Course Description: 

ECE 484W or Computer Engineering Design I is a single-semester class that requires that the student design a specified product using a DE-10 standard FPGA and the C++ programming language. Throughout the semester the student designs and implements a webcam with live-footage edits similar to Photoshop in order to adjust the feed’s contrast and brightness values.  

 

Throughout this course, we were expected to create a product that performs image manipulation in real-time on a live webcam feed. However, this was constrained to functioning on an FPGA which has limited memory and wireless capability. In order to implement this I had to think of out-of-the-box solutions to overcome memory management issues and manipulate images in real time. The best way to do this was to not save the entire image but instead compress and encode the video feed in real time. After all, the only data needed was the data displayed on the screen. This allowed me to quickly edit the video feed, compress it, and send it to the FPGA for display without a significant drop in the frame rate

 

Outside of this specific course, I have applied the concepts I have learned from this class to other classes such as CS350: Introduction to Software Engineering and ECE487: Senior Design II. I’ve learned how to manage time, create a product, and present results. I also use these skills outside of the classroom in my research. Knowing how to present information effectively to a stakeholder is very transferable to presenting research to a group of academics. This course has taught me the skill necessary to be successful outside of the context of engineering and allow me to present my ideas and concepts in a meaningful manner

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