In the spirit of giving back and lending a helping hand, computer engineering seniors from the University at Albany decided to focus their capstone project last spring on developing new technology that could improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
The students – Andrew Boggio-Dandry, Anthony Castro, Egzon Shehu and Steven Yoo – partnered with the New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID) and Living Resources, two agencies whose mission is to improve the lives of those with disabilities.
The tool they constructed, dubbed Bee Notified, provides digital reminders to streamline time management. The application can store calendar events, such as a work shifts, and notifies users to ensure they stay on task and get where they need to be on time. Unlike other calendar-based applications, Bee Notified recognizes the user’s location and compares it with where they should be as determined by calendar events. If a user doesn’t arrive at their expected location at the expected time, administrators are notified.
“The UAlbany ‘Bee Notified’ capstone design team has set a standard for others to follow,” said College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Kim Boyer. “Their work is not just a technical achievement; it also exemplifies the College mission of ‘Science in Service to Society.'”
After completing their app, the team entered Bee Notified in the CREATE Symposium in April, and took home third place and a check for $5,000. The students were equally grateful for the experience and support provided by NYSID and Living Resources.
“From the outset, the dedicated team of people at both NYSID and Living Resources have been receptive to our questions and supportive of our ideas,” said Castro. “It has been really fantastic to work with them and experience the support they have for their student program. The staff took time out of their day to speak with us whenever we needed feedback or had questions. In these conversations, we were able to hear some of the stories of disabled clients who had their lives changed by the organization, as well as feedback on the positive aspects of the Bee Notified system and possible improvements.”
30 Days of Giving 2018
- Day 1: Buffalo State’s Students Serve as Civic Leaders
- Day 2: Farmingdale State College Students Give Veterans a Smile
- Day 3: Tompkins Cortland Community College Brings the Farm to the Table
- Day 4: SUNY Maritime Donates Backpacks to Homes For the Brave
- Day 5: Paws and Effect at Binghamton University
- Day 6: New Paltz Students Go From Interns To Emerging Leaders
- Day 7: Niagara County Community College Students Feed Animals in Need
- Day 8: Mohawk Valley Community College Baseball Team Helps Area Veterans
- Day 9: SUNY Delhi Students Build Homes for the Homeless
- Day 10: SUNY Old Westbury Commemorates Veterans
- Day 11: UAlbany Students Work to Improve Lives of Those With Disabilities
- Day 12: Alfred State Students Preserve History in California
- Day 13: Herkimer County Community College Cares For the Community
- Day 14: SUNY Broome Students Stepping Up to End Campus Hunger
- Day 15: Monroe Community College Develops Humanitarian Mapping
- Day 16: SUNY Oswego Hockey Teams Support Local Charities
- Day 17: Stony Brook University Students Practice Prevention and Outreach
- Day 18: SUNY ESF Students Give Up Their Saturdays for Service
- Day 19: Clinton Community College Helps Students Overcome Barriers to Success
- Day 20: SUNY Plattsburgh Grants Holiday Wishes to Area Children and Families
- Day 21: SUNY Cobleskill Gives Back to the Iroquois Indian Museum
- Day 22: SUNY Sullivan Helps Local Federation for the Homeless
- Day 23: Operation Shoebox at Schenectady County Community College
- Day 24: University at Buffalo Grassroots Gardens
- Day 25: SUNY Oneonta Runs to Fight Hunger
- Day 26: SUNY Orange Helps the Needy Stay Warm in Winter
- Day 27: HVCC Students Pack Good Night Bags for Families in Crisis
- Day 28: SUNY Fredonia Adopts Families in Need
- Day 29: Onondaga Community College Students Give Back With Service Abroad
- Day 30: Jefferson Community College Faculty & Staff Take Pie in the Face for Charity
