N-M Chapter 50 Thesis Defense
Chapter 50 Thesis Defense
May 28th, morning.
In a thesis defense classroom at the School of Computer Science, Shandong University, sunlight streamed through the clean glass windows, casting bright spots of light on the dark brown floor. The air was filled with the distinctive smell of chalk dust and old books, carrying a touch of solemnity and reverence befitting an academic institution.
Ling Yun stood on the podium, wearing a neatly ironed white shirt, his posture upright. Unlike the students below who looked slightly nervous, clutching their notes and muttering to themselves, he had only a few simple outline cards in front of him, his expression calm and composed.
Below the podium sat several senior professors from the computer science department, including his advisor and the department head, Professor Li. Their gazes were scrutinizing, but also tinged with curiosity about this already well-known "special student."
"Hello everyone, I am Lingyun. The title of my graduation thesis is 'Design and Implementation of Internet Cafe Billing and Management System Based on Local Area Network Environment'." Lingyun's voice was clear and steady as he began his presentation.
Instead of piling up obscure theories, he directly addressed practical needs, explaining the pain points of traditional manual billing and management methods, such as inefficiency, error-proneness, and difficulty in data collection, in the context of the widespread adoption of PCs and the emergence of internet cafes as a new business model.
Next, he used flowcharts and simple module diagrams to explain in detail how his system implemented functions such as membership card management, automatic timekeeping and billing, remote power on/off control, and data statistics and analysis. He even brought several screenshots of the system in operation, showcasing the actual user interface and backend data reports.
"This system," Ling Yun paused, his gaze sweeping over the professors listening intently below, "is not just a design on paper. It is currently running in my 'Starry Sky Internet Cafe,' and has undergone more than forty-five days of high-concurrency testing with an average of several hundred users per day. Its stability and efficiency have been verified."
Upon hearing this, the professors exchanged glances, revealing their interest. Graduation theses that so closely integrate theoretical design with business practice are rare these days.
The Q&A session began. Professor Li, the department head, adjusted his glasses and spoke first: "Lingyun, your system is indeed quite practical. However, from an academic perspective, the technologies involved, whether databases or network communication, don't seem to offer much theoretical innovation or breakthrough. What are your thoughts on this?"
This is a rather pointed question, directly addressing the academic depth of the paper.
Ling Yun remained calm and bowed slightly: "Professor Li is right. The core value of this paper may not lie in the disruptive innovation of the algorithm, but in integrating existing, relatively mature technologies in a low-cost, highly available way to solve a specific practical problem that accompanies the emergence of new business models. I believe that in the process of computer science moving from the ivory tower to widespread application, this engineering capability and keen insight into market demands are no less valuable than pure theoretical innovation."
He then shifted his focus to the future: "Moreover, this system is just a starting point. In my vision, with the popularization and development of internet technology, future internet cafe management systems will far surpass simple billing functions. It will become a comprehensive operating platform integrating user behavior analysis, automatic game content updates, network security protection, and even remote cloud management. Data will become the core asset; by analyzing user computer usage preferences, precise content recommendations and marketing campaigns can be achieved..."
He began to outline a future management ecosystem based on networks and data, mentioning concepts such as "big data analytics" and "cloud collaboration," which were still extremely cutting-edge at the time. Although it was only a preliminary concept, the vision and foresight it demonstrated made the professors present think deeply.
The tutor smiled with satisfaction and added, "Lingyun's thesis may have room for improvement in terms of theoretical depth, but its strong practical orientation, clear engineering thinking, and accurate grasp of industry development trends are very rare. I believe this aligns with our goal of cultivating application-oriented and interdisciplinary talents."
Lingyun answered the following questions fluently about the technical details and implementation difficulties, demonstrating solid technical skills and rich practical experience.
After the defense, Lingyun and all his classmates waited anxiously outside the classroom for the results. When the professor came out with the list of results and announced, "Lingyun, excellent," he felt little emotion, as if he had simply completed a necessary procedure.
He went over to thank his supervisor and several defense committee members.
Professor Li looked at him, his gaze filled with admiration and a hint of complexity: "Lingyun, your mind has long since left the campus, hasn't it? Your internet cafe is thriving. Is this paper more like a summary of a phase for you?"
Ling Yun readily admitted, "Professor Li is very perceptive. The campus taught me the basics and the way of thinking, but the wider world is outside. This paper is my account of my four years of university life, and also my start-up phase in entrepreneurship."
His advisor patted him on the shoulder: "Go on, the outside world is more exciting. Remember to come back to school often; the joint lab you're working on still needs the school's support."
"Definitely! Thank you, teacher!"
Stepping out of the teaching building, the May sunlight was somewhat dazzling. Ling Yun took a deep breath. The end of his thesis defense marked the official conclusion of his university career. That graduation certificate and degree certificate would soon mark the end of this chapter of his life's journey.
However, his journey did not stop. A more distant destination had already clearly formed in his mind—the United States.
He needed to go there in person, to see firsthand the country brewing the biggest tech bubble in history, to feel the pulse of Silicon Valley, to closely observe the companies he had recommended to Mr. Zheng, and even to see if there was an opportunity to connect with some undiscovered technological talents or teams. The Spark Lab's research and development of optical mice and wireless technology also needed to stay abreast of the latest developments.
Thinking of this, he took out his phone and dialed Mr. Zheng's number.
"Mr. Zheng, it's me, Ling Yun."
"Mr. Ling! Hello, hello!" came Mr. Zheng's enthusiastic voice from the other end of the phone. "I was just about to thank you! Following your advice, I had someone buy some of the stocks you mentioned in the US, and they've already seen quite good gains in such a short time!"
"That's good. Holding it long-term is fine." After a few pleasantries, Ling Yun got down to business. "Mr. Zheng, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with. I'm planning to go to the United States soon to do some research, mainly to see what Silicon Valley and the computer industry are like. We often have business dealings there. Do you know of any familiar channels you could recommend for visa processing and itinerary arrangements? That would save you some trouble."
"You're going to the United States?" Mr. Zheng's voice immediately rose eight octaves, filled with surprise and the excitement of "finally getting an opportunity." "What a coincidence! I also happen to have some business to handle there, and I've been wanting to visit Wall Street and Silicon Valley for a long time! Mr. Ling, if you trust me, leave this to me! I have connections with my company's business invitation letter, itinerary arrangements, and visa officers—I guarantee it will all be handled perfectly for you! Let's go together; it'll be good to have someone to look after you on the way, and I can also ask you for advice!"
Mr. Zheng's enthusiasm was almost irresistible. Ling Yun thought for a moment and then agreed. With Mr. Zheng, a seasoned veteran who frequently travels between China and the United States, helping him would indeed save a lot of unnecessary trouble.
"Okay, then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Zheng. I'll cover the related expenses."
"Mr. Ling, you're too kind! It's my honor to travel with you! Don't worry about the expenses, I'll take care of that! I'll have my secretary prepare the materials right away, and we'll submit the visa application as soon as possible!"
After hanging up the phone, Lingyun looked up at the azure sky. The end of her thesis defense was like a period, but also like a colon leading to a wider world.
The domestic situation has begun to open up; internet cafes are generating revenue rapidly, electronics factories are starting to take off, and laboratories have been built. It's time to turn our attention to the other side of the ocean, to that source of technology and the center of capital's vortex, and personally get involved to find the next crucial piece of the puzzle for our technological empire.
A trip to the United States is imperative.