I want to create a website that is essentially a marketplace for The College of New Jersey. I would allow students to sign up items they longer need. This would typically be around the end of the spring semester. Students would usually have large amounts of slightly used, to brand new items that they no longer need. Instead of wasting it by throwing it out, I want to create a service where students can see a selection of items that are ‘unwanted’ and pick items that might need. While It is not definitive on whether I will allow a borrow/use once a system, I want to allow students to have a system where they can have items accessible to them, that may be economically hard to come by with.

           I wanted to pursue a thesis that will relate to a field I would like to work in. While I am an interactive multimedia major and having some computer science background, I am currently in the process of doing a marketing minor as I would like to diversify my portfolio and I wanted to get into a more business route.

           The components that this thesis will include would be a website that can maintain forms, a student’s information, login, online database of what’s available and connect that with squared shelves that would be used for storage and to check inventory. I want to incorporate a system with these shelves that would sense if: There is an item in stock and access to someone who would like to use the item.

           Some of the challenges that may occur would be how I would combine software and hardware to work together. This would be part of my research where I would look into many examples that might have dived into this approach.

• Another thing would be storage, where would I store these items?

• While this is a thesis, if I were to expand this, I would need to get a space if this were to expand.
• Wouldn’t it be easier to use Paws ID log-in system?
  • Yes, of course, having the ability to use a TCNJ login is easier, however, I would not have access to access that info and allow students to use a TCNJ login.
• If this is a marketplace, will there be the handling of money?
  • I want it to make it a borrow-system, although If I were to approach with the money system, I would allow it to be handled off-site.
• What are some of the challenges that might arise?
  • My issue would be to combine hardware and software. However, this would be part of my research as I would like to learn more about small computers like Arduino and Raspberry pi
• What tools would you be looking at to use?
  • Aside from looking at an HTML refresher course, I will be prototyping in the maker space on squared shelves  

A couple of the things I need to look into would be Html, CSS, JavaScript, Arduino, Raspberry pi.

My research process for the following weeks to come would get a better understanding of web building, what kind of materials would be needed, would it make more sense to use an Arduino or a Raspberry pi, what are other tools or materials I can include or not include that would improve my project. As for the following weeks to come, I will be updating weekly on the research I have made, any development on prototypes, confusions or even improvements.