Digital Commons Network^™

The Development Of A Performance Assessment Methodology For Activity Based Intelligence: A Study Of Spatial, Temporal, And Multimodal Considerations, Christian M. Lewis

Theses

Activity Based Intelligence (ABI) is the derivation of information from a series of in- dividual actions, interactions, and transactions being recorded over a period of time. This usually occurs in Motion imagery and/or Full Motion Video. Due to the growth of unmanned aerial systems technology and the preponderance of mobile video devices, more interest has developed in analyzing people's actions and interactions in these video streams. Currently only visually subjective quality metrics exist for determining the utility of these data in detecting specific activities. One common misconception is that ABI boils down to a simple resolution problem; more pixels and …

Meaningful Objects Through Process-Oriented Form Research, Heechan Kim

Theses

This work concentrates on the relationships between shapes and the lines those shapes are composed of as well as the process by which they are created. In this thesis, I intend to explore the different characteristics of wood and to visualize the language and meaning of the work which results both from those characteristics and from the artist.

As a maker, I have always been fascinated by the use of wood in the creation of objects. Man can control a material against its own intrinsic attributes to create something very different from that material's natural shape. My works concentrate on …

Use Of Mobile Technology Among Museum Visitors: A Case Study, Meg Miller Taber

Theses

Museums have employed mobile modes of communication for decades: pamphlets and audio tours. The popularity of mobile technology prompted museums to integrate mobile experiences with personal devices. A survey collected information from the Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) email list to understand adoption of MAG's mobile experience through the lens of the technology acceptance model to learn how perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use influence visitors use or intent to use MAGart 2.0. The study proposed two museum specific variables, MAG frequency of visitation and MAG engagement, to examine adoption of MAGart 2.0. Results suggest behavioral intention and actual use …

Parasitic Databases, Svetlin Tzolov

Theses

A parasitic database combines the fundamental principles of parasitic storage with those of traditional database theory to create a distributed data storage strategy that provides basic database functionality in a design specifically intended to ensure high data security. This approach is inspired by parasitic network storage in which information is stored within network traffic across many machines, usually unbeknownst to their owners, using a communication protocol such as Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), etc.

The basis for parasitic data storage is that highly confidential user data is physically "stored" through continuous packet transfer between various nodes within a network. This …

Plastic Glory, Ihab Mardini

Theses

In ancient times, humans used drawing on walls as a way to express their emotions and thoughts. Then, cameras were invented to pursue that purpose through photos and videos in sharper images. And now we do animation, not just because it is pretty, but also because it is the tool that allows us to freely speak our minds, without being bothered by what we can and what we cannot do in film!

There is a Lebanese thinker, poet, artist and writer named Jubran Khaleel Jubran, who has always inspired me with his artworks and specifically his poems. Mysteriously, there was …

Privacy Sensitive Resource Access Monitoring For Android Systems, Leah Xinya Zhao

Theses

Mobile devices, with an extensive array of capabilities and flexibility, are sometimes said to be an extension of the human body. Enhancing device capabilities and incorporating them into everyday life have always been a huge focus of the mobile industry. In the area of mobile data collection, existing works collect various types of user behavior data via mobile device usage, and use the data to aid in further understanding of human behavior. Typical data collection utilizes application or background service installed on the mobile device with user permission to collect data such as accelerometer, call logs, location, wifi transmission, etc. …

Alternative Lithographic Methods For Variable Aspect Ratio Vias, Anthony R. Schepis

Theses

The foundation of semiconductor industry has historically been driven by scaling. Device size reduction is enabled by increased pattern density, enhancing functionality and effectively reducing cost per chip. Aggressive reductions in memory cell size have resulted in systems with diminishing area between parallel bit/word lines. This affords an even greater challenge in the patterning of contact level features that are inherently difficult to resolve because of their relatively small area, a product of their two domain critical dimension image. To accommodate these trends there has been a shift toward the implementation of elliptical contact features. This empowers designers to maximize …

A Layer 2 Protocol To Protect The Ip Communication In A Wired Ethernet Network, Reiner Augusto Campillo Terrero

Theses

The IP protocol is the preferred data communication mechanism used nowadays. Data encapsulated using IP can be compromised if it is sent in clear text or without integrity protection, and even using known protocols to protect the confidentiality, integrity and authenticity of this data, the EtherType field of the Ethernet frames and the header of the IP packets in a wired Ethernet network still remain exposed opening possibilities for an attacker to gain knowledge of the network, cause a denial of service attack or steal information.

In this thesis, we propose a new protocol that protects the confidentiality, integrity and …

A Novel Method For Extraction Of Neural Response From Cochlear Implant Auditory Evoked Potentials, Daniel Q. Sinkiewicz

Theses

Cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) tests are used to evaluate cochlear implant (CI) patient auditory pathways, but when the CI device processes sound stimuli it produces an electrical artifact which obscures the relevant information in the neural response. Currently there are multiple methods which attempt to extract the neural response from the contaminated CAEP, but there is no gold standard which can quantitatively confirm the effectiveness of these methods. To address this crucial shortcoming, this work employs time-frequency analysis, using the continuous wavelet transform (CWT), to quantify how much artifact energy remains in the neural response recovered by these methods. …

A Multivariate Analysis Of The Human Factors And Preferences Towards Digital Publishing Platforms For The Ipad, Anton Ninkov

Theses

Tablet computers have been widely adopted in America today, with 34% of American adults ages 18+ owning this type of digital device (PEW, 2013). With the emergence of new portable computer technology, reading on digital devices has become more popular than ever before. In particular, tablet computers have enabled users to read enhanced e-book material that, while still text-driven, incorporates all facets of multimedia and technology. With many different digital publishing solutions available for publishers to deploy their content, the goal of this research study was to determine whether there are significant differences in user preferences and comprehension for a …

Impact Of An Academic Success Class On Probationary Students, Nathan Hendrickson

Theses

One of the primary the missions of colleges and universities is dedicated to student success. Traditionally, helping academically probationary students has been challenging for all educational institutions, because there are a multitude of factors involved for the schools and the students including, for example, demographics, socioeconomic issues, student motivation, and student time-management skills. The complexity introduced by these various factors creates obstacles in developing effective programs to aid and assist these students. At the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), there exists a course entitled Insights on Success that is designed as an intervention step to improve individual academic performance through …

Self-Adjusting Biofeedback With A Dynamic Feedback Signal Set (Dyfss), Laurence I. Sugarman, Brian L. Garrison, Anna E. Hope, Stephen Jacobs, Alex J. Glade, Michael R. Wezalis, Kelsey L. Williford

Annual Effective Access Technology Conference

A lack of control over their autonomic nervous system presents a major challenge for many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autonomic biofeedback training is a promising treatment for managing anxiety and ASD symptoms more generally. We describe software that tunes four autonomic measurements to the best abilities and needs of each individual patient. Using this dynamic feedback signal set (DyFSS), a strength-based, self-customizing algorithm, we aim to address the autonomic heterogeneity of youth with ASD. The DyFSS may improve autonomic biofeedback training for the user by making it more understandable and easier to accomplish. Because it is self-adjusting, it …

Deaf Stem Community Alliance: Establishing A Model Virtual Academic Community, Lisa B. Elliot, Donna Easton, E. William Clymer

Annual Effective Access Technology Conference

This poster shows project goal and project activities

Self-Adjusting Biofeedback With A Dynamic Feedback Signal Set (Dyfss), Laurence I. Sugarman, Brian L. Garrison, Anna E. Hope

Annual Effective Access Technology Conference

Abstract - A lack of control over their autonomic nervous system presents a major challenge for many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autonomic biofeedback training is a promising treatment for managing anxiety and ASD symptoms more generally. We describe software that tunes four autonomic measurements to the best abilities and needs of each individual patient. Using this dynamic feedback signal set (DyFSS), a strength-based, self-customizing algorithm, we aim to address the autonomic heterogeneity of youth with ASD. The DyFSS may improve autonomic biofeedback training for the user by making it more understandable and easier to accomplish. Because it is …

Using Ipads To Improve Academic Gains For Students With Disabilities, Nicole Quick

Annual Effective Access Technology Conference

Abstract - Students with disabilities have a difficult time making academic progress in the classroom. Depending on the type of disability, students need various modifications and support to assist with academic tasks. This literature review examines the effectiveness of the use of iPads to help improve achievement for students with disabilities. Both benefits and difficulties of using iPads in the classroom are explored with an emphasis on how iPads can be used to improve instruction for students receiving special education services. The findings of this literature review confirm that iPads are an effective piece of technology in the classroom, and …

Deaf Stem Community Alliance: Establishing A Model Virtual Academic Community, Lisa B. Elliot, Donna Easton, E. William Clymer

Annual Effective Access Technology Conference

Abstract - This presentation describes the incremental and iterative development of the Deaf STEM Community Alliance’s virtual academic community, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Virtual Academic Community (DHHVAC). The DHHVAC components address three critical barriers to the success of students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing: student preparation, socialization, and access to media.

Wisdom Of Crowds Or Mob Mentality, Catherine Beaton, Ronald P. Vullo

Presentations and other scholarship

Media, the Latin plural of medium, is a provider of information. Humans are a means of storing or delivering information that began with origin of the humanity,. Current media is variety of platforms such as electronic, mass, multi digital, news, broadcast and social media. This paper examines a popular social media platform, Reddit, which self-professes to be the "Front Page of the Internet"™ as a mode of crowdsourcing.

Interaction Of Droplet And Sidewalls With Modified Surfaces In A Pemfc Gas Flow Channel, Mihir M. Shah

Theses

A Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is a clean and highly efficient way of power generation used primarily for transportation applications. Hydrogen and air are supplied to the fuel cell through gas channels, which also remove liquid water generated in the fuel cell. The clogged channels prevent reactant transport to the electrochemically active sites which comprise one of the channel walls and thus, degrading the performance of the cell. Proper management of the product water is a current topic of research interest in commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. Liquid water, produced as by-product of the fuel cell reaction, can …

The Photophysical Properties Of Squaraine Derivatives And Their Impact Upon Photovoltaic Efficiencies, Bi Zhu

Theses

Squaraine dyes provide potential on improving the efficiency of Organic photovoltaic OPV solar cell. Characterization of the photophysical properties of squaraine dyes is going to help us find the best material for our device. A series of squaraines (DESQ(OH)₂, DiBSQ(OH)₂, and novel DiPSQ(OH)₂) in which side chains length increasing were characterized in this paper. The material photophysical properties of these squaraines were systematically characterized using various tools. Our research showed that the length of side chain plays an important role in aggregation properties of squaraines, longer side chains result in smaller exciton splitting and …

Increased Persistence Of Wi-Fi Direct Networks For Smartphone-Based Collision Avoidance, Priyanka Angadi

Theses

Inter-vehicular communication is a promising technology to improve road safety. Inter-vehicular communication over a wireless medium can be used to exchange important information such as the speed, location, and headings of a vehicle with nearby vehicles. Using this information, it is possible to calculate if a collision is imminent and warn the driver to take action. Wi-Fi can also be used to share this information, however it requires an access point hardware to facilitate communication. Wi-Fi Direct enabled devices can share information without a hardware access point.

Wi-Fi Direct provides peer to peer communication by employing a software defined access …

Web Browser Private Mode Forensics Analysis, Emad Sayed Noorulla

Theses

To maintain privacy of the end consumers the browser vendors

provide a very good feature on the browser called the "Private Mode". As

per the browser vendors, the Private Mode ensures Cookies, Temporary

Internet Files, Webpage history, Form data and passwords, Anti-phishing

cache, Address bar and search AutoComplete, Automatic Crash Restore

(ACR) and Document Object Model (DOM) storage information is not

stored on the system [45].

To put to test the browser vendors claim, I had setup a test to confirm the

claims. During the first test the file system was monitored for all reads

and writes. On the second …

Take Flight, Melody Kelly, Hillary Murray, Olivia Robertson, Erica Jack, Michael Hir, Nicholas Schiefer

Journal of Interactive Humanities

Take Flight is an educational game prototype. Players learn about the lives of post World War I pilots, as they take on new tasks and find a new way of life. As the pilot interacts with different citizens, he learns about ways in which he can use his plane to help. Fields need to be crop dusted. Packages need to be delivered. Goods need to be smuggled. The pilot's reputation is affected by the types of tasks he chooses to complete. As the game progresses, users learn about everyday uses for planes in the 1920s and about the dangers of …

Story Guided Virtual Cultural Heritage Applications, Selma Rizvic

Journal of Interactive Humanities

Virtual cultural heritage applications, particularly virtual museums, nowadays include various forms of storytelling. Every object, site or artifact is better perceived and understood through the adjoining story. Interactive applications naturally request the storytelling to become interactive as well. This paper describes the concepts of interactive digital storytelling in our virtual museums and cultural heritage presentations and discusses their advantages and drawbacks recognized through user evaluation. We used digital stories not only to introduce visitors with the context and information on the objects, but also to enhance their navigation through virtual environments with purpose of learning and perceiving maximum amount of …

Interactivity: New Rules Of Engagement For The Humanities, Christopher Egert, Elizabeth S. Goins, Andrew Phelps

Journal of Interactive Humanities

This journal is a result of our frustration with 21st century humanities scholarship and dissemination. The term “digital” humanities has gained a certain cache and indeed, bringing technology into humanities research was, and still is, an important hurdle to overcome. However, humanities conversations on the topic have stalled and can’t seem to move beyond defining digital humanities. We believe that much of this stagnation is due to the emphasis on a superficial understanding of technology as a mode of delivery rather than as a mode of inquiry. Digital media and tools do allow for better and faster ways of doing …

Online Social Communities Through The Lens Of Polyvore, Maansi Aurora

Theses

Traditionally, people used the Internet for simple interaction within the communication sphere.With the introduction of social media platforms the online world has become more interesting as consumers are using them to create, share, and discuss over the Internet. The growing popularity of the social online communities is bridging the gap between consumers and brands by providing them with a platform to communicate with each other. This study visually analyzes Polyvore, a social shopping online community. It sheds light upon how members use Polyvore in different ways, the hedonic motivations associated with shopping online, and the way in which an online …

The Treachery Of Imaging, Charlie C. Campbell

Theses

"The Treachery of Imaging" is a conceptual exploration of digital media's translational nature, a recognition of its ubiquity in our visual culture, and its fallibility. This work is an experiment in process; the dissection of a workflow for the purposeful obfuscation and destruction of digital imaging technology in opposition to its commonly held status as a scientifically accurate measurement tool; or as Paul Gsell referred to it, "an unimpeachable mechanical witness."

Through reflection, reference, reiteration, repetition, and the construction of algorithms "Treachery" is a process-oriented body of visual work, a documentation of this process, presentation, and context created in the …

Health Websites: Accessibility And Usability For American Sign Language Users, Poorna Kushalnagar, Joan Naturale, Raylene Paludeviciene, Scott R. Smith, Emily Werfel, Richard Doolittle, Stephen Jacobs, James Decaro

Articles

To date, there have been efforts towards creating better health information access for Deaf American Sign Language (ASL) users. However, the usability of websites with access to health information in ASL has not been evaluated. Our paper focuses on the usability of four health websites that include ASL videos. We seek to obtain ASL users’ perspectives on the navigation of these ASL-accessible websites, finding the health information that they needed, and perceived ease of understanding ASL video content.

ASL users (N=32) were instructed to find specific information on four ASL-accessible websites, and answered questions related to: 1) navigation to find …

The Role And Responsibility Of The Environmental, Health & Safety Manager In Establishing An Organization’S Commitment Towards Environmental Stewardship And Workplace Safety [As Elements Of Social Responsibility], Arthur Nagy

Theses

Background: Effective and leading Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Management is a topic of interest and necessity for many organizations and EHS professionals. The role and responsibility of the EHS Manager in establishing an organization's commitment towards environmental stewardship and workplace safety [as elements of social responsibility] evolves continuously. Objective: The purpose of this thesis is to identify the roles and responsibilities of an effective EHS Manager, and those roles and responsibilities that support an organization achieving environmental stewardship and workplace safety. Method: Salient elements, actions, and characteristics identified as a role or responsibility of the EHS manager within the …

Cross Media Communication Planning For Small Businesses, Rockie A. Hunter

Theses

The evolution of media communication formats and the focus on personalized customer interactions has created the need for effective planning and deployment of information from business to consumer. Research suggested that the area of communication media, formal marketing planning, and data collection are still in its early stages for small businesses.

This research targeted 850 small businesses in New Hampshire aimed to enhance knowledge of small business marketing habits. The analysis of the survey data found that communication habits had an emphasis on low cost options with low integration of formal planning. Data collection also posed an issue for small …

Investigating Digital Publishing Trends Within The Consumer Magazine Industry, Sarah E. Lawrence

Theses

The introduction of the tablet is changing the consumer magazine industry. This research investigates new and developing trends within digital publishing, specifically the addition of a digital edition published on the Apple iPad. The industry is currently lacking consensus regarding digital strategy to implement these editions. This research aims to identify any existing trends, or lack thereof, through survey and interview responses. Firstly, sample magazines were analyzed to determine topics for examination in a survey and subsequent interview. Secondly, a survey was designed and conducted. The survey sample consisted of creative management of consumer magazines currently offered in Apple Newsstand. …