College group project, brainstorming ideas.

Question

Two parts to this question

1) I am working with a group of six others in a computer science class and will be creating an Android application over the next 3 or 4 months. I am looking for suggestions as to how we can come up with an idea that is not only practical but also possible to complete in the time given. I am the only one in the group that has experience with the SDK but the whole group is proficient in Java.

My main concern is taking on too much and taking too long to decide.

Summary: How should we go about deciding what we want to do?

2) Any one have any ideas? Is there anything anyone would like to see implemented on Android? I find projects like this are way easier to get motivated for when it isn't just for the class so if anyone has any ideas I am all ears.

Answer 1

How about an android app to do distributed brainstorm sessions. Code up a Google App site as a shared info distributing point and collect the ideas. After collection analyze them and add a scoring system.

Should be fun and doable and you can use it for selecting your next project.

Answer 2

You'll have a lot of motivation and can get the support of your friends if you make something you and your friends will realy want to use.

An interesting app might be one for your university. Some universities have official apps, but most don't. This could be interesting because you might be able to integrate your project with resources from the administration (involves talking to other people and working with a foreign interface) or use RSS feeds and XML data from your college's website. You could add features like weather on campus, course lists, an integrated map of the campus, latest school news, and the like. It's a manageable project but can be expanded and improved in many sorts of ways.

Answer 3

your best bet is to look around for "pain". is there something about your school that drives everyone nuts? can you think of a way to solve it or at least make it a little more bearable in some way? If you solve peoples problems, they will beat a path to your door.

alternatively, you could take something that everyone loves and make it better. these kinds of ideas are useful, but i think you get more bang for your buck if you improve a horrible process rather than incremental improving an already good thing.

Answer 4

Here is a Forum that people have announced a ton of ideas they thought about. If you find one you like then I would look at the market or at AppBrain to make sure it doesn't exist. I thought an app for Parental SMS Watch App would be cool. A parent could flag words that would them alerts when there kids got a message when a word like "sex" comes across. Hope this helps. I have been in the college scene just recently. Good luck with your design project!