Spring 2003 Content Final

seconds and is almost negligible in the full scheme of the database. Future projects may include creating scripting exceeds all expectations. We strongly recommend that the Through a joint collaboration between the Technical system. This further supports reliability. on the mail server that copies and pastes this text foundation proceed with this project. Services Staff and the Engineering Department, Noblet Through definition and testing of current state of automatically. For demonstration purposes, the current The Safety Blitz system completely solves the has led a team of Dartmouth undergraduates and the art technology and specifications, we improved our method is reliable and clear. When the emergency text shortcomings in current college campus security. It is a Technical Service staff in engineering the new handheld solution and eventually created a final prototype that is entered, the computer will automatically display all reliable, user-friendly system that can be implemented PDA. The Blitzberry is a two way communicator for simulates the Safety Blitz system. Our prototype, as crucial information, including location and Map Code, at all colleges with wireless network capabilities. As the wireless network 802.11b that would use WiFi as described in testing, consists of two basic parts: a laptop in one organized window (please refer to Appendix colleges in the United States compete against each other transport. It could be used for Blitzmail, IM connections computer with a wireless card (simulating the Safety Blitz A for a sample of the database display window.) The by continually modifying and bettering their campuses, to AOL, MSN, Yahoo, and support for two way audio. In personal alarm) and a computer with two searchable database is also programmed to automatically archive all the addition of a wireless network and future expansions addition to internet access, Blitzberry could be used as a databases (simulating the web server). We also used messages that are sent until the user deletes them. This on that technology are undeniably national prospects. personal organizer. ProEngineer to create a mock scale model of the personal allows security to keep a record of the use of the system. The Safety Blitz certainly raises this technology to a new Before much time can be invested into the development alarm (Appendix C). Although the database end of our prototype lacks one level and addresses a wide spectrum of safety concerns, of such a project, an analysis of the potential market is The laptop acting as the Safety Blitz uses specific step of scripting, it still works smoothly and reliably. increasing comfort and security for college community necessary. After much research, Noblet has found that the programs that we have written to simulate pressing the The performance of the prototype is quite remarkable. members. largest market for the development of the Blitzberry lies panic button on the Blue Light machine. The laptop As described in the testing section of this report, the within higher education. There are 3,000 higher education runs on a Linux operating system. Embedding programs prototype works nearly anywhere on campus, and the Note: due to space constraints, appendices were institutions in the United States alone, with 15 million written in Linux into small devices running on a chip is locations predicted by the database are 100% accurate. not included in the print edition of this article. students and 2 million faculty and professional staff. If the simplest and most often used method for running We estimate $95 per unit for the cost of the Safety Blitz For data in excluded appendices, please visit Blitzberry were to penetrate five percent of this market, small device such as the Safety Blitz. Our microchip for any college implementing the system. The system www.dartmouth.edu/~dujs. an estimated 850,000 Blitzberries would be distributed. At within the Safety Blitz, running on Linux, would have will pay for itself in two to three years, since each unit the goal price of $150 per Blitzberry, $127 million could all of the capabilities required for running the scripting will be reusable. This means that colleges will not have be earned. Following this data, Noblet states, “we are not we have created in Unix, but would not require RAM or to purchase new units every year for each incoming trying to build a market, but we are not ignoring where other aspects that are inherent in a personal computer. freshman class and can therefore charge less than the price Blitzberry one exists. Blitzberry has not been created simply for the Therefore, there would be no boot up time for the of the individual alarm. However, lost and broken units fun of creating something, but because the demand exists KRISTEN ETTENSOHN ʻ05 device, and as soon as the panic button is pressed, the will have to be replaced from time to time. The procedure as well.” Blitzberry would be a more practical investment device would turn on and send the message. This is why for equipping a student with his/her replacement Safety for college students than the Blackberry, which costs over embedded Linux is perfect for the Safety Blitz: it has all Blitz will be determined by each individual college. An Blitzmail, the internal email system at Dartmouth, has $400 dollars for the initial device and service, in addition of the qualities needed to run our programs quickly initial cost of about $1000 would be required for the become the center of social life, replacing the telephone to $60 to $100 dollars per month. and reliably on a small device. We wrote four separate one computer dedicated to running the web server, amongst students, professors, and the administration. The primary goal for the allocation of potential programs, one for each group member, that send the could easily be paid off by the implementation of the The predominance of Blitzmail has become increasingly earnings from the sale of Blitzberries is to fund future group member’s ID number and the MAC address with system. Additionally, there is virtually no maintenance evident as students congregate around public terminals faculty and student initiated projects. This money would which the computer is communicating to our web server cost because the system uses already existing technology, found in hallways, lounges, and classrooms across go toward the Dartmouth Computing Technology computer (see Appendix P for sample Linux scripting). which is already being maintained. There is also no setup the campus. Long lines that roll around corners and Venture Fund, which supports of ongoing research and Each program accesses the file in the operating system cost for the software because it would come installed on congest walkways are a common occurrence and have project development. Indeed, undergraduate involvement that contains the MAC address that we need and pulls each device, and computer services could set up its own become problematic for Dartmouth students and staff in the development of Blitzberry has been made possible that address out as text. The time and date as well as the server and databases very easily. Therefore, our system heading towards their next destination. Recognizing the through this fund. Established by alumni in 1993, the user’s ID number are then added to this text file. The text certainly fits the specifications for cost when viewed on a inconvenience of long lines and the dependence of college Venture Fund supports the exploration and development file is adjusted to the form that our database recognizes long-term basis. students on immediate Blitzmail access, Bradley Noblet, of ways in which to apply computer technology to and is then sent via email to an account specified in Before this project is implemented, there are a few Director of Technical Services at Dartmouth College, has academic computing. Through computer services, the the scripting. At the click of an icon (press of the panic possible improvements to be made. First, the Linux developed the concept of the Blitzberry. fund was initially used for sponsoring faculty projects. In button), the emergency message is sent with information program we have written must be embedded into the Noblet’s Blitzberry idea is a take off from the recent recent years however, interest from alumni and students to our web server. microchip, and the circuit must be built. The specs on Blackberry addition to the Personal Digital Assistant has extended opportunities to undergraduate students The receiving end of the system is set up on a the circuit power and setup that we provide in this report (PDA) market. The Blackberry is a wireless handheld with research and project ideas. The goal of computer computer running Windows. We have created two should help with this process. Second, a simple script device that has become increasingly popular in the services is to collaborate with students and assist them databases, one with information on each user (the must be set up to listen for emergency messages and professional business world, where it is used for email in understanding the process of realizing their ideas. group members in our case), and the other containing automatically run them through the database. This would access and as a personal organizer. Noblet recognized a Blitzberry is the first project that Technical Services MAC addresses for every Access Point on campus with leave less room for error in the entire system and make it potential market for a device like the Blackberry for on and Dartmouth undergraduates have developed that location descriptions for each in addition to Map Codes generally more reliable. Lastly, we recommend that more campus communication. According to Noblet, Blitzmail combines hardware and software development. that allow the user to search the Dartmouth building research and testing of triangulation be done. If better and campus Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) for instant messaging While the actual Blitzberry idea was Noblet’s invention, maps to find an AccessPoint.

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