Optical turntable as an interface for musical performance

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2002."June 2002."Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-82).This thesis proposes a model of creative activity on the computer incorporating the elements of programming, graphics, sound generation, and physical interaction. An interface for manipulating these elements is suggested, based on the concept of a disk-jockey turntable as a performance instrument. A system is developed around this idea, enabling optical pickup of visual information from physical media as input to processes on the computer. Software architecture(s) are discussed and examples are implemented, illustrating the potential uses of the interface for the purpose of creative expression in the virtual domain.Nikita Pashenkov.S.M

Substitutive bodies and constructed actors: a practice-based investigation of animation as performance

The fundamental conceptualisation of what animation actually is has been changing in the face of material change to production and distribution methods since the introduction of digital technology. This re-conceptualisation has been contributed to by increasing artistic and academic interest in the field, such as the emergence of Animation Studies, a relatively new branch of academic enquiry that is establishing itself as a discipline. This research (documentation of live events and thesis) examines animation in the context of performance, rather than in terms of technology or material process. Its scope is neither to cover all possible types of animation nor to put forward a new ‘catch-all’ definition of animation, but rather to examine the site of performance in character animation and to propose animation as a form of performance. In elaborating this argument, each chapter is structured around the framing device of animation as a message that is encoded and produced, delivered and played back, then received and decoded. The PhD includes a portfolio of projects undertaken as part of the research process on which the text critically reflects. Due to their site-specific approach, these live events are documented through video and still images. The work represents an intertwining, interdisciplinary, post-animation praxis where theory and practice inform one another and test relationships between animation and performance to problematise a binary opposition between that which is live as opposed to that which is animated. It is contextualised by a review of historical practice and interviews with key contemporary practitioners whose work combines animation with an intermedial mixture of interaction design, fine art, dance and theatre

Fiscal Year 2002

The Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessors have conducted research and development (R&D) in geothermal energy since 1971. To develop the technology needed to harness the Nation's vast geothermal resources, DOE's Office of Geothermal Technologies oversees a network of national laboratories, industrial contractors, universities, and their subcontractors. The goals are: (1) Double the number of States with geothermal electric power facilities to eight by 2006; (2) Reduce the levelized cost of generating geothermal power to 3-5 cents per kWh by 2007; and (3) Supply the electrical power or heat energy needs of 7 million homes and businesses in the United States by 2010. This Federal Geothermal Program Research Update reviews the specific objectives, status, and accomplishments of DOE's Geothermal Program for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2002. The information contained in this Research Update illustrates how the mission and goals of the Office of Geothermal Technologies are reflected in each R&D activity. The Geothermal Program, from its guiding principles to the most detailed research activities, is focused on expanding the use of geothermal energy. balanced strategy for the Geothermal Program

HH-60H Armed Helicopter Subsystem operator workload assessment

This thesis discusses an operator workload assessment of the Armed Helicopter Subsystem (AHS) on the U.S. Navy HH-60H Seahawk Helicopter. The workload assessment was conducted in addition to developmental test and evaluation at Naval Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Squadron at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD and Eglin Air Force Base, Ft Walton Beach, F1 between 25 November 1997 and 13 August 1998. Department of Defense instructions, standards, human factors specifications, previous test plans, and reports of test results were studied to determine initial areas of focus and previous lessons learned. Specific operator workload was evaluated using the Bedford Workload Scale during verification of all the Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and AGM-114 Hellfire Missile launch and designation modes in mission representative flight profiles. Both ground and flight tests were conducted to verify specification and test and evaluation master plan compliance and mission suitability for the Combat Search and Rescue (Combat SAR), and Anti Surface Warfare (ASUW) missions. FLIR test scope was reduced by use of the results of the U.S. Navy SH-60B AN/AAS-44 FLIR Contingency Kit and Rapid Deployment Kit developmental test and evaluation programs. Operator workload was assessed during software, FLIR, captive carriage, and live fire developmental flight tests. Night Vision Devices (NVDs) were used on two of the six Hellfire Missile shots. Overall operator workload was high, particularly during remote Hellfire Missile shot setup and autonomous Hellfire Missile laser guidance. During the Combat SAR mission, the operator was performing multiple tasks, including navigation and communication subtasks. Since little spare capacity was left for FLIR operation, the author recommends using either offset forward track or scan mode. Recommendations include inverting the FLIR turret and suspending it from the mounting platform

Silent Light, Luminous Noise: Photophonics, Machines and the Senses

This research takes the basic physical premise that sound can be synthesized using light, explores how this has historically been, and still is achieved, and how it can still be a fertile area for creative, theoretical and critical exploration in sound and the arts. Through the author's own artistic practice, different techniques of generating sound using the sonification of light are explored, and these techniques are then contextualised by their historical and theoretical setting in the time-based arts. Specifically, this text draws together diverse strands of scholarship on experimental sound and film practices, cultural histories, the senses, media theory and engineering to address effects and outcomes specific to photophonic sound and its relation to the moving image, and the sculptural and media works devised to produce it. The sonifier, or device engendering the transformations discussed is specifically addressed in its many forms, and a model proposed, whereby these devices and systems are an integral, readably inscribed component - both materially and culturally - in both the works they produce, and via our reflexive understanding of the processes involved, of the images or light signals used to produce them. Other practitioners' works are critically engaged to demonstrate how a sense of touch, or the haptic, can be thought of as an emergent property of moving image works which readably and structurally make use of photophonic sound (including the author's), and sound's essential role in this is examined. In developing, through an integration of theory and practice, a new approach in this under-researched field of sound studies, the author hopes to show how photophonic sound can act as both a metaphorical and material interface between experimental sound and image, and hopefully point the way towards a more comprehensive study of both

Fiscal Year 2003

The Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessors have conducted research and development (R&D) in geothermal energy since 1971. To develop the technology needed to harness the Nation's vast geothermal resources, DOE's Office of Geothermal Technologies oversees a network of national laboratories, industrial contractors, universities, and their subcontractors. The following mission and goal statements guide the overall activities of the Office. The goals are: (1) Reduce the levelized cost of generating geothermal power to 3-5 cents per kWh by 2007; (2) Double the number of States with geothermal electric power facilities to eight by 2006; and (3) Supply the electrical power or heat energy needs of 7 million homes and businesses in the United States by 2010. This Federal Geothermal Program Research Update reviews the accomplishments of DOE's Geothermal Program for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2003. The information contained in this Research Update illustrates how the mission and goals of the Office of Geothermal Technologies are reflected in each R&D activity. The Geothermal Program, from its guiding principles to the most detailed research activities, is focused on expanding the use of geothermal energy. balanced strategy for the Geothermal Program

EEG Coherence and Amplitude Effects of Rhythmic Auditory and Visual Stimulation with an Emphasis in Computational Methods

The photic driving response, the effect of a flashing light stimulus on the cortical EEG, has proven to be a sensistive neurometric that varies with differences in perception, mood, and physiological states. The diverse effects of photic stimulation have made commercially available brainwave syncronizers popular among consumers and even among some clinicians. It is common in the design of these devices to combine a rhythmic auditory stimulus with the visual stimulus. However, little if any experimental evidence supports the assumption that auditory stimulation enhances the photic driving effect. Therefore, this study compared the amplitude and coherence effects of three stimulation conditions (all sinusoidally-modulated): visual stimulation alone, auditory stimulation alone, and combined auditory and visual stimulation (AVS) at each subject\u27s peak alpha frequency (PAF), in 30 college students, using the standard 10-20 19- electrode montage. An eyes-closed baseline EEG determined each subject\u27s PAF. The three 5-minute stimulation conditions were then administered in a randomized, counterbalanced order, while EEG was recorded. A four minute eyes-closed poststimulation baseline was recorded after each stimulation condition. Amplitude and coherence values were calculated for 1-2 Hz, 2-4 Hz, 4-8 Hz, 8-12 Hz, 13-21 Hz, and 21- 32 Hz, and for the 1.5-Hz band surrounding each subject’s PAF. Visual stimulation or combined AVS significantly increased EEG amplitude at the PAF, 8-12 Hz, 13-21 Hz, and 21-32 Hz. Auditory stimulation alone had negligible effects on amplitude, and did not result in significant differences in amplitude between the visual and combined AVS condition. Similarly, the auditory stimulus had only chance-level effects on EEG coherence, while the visual alone and combined AVS conditions evoked significant changes in coherence across the spectrum. However, the interaction between auditory and visual stimulation resulted in significant differences between the visual alone and combined AVS conditions. No residual effects of stimulation on amplitude or coherence were observed in the four minute recordings following each of the three stimulation sessions. Two tables and eight figures are included. The Perl source code for 21 data analysis programs is provided, along with a tutorial chapter explaining how to use these algorithms in one\u27s own research

The implication of backward walking in the rehabilitation of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions: systematic reviews and a biomechanical movement analysis

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Physiotherapy, Johannesburg, South Africa 2018The neuro-musculoskeletal gait impairments have an enormous and growing impact in the world. Estimation shows that one in four people suffer from gait impairments as a major limitation. It reduces the quality of life with poor balance, muscle fatigue, joint stiffness and deformity. To treat neuromuscular gait impairments proper rehabilitation training is crucial. Walking is one of the functional training used by therapist for rehabilitation. Though, walking refers a forward walking (FW) in our daily life backward walking (BW) was reported for an effective functional exercise in rehabilitation. The underlying biomechanical characteristics such kinetic and kinematic parameters of both FW and BW were studied to understand and predict the clinical benefits. Biomechanical characteristics of FW were studied extensively with respect to speed, inclination, and surface. Whereas, limited reports on BW were found with level and uphill walking with comfortable/fixed speed on both ground and treadmill. It is important to study biomechanical characteristics with respect to speed and inclination to understand neural control strategies and musculoskeletal activities during BW. This helps to evaluate their clinical worthiness before implementing on patients. The comparison of FW with BW as a systematic review is an optimum way to reveal their clinical benefits and unique changes in locomotion task. As there is no systematic review is available in the literature, the present thesis designed with two systematic reviews and an experimental study. In brief the methodologies followed in this thesis were as follow: The two systematic reviews identified existing literature based on a structured search strategy applied to various databases. The outcomes were statistically analysed by RevMan software. For experimental study, 3Dkinematic movements were tracked by reflective markers using Qualisys cameras. Force plate integrated treadmill was used to measure GRF and muscle activities were recorded by wireless EMG. These Qualisys camera, treadmill and EMG were synchronised with QTM software. The collected data were analysed and processed through Visual3D software. The processed data were used to simulate an anthropometric model via OpenSim software. This software was used to calculate the kinematic and kinetic parameters. The first systematic review in Chapter-3 explores the clinical effectiveness of BW as a functional training for neuro-musculoskeletal gait impairment condition. This review dealt with six types of comparison with BW as an experimental group. The systematic search strategy finalises the eight trials with three conditions such as knee osteoarthritis (OA), stroke, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The primary outcome measures were the pain, functional disability, muscle strength, gait parameters, balance and plantar pressure. The results show BW with CPT was significantly effective in reducing knee OA pain (total SMD: -0.87), lowering functional difficulties (total SMD: -1.39) and improving muscle strength (SMD: 1.51). In conclusion BW with CPT is an effective and clinically worthwhile training for rehabilitation of knee OA. The second systematic review in Chapter-4 deals with biomechanical characteristics BW through comparison of FW for healthy participants to understand neuromuscular contributions. Twenty trials were found through systematic search strategy for kinematic and kinetic outcomes. The results show that BW significantly different from FW with lower hip flexion, knee flexion, tibiofemoral joint reaction force, ankle joint power, hip joint power, GRF and temporal gait parameters. The muscles GM, BF, RF, and LGAS are more active in BW than FW. Hence, the modified neural control strategies were required to produce BW from FW. The absence of visual cues in BW improves the neuromuscular control, proprioception and protective reflexes. Among the trials, BW in water found to be safer and yields better results than ground and treadmill. The experimental study in Chapter-5 analysed biomechanical characteristics of FW and BW with controlled speed and inclination. Ten healthy participant were chosen for FW and BW in three inclinations (-5%, 0% and +5%) and speeds (0.28 m/s, 0.69 m/s and 1.11 m/s). The study concludes that, walking speed is directly related to energy requirements. Increasing the speed requires higher magnitudes of the joint moment, joint power and muscle activity irrespective of inclination and direction. In FW and BW, uphill and downhill task produces opposite joint moment with a variety of flexor and extensor muscles contributions. These indicate that the motor control task requires different control strategies for inclined walking. The anatomical constraint and visual cues give additional features in biomechanical parameters of BW. Hence, a simple time reversal is not sufficient to distinguish between BW and FW. Interestingly, the similarities were observed between FW uphill and BW downhill or FW downhill and BW uphill in hip/knee joint moment and muscle activities. Such as during FW uphill and BW downhill an extension moment was present at the hip joint and a flexion moment at the knee joint. Here, the biarticular muscles BF was active in both types of walking. But we cannot conclude both types of walking were controlled by the same neural network as power patterns were distinctly different. The distributions of total power flow among joints were found to be related to the posture associated with the inclination in both FW and BW. Ankle contribution is more in both FW uphill and BW downhill (leaned trunk) whereas hip contributes for FW downhill and BW uphill (erected trunk). In level walking ankle dominates in both FW and BW irrespective of speeds. The ankle joint had main propulsion at all inclination and speed during FW and BW except FW uphill.XL201

Identifying a vertical neutral position of the breast using simple measures.

During physical activity, many women suffer from breast discomfort due to excessive breast motion. It has been hypothesised that movement-induced breast discomfort is caused by straining the tissue of the breast. To understand the stress applied to the breast tissue during exercise and in turn understand the motion of the breast in engineering terms, the breasts need to be placed in a position where the tissue is neither in tension nor compression. Haake and Scurr (2010) developed a method, the lift and drop test, to locate this position and termed it the neutral position.The three-dimensional motion capture system was assessed as to whether it was capable in measuring accelerations of -1 g, in a simple oscillating system. Eight cameras, sampling at 200 Hz, captured the motion of the metal plate attached to a wooden structure by either one or two elastic cords. Accelerations of -1 g were found when the metal plate was unloaded, therefore the elastic cords were not under tension. The results showed that the system was able to measure accelerations of -1 g, however, the motion was too simple and therefore testing was needed to be completed on a women's breast.A participant (34D cup size) placed two markers on the body (right nipple and suprasternal notch). Eight cameras placed in a semi-circle tracked the markers, during the lift and drop exercises. The maximum negative acceleration found during the exercise was -0.64 +/- 0.04 g. The lift and drop exercise was deemed inappropriate in locating the neutral position. Therefore, further work in identifying an appropriate method in locating the neutral position was required.Seven participants with breast sizes ranging from 34A to 36D placed three markers on their body (right and left nipple and suprasternal notch). Ten cameras tracked the markers during running (10 km.hr[-1]); stepping off a low box (0.26 m) and a high box (0.51 m); vertical countermovement jump; and lifting and dropping the right and left breast.The vertical countermovement jump forced the breasts to oscillate nearly one and a half times (1.3 +/- 0.2), causing the breasts to move through a neutral position multiple times in a single trial. During a single trial a higher and lower neutral position was recorded. The accelerations between these positions were -0.13 g and -1.80 g and therefore the neutral position was reconceptualised as a neutral zone. The exercise also produced low discomfort scores of 0.6 +/- 0.7.Breast motion during running (10 km.hr [-1]) and walking (4 km.hr[-1]) of a participant with a breast size of 34A was used to demonstrate the effects of breast motion with respect to the neutral zone and perceived breast discomfort. The work showed that breast discomfort was reduced when wearing a sports bra compared to no support. This could be due to 1) the magnitude of vertical breast displacement being reduced; 2) breasts lifted closer to the neutral zone; and 3) level of breast support increased.This research indicates that the previously defined vertical neutral position, should instead, be considered a neutral zone defined by upper and lower boundaries, which are found most effectively by performing a countermovement jump. The vertical neutral zone could allow for greater understanding of the stress applied to the breast tissue during movement which in turn could inform the design of bras