Use of Microsoft Visual Studio Express Edition and DirectX SDK

to Simulate Movements of a Colony of Penguins that must be Tagged for a Scientific Mission

EducationSpencer Weeks-Jamieson

Terrance MasonSandy HarrisonJasmin Rivers

Overview

• Abstract• Motivation• Project• Artica• Accomplishments• Software• Before• After• Team• Acknowledgements

AbstractStudents begin to take a general interest into becoming scientists or engineers at the middle school level. It is imperative that we target them at this point in their lives to direct them toward the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The dilemma is how to get young scholars interested into STEM? Our proposed tool is an educational video game. A vast number of young students tend to play video games everyday after school. We can involve education and fun by combining both into one game.

The objective of this research project is to enhance an existing video game that not only pertains to entertainment, but to also be informative. The purpose is to educate young students on the Polar Regions including challenges that scientists face. In developing this game, the team is specifying, designing, implementing, and testing the software. Some of the programs that the team has applied are C++, VC++ Express 2005 Edition compiler, and Microsoft Platform SDK (Software Development Kit). Conducting research and enhancing this game has nourished us into fluent programmers and software engineers while providing an educational resource to students.

Motivation

• Purpose• Benefits

Project

• Contributions

• Penguin Behavior

• Tools

Software

Installation of VC++ 2005Step1: Install Visual C++ Express

Step2: Install the service pack for Visual C++ Express

Step 3: Install the Microsoft Platform SDK

Step 4: Update the Visual C++ directories in the Projects and Solutions section in the Options dialog box

Step 5: Update the corewin_exprss.vsprops file.

Step 6: Generate and build a Win32 application to test your paths.

Artica

• Description

Accomplishments

• Modifications

• Biological Inspirations

• Testing

Before

After

Code

Acknowledgements

Team Artica would like to thank the entire URE summer program including its participants for the encouragement and support needed to complete this research project. Special thanks is given to our mentors, Dr. Agah and Mr. Majithia, for motivating us each and every day, and to Dr. Linda Hayden for the inspiration to go beyond mediocrity.

Question Session