Students will prepare an individual research paper 12-15 pages in length on a current topic relating to an information technology innovation, trend or a related development. The instructor will approve the topic in advance.
General Theme: emerging technologies. The idea of this research paper is to analyze an emerging technology within the field of Information Technology, which encompasses distinct subfields such as: data management, computer networking, Computer engineering, Database systems and design, software design, management information systems and systems management. Here is a list of suggestions of such topics: 1. Limits to Moore’s Law 2. Organic light-emitting diodes 3. Holographic storage 4. Radiofrequency identification 5. Voice over Internet Protocol 6. Ipv6 7. Optical signal processing 8. Fiber to the neighborhood and fiber to the premises 9. Music, image, and video compression schemes 10. Object-oriented technology 11. Transaction security schemes 12. Public-key cryptosystems and applications 2. These are only suggestions. If you have a specific topic in which you have interest, please send me an e-mail describing it, so I can evaluate its suitability. Not all these topics have to be covered, so there may be any number of students for each topic. Remember, that since some of the topics are very broad, you should narrow your research to some specific position related to the subject. 3. Structure Your paper MUST follow a specific outline for your research paper, described below: 1. Introduction (including the thesis or proposition that you intend to support) 2. Description of the technology 3. Its potential applications 4. Which technologies will compete with this particular one and why 5. How does this competition affect businesses 6. What are the possible improvements in the scope of IT if the use of such technology succeeds 7. Conclusions supporting your thesis (your perspective in the future of such technology be it good or bad) 4. To help you writing the paper, I suggest you visit UMUC’s Guide to Writing and Research (found at http://www.umuc.edu/prog/ugp/ewp_writingcenter/writinggde/welcome.shtml).