M6-IT has identified the following projects as being needed by the community that might be suitable for A-level or degree level students in computing or ICT.  All of these projects could be developed using Free Software.  Please contact Richard Rothwell for more details.

• Lone Worker Safety:  when lone workers visit clients' houses they are often not logged into the houses.  An SMS based tool would allow them to text the postcode they were visiting and the length of time they were planning to be there.  The system could call them after this time if they had not reported themselves as having finished.  If they failed to respond, the system could contact a supervisor.
• Low-cost data logging system: most computers have a microphone port.  A simple circuit can convert a 0-1 volt signal into a 1 - 2 kHz signal.  This can then be read by any computer and logged. This would be particularly valuable to schools. further details are available.
  
• UK postcode to Google Map interface: all of the components are available to make this work.  An example might be a web page to allow the user to add a list of postcodes and then display them on a map.
• T9 - a Free Software implementation of the mis-named predictive text entry system popular on mobile phones.  The intention is to develop a system suitable for portable devices running Linux.