the device when not in use.
· The machine will not need to be anchored to any surfaces in the kitchen.
· The machine’s control pad will control forward and backward motion as well as up and down motion.
· The machine will be easily adjusted or modified to be configured for a selection of different types of ovens.
· The machine must be built within a budget of $1,400.00, funded by Tetra Society.

Throughout the design process of this project, we have encountered many obstacles, such as, budget issues, inaccessibility to a machine shop and issues with the design. However, good communication with the client has allowed us to overcome the problem encountered with the budget, and with careful planning and organization this allowed us to create a manufacturing schedule to machine and assemble the mechanism. When coming across obstacles with the design portion, new designs and solutions were created and based on the testing and analysis of each design, the best one is chosen and tweaked for optimization.

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Project Description:

Scrap-App is a Progressive Web Application designed and developed by the KODE team for Scrap Arts Music (S.A.M) to display and showcase a variety of instruments made from recycled material by Gregory Kozak.

KODE consists of 6 team members from the Mobile Application Design and Development program. We designed this interactive music app to allow users to play music with digital images of instruments made from scraps. In Scrap-App, you can learn more about the creators of Scrap Arts Music and their instruments; view upcoming productions of Children Of Metropolis (S.A.M latest production); and share information across social media.

You can view their library of instruments to learn about the chosen instrument’s unique biography. For example, how they were made, the materials that were used in their creation, and the little known facts about the instruments.

You can also listen to music samples; view a gallery of photos; and favourite the instruments to save to your profile for future viewing.

Scrap-App has a unique feature where users can tap on designated hotspots of the chosen instrument to simulate playing the instrument on their phone.

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Project Description:

Our project deliverable was to create a mobile application for the Ottawa Grassroots Festival. The goal was to create an interactive and engaging app to expand their reach and engagement. It was important that the application focused on accessibility and had a simplistic design to be usable to a wide range of user types including festival-goers, volunteers, and festival organizers. With accessibility in mind, we also created an intuitive admin dashboard to facilitate content management for the app.

KHAT Development, a team, composed of Alex Carmicheal (Team Lead), Tyler Bristow (Team Second/Design Lead), Kiet Vuong (Dev Lead), Hisham Almoli (Full-Stack Developer), Kendy Dor (Front-End Developer), and Helen Le (UX/UI Designer), was formed for the sole purpose of accomplishing the client’s project brief. Having a team with a wide range of skill sets, it was challenging to assign particular tasks to team members. However, throughout the project, we learned how to communicate remotely and contribute in our own ways. To manage the project’s scope, we used different online management tools to help alleviate stress, increase productivity and meet deadlines.
We learned a lot throughout this project. We learned how to interact with the client to get the information we needed to deliver the product that met all their needs. We implemented skills that we learned in our previous courses to design and develop the mobile application. We conducted research and usability testing to ensure overall accessibility for event-goers, volunteers, and administrative staff.

With Ottawa Grassroots Festival being the first actual client for many of us, we needed to follow what we were taught to ensure a seamless development process. To start, we completed extensive technology research that helped us understand the tools and features required to complete our project. With this research, we were able to pinpoint the best services (Firebase) and technologies (React-Native and ReactJS) for our client within the project’s scope.

Our team used a development version control tool to allow team members to add features and perform peer programming simultaneously. Being new to document databases, the team learned how to design and create extensive schemas to hold the application’s content. Having proper documentation and research, the development team efficiently conducted software testing and corrected any bugs that arose.

With the project complete, we can say that this was the biggest project we’ve all had the opportunity to work on. Although we faced many challenges along the way, it was an experience that deepened our knowledge regarding mobile application projects. We’re grateful to have worked with a fantastic client that was always understanding, supportive, patient, and flexible with our team. In turn, this project helped us improve the transition to our professional careers once we graduate. To our client, professors, and Algonquin College we would like to thank you for this incredible opportunity.

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