Proposal of modifications

Working in teams of 2 (or individually if you strongly prefer), propose a modification or set of modifications to PandemicSim that will improve its functionality and/or potential usefulness to city officials. In so doing, consider whether the simulator itself accurately represents all groups, and the potential uses and impacts of your proposed modifications on different groups.  You may propose changes that

1) had they been in place in March 2020, would have made PandemicSim more functional for the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, or

2) that would make it more representative of all people, behaviors, and social spaces in Austin, or

3) that make it more likely to be useful for a future pandemic, or

4) that would make it useful and relevant applied to a different city, or

    some combination of these 4

As you consider modifications, think about the following: Everyone experienced the pandemic differently, depending on the size of their household, whether or not they could work remotely, whether they had children or other dependents, whether they earned a salary or a wage, and many other factors. These factors influenced the choices that were available (or not) to them, and the way they were affected by lockdowns and closures of schools and certain types of businesses.

Submit a concise written proposal identifying

  1) what limitation(s) of the current simulator you propose to address

  2) what you propose to change and what impacts it would have if successful

  3) how you propose to do it

  4) what challenges you foresee

  5) what possible negative consequences, if any, your changes could have, and on whom