Scheduled Computer System Downtime

jjohnson — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:20:21 -0400

The department computers will be down for scheduled maintenance from 7am to 4pm on Thursday July 19. The department office will also be closed.

John Novatnack-Defending Mater's Thesis, May 29th 3:00-5:00pm in UC 153

laura — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:30:38 -0400

defense of John Novatnack’s masters thesis.

Date: Thursday, May 29, 2008 3:00 PM

Location University Crossings 153

Abstract:

The quality and abundance of three-dimensional geometric data is rapidly increasing with the drastic improvement in the cost and effectiveness of 3D acquisition hardware. In fact, three-dimensional geometric data already plays a central role in many computer vision and computer graphics applications such as autonomous vehicle navigation, 3D object recognition and the computer-based preservation of cultural artifacts. Despite the increasing relevance and importance of geometric data, current techniques of processing the data have neglected to explicitly model and exploit a significant source of information of the data - the scale variability of the local geometric structures. In this thesis we overcome the limitation of past techniques with a comprehensive framework of modeling the scale-variations in local geometric structures, effectively adding an additional dimension to geometric data. To accomplish this we derive the geometric scale-space, a representation of local geometric structures at various degrees of scale. This representation enables us to define scale-dependent geometric feature detectors, such as corners and edges, that determine not only the location of salient geometric features, but also their relative scales. The augmentation of a geometric feature with its intrinsic scale enables us to define scale-dependent/invariant local shape descriptors that together form both a hierarchical and scale-invariant representation of the local geometric structures of a 3D shape. We derive and present the theory of these methods and also demonstrate their effectiveness for the purposes of robust 3D feature detection and fully automatic range image registration.

SSH Host Key Changes

gholder — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:53:06 -0400

A security vulnerability has been found in many of the CS run computers. This vulnerability could allow unauthorized users to impersonate the CS machines or access to your CS account. See http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-612-2 for more information.

I am in the process of closing this security hole.

This weekend I will update the host keys for the following machines:

dormouse.cs.drexel.edu maeve.cs.drexel.edu octopus.cs.drexel.edu slowtrain.cs.drexel.edu tux64-01.cs.drexel.edu tux64-02.cs.drexel.edu tux64-04.cs.drexel.edu tux64-05.cs.drexel.edu tux64-06.cs.drexel.edu tux64-07.cs.drexel.edu tux64-08.cs.drexel.edu tux64-09.cs.drexel.edu tux.cs.drexel.edu karma.cs.drexel.edu

When you try to ssh in to one of these machines after I fix it, ssh will notify you that the host key has changed.

The current list of CS managed ssh host keys and their fingerprints can be found on the CS website at:

https://www.cs.drexel.edu/csit/ssh/ssh_known_hosts.

This page lists the fingerprints for all the CS managed ssh host keys, and includes a link to down load all the public host keys with an RSS feed so you can monitor it for changes.

Accounts with compromised keys will not be able to ssh into any of the CS managed computers. I will email all users with compromised keys to alert them to this problem.

If you ssh in from a Debian based system you should update the ssh and ssl packages and regenerate your ssh keys.

Please send any questions to manager@cs.drexel.edu

Gaylord Holder CS System Administrator https://www.cs.drexel.edu/People/Staff

Please verify this message’s authenticity by checking the sender against the CS Staff web page.

CS Students should declare/update track selections ASAP

amn27 — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:37:57 -0400

It is very important that BS/CS and BA/CS students review and/or make your track selections as soon as possible. If you have not done this before, please see the directions at the end of this message explaining how to do it. If you have made your selections previously, please review them now. This should not take more than 5 minutes.

Graduating Seniors: this will help us ensure that you have met graduation requirements.

Everyone Else: While we strive to offer a wide assortment of track options for you, our ability to do so is limited by faculty availability and number of students in a track. It is unlikely that we will be able to continue offering all our tracks every year. In general, Drexel expects upper-level undergraduate classes to have 12 or more students enrolled, and classes get cancelled when they are underenrolled. As we plan next year’s schedule, it is important for us to know the demand for various courses and tracks so that we can plan accordingly. Knowing which tracks you are intending to complete will help us in this regard.

Directions: - Visit the CS Departement website at http://www.cs.drexel.edu/ - Login at the lower left with your CS userid and password - Click the “Surveys” link and then click the “Track Declarations” link. - Select two tracks and click the Submit button.

Graduate Fellowships Workshop

laura — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:08:47 -0400

May 14th, 5-7 pm in the Bossone Building, Mitchell Auditorium, College of Engineering presents: Graduate Fellowships Workshop:

♦ graduate school funding opportunities ♦ tips and best practices from recent fellowship awardees ♦ domestic and international funding opportunities from Dr. Tom Juliano, Drexel alum & Academic Programs Manager for American Society for Engineering Education When: Wed., May 14, 5‐7 p.m Where: Bossone Building, Mitchell Auditorium

This workshop is open to ALL undergraduate & 1st year graduate students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in engineering, science, math, and the social sciences. Note, most national fellowships are only available to US citizens and permanent residents of the US.

If you have any questions please contact Katie Gibson: kgibson@drexel.edu

CSD initiates alumni/student meet-and-greet series

salvucci — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:45:01 -0400

The Computer Science Department is initiating a regular alumni/student meet-and-greet series. This series will provide current students the opportunity to hear about the career paths of successful alumni and learn more about the computer and software industry. In many cases, the participating alumni will also be recruiting so that this forum will provide a good opportunity to hear about potential career opportunities and to network with industry representatives.

The inaugural event will be held on Tuesday April 8 from 4:30-6pm in room 149 in the University Crossing. This event will be with Eric Katz (class of ‘92 - see below for his bio) who will be recruiting for his current employer - Neighborhood America (www.neighborhoodamerica.com/) a company devoted to building online business communities (see below for more info). Eric will be representing Neighborhood America at the Career fair on Wed. April 9 and looking for exceptional Computer Science graduates to join the company. Please join us on Tuesday to kick off this series and to learn about Neighborhood America and meet with Eric. Pizza will be served.

Biography

Eric Katz is a Langhorne, PA native who graduated from Drexel University in 1992 with a Major in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. He worked as a software developer in a variety of industries in the Philadelphia region until late 1999 when he relocated to Naples, Florida. Eric arrived with his current employer, Neighborhood America, in May 2006, as a Senior Web Software Developer, and held the title of Web Software Architect, before attaining the position of Director of Core Development in December 2007. He currently has a team of 15, which includes a mix of software developers and database administrators, which needs to grow to support the expanding operations at Neighborhood America. Eric lives in Naples, FL full time with his wife, Emily, and 3 children, Abby (6), Gabriel (4), and Ethan (6 months).

About Neighborhood America (www.neighborhoodamerica.com/)

Neighborhood America’s ‘Software as a Service’ solution is designed for companies that want to capitalize on the phenomenon of social networks for business gain. Founded in 1999, the company enables its customers to build their own online and mobile communities to engage customers, facilitate ongoing dialogue around their brand, and gain continued business intelligence. Neighborhood America’s customer portfolio included Adidas, FOX News, Kodak, Scripps Networks, and International Speedway Corporation.

Jeremy Johnson
Professor and Dept. Head, Computer Science

Tux switching to Gentoo

tlp29 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:51:20 -0400

The tux virtual cluster is in the process of being moved to a Gentoo-based environment. It is expected that the move is completed before the start of the 2005-2006 Fall term. Please submit any complaints and/or software requests on our Help Request system

Unscheduled CS Downtime 6/17/06

tlp29 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:51:20 -0400

All CS department computing resources were having problems yesterday between 11am and 2pm when the authorization server crashed. The system was restarted systems should be operating normally. We are investigating the cause of the crash. Please report any additional problems, or other strangeness you may have noticed yesterday to manager@cs.drexel.edu We apologize for the inconvience.

New Course: Computer Game Production I

tlp29 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:51:20 -0400

Did you ever want to make 3D video games? Now is the time, especially now that development is open for the new Xbox 360! Learn how in Computer Game Production I.

Students work in small teams to develop a concept, and create a design document and functional prototype. The best 2 games from this term get fully developed in the next term's Computer Game Production II. The Drexel online listing incorrectly stated only Digital Media majors.

This course accepts students from ANY MAJOR that have skills that can contribute to the game, such as art, programming, music, design, story, and 3D skills.

Last year's syllabus (under the former name Intro to Gaming) can be found here:
http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~pjd37/Intro_Gaming/Gaming%20Syllabus.htm

Please register now (AUGUST 31st at the latest!) for either fall term section:
Computer Game Production I: DIGM 465-001 Tuesday 12:30-3:20PM
Computer Game Production I: DIGM 465-501 Wednesday 6:00-8:50PM

See examples of past student games (pictured above: Project Bolt, Chroma Chaos, Moach Rotel, etc.) at:
http://www.replay.drexel.edu/

There has been some confusion as to the game courses offered this fall.

Computer Game Production I (DIGM 465-001, DIGM 465-501) teaches 3D game production, and this year we additionally will be making games that can run on an Xbox 360. In this course, small teams create your own game concept, design document, and game prototype. This course is required for the follow-on winter course Computer Game Production II, where the full 3D video game is created. This course is open to DIGM juniors and seniors, as well as students from related majors such as CS, Scriptwriting, Music, etc. This is a great course if you are considering a job in the video game industry, as the head of EA Games' Chicago office even came and sat in on our class last year. Even if you don't want to pursue a job in gaming, this is one of the few times you will get experience in a cross-discipline, team development effort, which looks great on anyone's resume.

There is a another 2D game course also with the DIGM 465 number (DIGM 465-002: Educational Game Design). This course is offered by the CS department and is cross-listed with Digital Media. This course does not actually create 3D games, it is focused on applying game technology for designing educational games.

Unfortunately, the online info stated that Computer Game Production was only open to DIGM majors, and it wasn't cross-listed with CS. Also, the name of the course changed, and having two different courses with the same DIGM 465 number confused people.

MS Publisher now available

tlp29 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:51:20 -0400

Microsoft Publisher 2002 is now installed under CodeWeavers Crossover Office on all CS linux machines. Run /usr/local/bin/mspub Please report problems to manger@cs.drexel.edu.