Interface Ecology Lab @ Texas A&M University

Web Page: http://ecologylab.net/summerofcode/

Mailing List: mailto:ecologylab_soc@googlegroups.com

The Interface Ecology Lab is a research group committed to transforming the computing landscape by increasing participation, creativity, expression, and social connection. We believe that computing is powerful, but that it is crucial to interject essential human values, such as participation, creativity, and expression, into processes of technology development and utilization. 

Our open source work is rooted in a S.IM.PL approach: Support for Information Mapping in Programming Languages. The multi-layer architecture of S.IM.PL (serialization, services, meta-metadata) develops an alternative approach to web semantics: one based on making it easy to write cross-platform distributed software that performs complex semantic actions, from multi-player games to sensemaking and creativity support tools. S.IM.PL focuses on facilitating software development, not just on protocols and standards.

We also develop new forms of multi-touch interaction, such as the ZeroTouch sensor.

Projects

• In-browser Meta-Metadata Authoring Tool (M2) Currently the process of authoring meta-metadata wrappers in a text editor and finding XPath expressions in the web browser is a difficult and time-consuming process even for an experienced developer.After the completion of this project an unnecessary load of template generation will be removed. Developer will be able to select data on page and simply add them in template with a user defined attribute, all other details like generation of xPath and ambiguous cases will be resolved automatically.
• Meta-Metadata ORM The project is an ORM layer for persisting metadata objects in a relational database. We need to handle associations, inheritances and graph structure of metadata objects to achieve it. I am interested in the project because it fits my technical and academic interests. I see a win-win for both the community and myself. I have developed an initial plan, a list of deliverables and a GANTT chart to explain how and when I will accomplish the project. I am excited by the challenge and prospect.
• Project O1: WebSockets Extension This proposal is to extend the existing OODSS architecture to use the WebSockets protocol and to create WebSocket OODSS clients in Java, C#, Javascript, and Objective C. This will help making cross platform/language agnostic applications with client server communication simple and consistent, providing a tool for rapid development and consistent data representations.