Abstract:

During computer science (IT) studies at technical universities there are project classes where the students are asked to implement a piece of software, an application or a system. These types of classes are included into the curricula of IT programs. These subjects are very demanded because the students need to turn the theoretical knowledge acquired during their education into a way of creating their own product. They may use the equipment installed at the universities as well as their own, for example mobile devices, which have recently been very popular. During the second degree of their education, the students have to be taught how to perform research supervised by an academic teacher.

The aim of this paper is to present an innovative mobile application as an example of the tasks given to students during their IT project class. The software is created to assist researchers investigating the effectiveness of motion detection or dealing with static structures with low dynamics of the surrounding environment. The application uses an embedded camera in order to detect motion. The application provides motion detection using implemented algorithms, changing their parameters, and saving images and logs from its course into the device’s memory. Additionally, analysis was performed with the created software on two various mobile devices. Three algorithms (RGB, Luma and Aggregate Luma) were analysed using two mobile devices for various environment conditions. The tests were performed twice. Firstly for a room with very good lighting and then for one with poor one. Each test consisted of two steps that differed in the participant's clothes.

The project class presented develops the students’ project, software, testing and research skills. Thus, such classes may be a link between education and research.

The students are more involved in the study when they are interested in the subject, especially working with modern equipment like mobile devices.

Keywords:

Innovative mobile application, motion detection algorithms.