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Comment by Saqi10 | Hacker News Reader

I commented before but guess it hasn't showed up, so I'll comment again lol.

I need an idea for an Individual Project Proposal.

Details: Studying Business Information Systems -- this is Database oriented at the moment but also includes Decision Support Systems and Artificial Intelligence next year. I'm also becoming interested in programming and web scripting although the idea of a web site was not approved by my tutor. I want to do something with gaming or an app; something that I can easily learn. The project should be original or an improvement of a system/ combines existing technology to create something useful.

Thanks a lot!!

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Not sure of the depth or scope required for your proposal, but a fun experiment I occasionally try: redesign something that you use every day as a proof of concept. Like a cell phone, or how email/text communications might work. Explore typical use cases and figure out how you can incorporate software intelligence into the workflow. :)

Why don't you start with a problem you or someone you know faces and then work backwards to an idea to solve that problem.

I find people often build things because they are possible and interesting but unless you solve a problem they don't add a lot of value and therefore don't get used.

Excellent advice, often ignored. To your comment, I would add that you shouldn't limit your problem to something small or "doable." List and describe as grandiose a problem as interests you, then carve out a piece of that problem whose scope is appropriate for your project.

I think thats really simple and excellent piece of advice. I think we as human are very good at ignoring simple things.

Thanks a lot for the advice guys!!

Yh I've been keeping an eye out for problems to solve and I keep telling myself to buy a notepad to jot down any ideas I come up with or a problem I discover. There are problems although big that's why I was ignoring them as they are way put of my league lol but I will listen to your advice and look into it, Thanks again! :)

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