The following are some sample suggestions for individual project topics.

EXAMPLE 1: SENSOR INSTRUMENTATION
Students could be:

• investigating and reporting on the range and sensitivity of proximity and remote sensors;
• researching, planning, and developing new uses for them, such as warning devices for children around swimming pools, or a remote-control gate;
• testing reactions to them among different groups;
• investigating ways of recording temperature and light levels in controlled environments, and using virtual-instrumentation software to design a twenty-four hour monitoring system;
• presenting and marketing this innovation.

Example 2: Quality Control Systems in Food Products
Students could be:

• investigating regulatory controls for food manufacturing and the principles behind them;
• analysing quality control mechanisms and systems in a food processing plant;
• planning and documenting management systems to meet required quality standards;
• producing information for staff;
• monitoring efficiency of the system;
• researching understanding of, and attitudes to, regulation of food production and service.

EXAMPLE 3: HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS
Students could be:

• investigating different types of security devices and systems, and the reasons for their use;
• planning, specifying, and producing a home security system;
• evaluating the market opportunities;
• preparing an installation and maintenance guide for consumers;
• developing a patent application for their innovation.

EXAMPLE 4: PROTECTIVE COVERINGS AND COATINGS
Students could be:

• investigating the range, properties, and promotion of protective coverings and finishes currently available &; polymers, thermal coatings, silicones;
• identifying unmet needs, for example, in specific climatic conditions;
• designing, developing, testing, producing, and promoting a new product;
• exploring materials used in other times and situations, such as flax for insulation.

Example 5: Biosensors
Students could be:

• investigating uses of biosensors to identify their reliability and versatility;
• researching, planning, and developing a biosensor which uses enzyme action to bioassay its source and concentration or as a monitoring system;
• presenting a seminar on future possibilities for the use of biosensors.

EXAMPLE 6: DEVELOPMENTS IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Students could be:

• preparing a presentation, looking at current developments in information and communications technology, including the development and demonstration of a specific application, such as investigating the possible applications of artificial intelligence and virtual reality;
• analysing the impact of fibre optics on information, transmission, and acquisition systems;
• debating the advantages and disadvantages of voice recognition technology;
• producing a sound poem, incorporating synthetic and processed sound;
• reporting on the impact of information technology and telecommunications on the siting of businesses;
• surveying attitudes to the use of multimedia in education.