All week, I have been pondering how various technologies can improve the SSMS (Shaw Shower Management System). Technology is a cornerstone to this idea. Residents will access an interactive website to sign-up for their shower time and swipe their ID Card through an electronic reader to turn on the water. Another section of the online portal might allow residents to post their feedback on the system, so the project's developers can receive comments directly from their users.
On Wednesday, Professor Rubin lectured on the use of Microsoft Excel and the power of data that is organized in a spreadsheet. Professor Rubin explained that in today's world, it is critical for information professionals (and any other professional, for that matter!) to master the use of Excel. Data is important, but valuable only when it is presented in a form that others can easily understand.
There are many ways in which an organized spreadsheet could benefit users and developers involved with the SSMS. We could collect data about the number of residents using the SSMS, the number of showers taken each day, the length of each shower (in minutes), the most 'popular' shower times and the water temperature of each shower. This data could be inputted into an Excel spreadsheet and organized into various charts and tables. Then, the most relevant statistics could be exported and posted on the interactive website. This would allow Shaw Residents to easily see data about their bathroom. Access to organized data will be especially useful to our research department, as they will be interested in analyzing shower usage and system traffic. Finally, data on water temperature could be a great reference for Syracuse University's Capital Improvement Plan. By implementing a more environmentally and energy conscious solution, we might be able to reduce the wear and tear on Shaw Hall's ancient boilers.
The power of organized data should not be underestimated. Spreadsheets and charts will undoubtedly play a vital role in the deployment and implementation of the SSMS.
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