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Introduction |
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This photographic history of the University of Maryland Department of Computer Science presents images of the approximately 150 faculty who taught computer science beginning in the 1940s. The Department was officially founded in 1974 and grew to over 40 members.
We are greatly appreciative for the textual descriptions that came from Jack Minker's Departmental History. Of course, this is only a starting point for this project, which will grow based on your guidance and feedback from outside users. We believe that a respect for the department's history will make our community a more satisfying place for present and future participants.
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Early Stage: February-May 2004 |
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Dr. Ben Shneiderman, and Dr. Marvin Zelkowitz initiated an idea to create a website that showed a photographic chronology of the Computer Science department at the University of Maryland. Tony Brown, a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, was the initial developer of the Department of Computer Science, Photo History project. Tony created the initial MySQL database that stores the listing of faculty names, biographies, and corresponding pictures. By the end of May 2004, Tony completed an initial version of the Photo History website using PHP scripts to present a simple listing of faculty and corresponding description pages for each faculty member. A chronology of events was not yet implemented.
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Intermediate Stage: May-August 2004 |
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Adam Axelrod and Chase Ighani (two Computer Science undergraduates) took over as developers of the Photo History project with the goals of enhancing the completed features. By early June, a more complex graphical layout was completed. The developers created an events database through MySQL based primarily off of Dr. Jack Minker's 1979 comprehensive report chronicling the CS departmental history. Throughout July Adam and Chase wrote the PHP scripts to display the timeline (in full form, and in segmented form by decade), added new pictures to the database, thumbnailed and enhanced all the current pictures, and conducted usability tests to gain feedback on the modified draft.
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First Release: September, 2004 |
After review by faculty in stages, we released the initial version for public viewing. The methods used to add events/faculty, dates, and photos should enable easy expansion. Two independent study projects during Fall 2004 will explore novel interfaces, semantic web integration, and strategies for automated construction. |
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Participants |
Responsibilities |
Project Developers - Early Stage |
Tony Brown |
Created initial MySQL databases to store faculty names, faculty information, and pictures; Set up webpage and initial layout |
Project Developers - Intermediate Stage |
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Created and organized timeline database; Helped design graphical layout; Added pictures to events/faculty pages |
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Organized faculty database and layout; Administered and modified pictures; Helped design graphical layout |
Project Coordinators |
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Laid framework and ideas for photo history project; oversaw and suggested revisions for final product |
Outside Reviewers |
Dr. Ben Bederson, Dr. Vic Basili, Dr. Jeff Hollingsworth, Jordan Landes, Jack Kustanowitz, Sabrina Liao, Dr. Jack Minker, and Dr. Bill Pugh |
Completed usability tests and provided suggestions on drafts of the website to help improve readability/clarity, navigation, and content. |
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