Page 1 of 2

Help me choose a web research topic

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:15 am
by raghavan20
Hi, I am studying at Staffordshire universtiy doing my masters in computer science.
As part of my last semester, I have got two modules, where I have to make a research on some field about something.
As I have developed a few PHP applications and do not want to waste my existing skills, I am planning to do research something related to web; the research can also include significant programming.

I am looking for suggestions about
1. how to find web research topics
2. where can I find sample research projects done earlier in web.

If you have got some idea on which a research would be good then I would like to have your opinions.
I actually appreciate any information which would be useful to my research.

Thanks very much to all

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:19 am
by feyd
piece of advice: since most universities own your papers and all rights to them, avoid something you think you can make good money at :)

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:24 am
by raghavan20
you are right and I did not think about it.
then I should prepare a pared down version of the original one.
but I need time to prepare for the bigger one; for that I will use the semester time and their resources.
feyd, I know you should be having some topics in mind; pls help me if you have time.

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:26 am
by feyd
I'd like to know what your areas of interest for this are, as "web" is insanely broad.

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:34 am
by raghavan20
something related to web-networks since I have also studied CCNA.

Re: Help me choose a web research topic

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:34 am
by Weirdan
raghavan20 wrote: 2. where can I find sample research projects done earlier in web.
Here's excellent example: Roy Fielding's PhD dissertation

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 1:03 pm
by raghavan20
Thanks for your topic weirdan but I am more looking to do some programming in my research.
I should find some topic which has been long waiting to be done.
something like encryption, templates, some type of search or something new in transfer of information btw businesses using XML.

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 2:45 pm
by Chris Corbyn
It might be a good idea to go to your university library and read over some past journals/papers in areas of interest in terms of finding past research ;) I know how tiresome that task can be but they should also have electronic journals to search pretty easily too... if they don't have a copy they will be able to get you an inter-library loan from a library that does have it.

Chances are, your university will have created you an ATHENS account when you joined, in which case, you have access to thousands and thousands of such journals online :) I did my degree in chemistry so I don't really know who publishes computer science journals unfortunately.

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:10 pm
by alvinphp
research AJAX. This is going to be (if it is not already) the next big thing.

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:14 pm
by Chris Corbyn
alvinphp wrote:research AJAX. This is going to be (if it is not already) the next big thing.
Yep it's taken off has AJAX.

<off-topic>
The xajax class is well worth a look: http://xajax.sourceforge.net/
</off-topic>

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 5:49 pm
by raghavan20
I have got an Athens account with me.
I will browse some e-journals tomorrow.

then regarding with AJAX, what do you think can be researched in it?
I can study and understand all the concepts in it but I want to know wot could be made as a research with XAJAX?
I want to do something that should be a research not a project.
thanks for your help guys

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:01 pm
by alvinphp
A ton of things can be researched in it. How will it change the web? How does it work? What are the browser limitations? Why was this not done before? How does it effect server load? How will it effect thick clients? You can talk about all types of things relating to AJAX. And since you say you want to do some programming in your research you can program a site using AJAX and run tests to see how well it really works compared to a non AJAX site.

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:33 pm
by Roja
raghavan20 wrote:then regarding with AJAX, what do you think can be researched in it?
You could research:

- AJAX and usability: How well is AJAX supported in accessibility software like Jaws, and Microsoft Screen Reader. (Can research accessibility, talk to usability experts, etc).

- AJAX and mobile devices: How well do current mobile devices (cellphones, smartphones, blackberries, etc) support AJAX? What are their plans for the future (can research future models, call cellphone companies, etc).

- AJAX and e-commerce: What sites actually earn a profit using AJAX? Which major e-commerce sites don't yet, and do they have plans to in the future? If not, why not?

Lots of good topics in there.

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:03 pm
by McGruff
An interesting take on Ajax.

Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 2:44 am
by raghavan20
- AJAX and e-commerce: What sites actually earn a profit using AJAX? Which major e-commerce sites don't yet, and do they have plans to in the future? If not, why not?
Roja, thats a good topic. but i want to know more details on wot could be researched.
normally ajax in electronic commerce can be used for
product listing
search
shopping cart
dynamic secondary information based on current product
dont know about payment.

how do you think i can come to know about the intentions of major e-commerce sites?
I will talk with my professor to see wot more can be researched on AJAX and how do they consider AJAX as a good research topic.
A ton of things can be researched in it. How will it change the web? How does it work? What are the browser limitations? Why was this not done before? How does it effect server load? How will it effect thick clients? You can talk about all types of things relating to AJAX. And since you say you want to do some programming in your research you can program a site using AJAX and run tests to see how well it really works compared to a non AJAX site.
I think wot you have told me to find out about AJAX would be a good assignment but I have to find out how good this is a research topic. But finding out performance of AJAX and non-AJAX site is good but how do I really calculate the time... using UNIX timestamps in PHP???