MVC Software Engineering Club Showcases High-Tech Projects

As the world becomes ever more dependent on gizmos and high-tech tools, there is an increasing demand for software developers, IT specialists and engineers. This is one of the reasons behind the formation of the Moreno Valley College Software Engineering Club. According to founder and vice president Aaron Clark, the club was created last year by a group of Moreno Valley College (MVC) students who wanted to showcase their technological talents. They also wanted to educate people about careers in software, robotics and Science, Technology, Education, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Clark, a Computer Science major, said one of the club’s current projects is building a motion-activated computer arm. The robot arm utilizes the same kind of radar technology used in weather systems to detect nearby movement. The project involves more than 30 hours of work including programming and software development, Clark said. He said the long-term goal is to develop a computer arm that will wave to people as they walk by. “We’re big on teaching and showing technology,” Clark said. The Software Engineering Club is also working on bringing a 3D printer to campus. James Luevano, president of the Software Engineering Club, said several MVC students are studying game design and a 3D printer will allow them to turn models they designed for games into real-life objects. “The 3D printer will bring students’ creations to life,” said Luevano, who is a Computer Science major. Another project the Software Engineering Club recently conducted was an information security workshop which showed students, staff and instructors how to avoid hacking and phishing attacks. The club is also working on a mobile app for Webadvisor. Webadvisor is a section of the Moreno Valley College website that allows students to register and enroll in classes, but it currently doesn’t work on mobile devices.