Backwards is the way forward: feedback in the cortical hierarchy predicts the expected future

Clark offers a powerful description of the brain as a prediction machine, which offers progress on two distinct levels. First, on an abstract conceptual level, it provides a unifying framework for perception, action, and cognition (including subdivisions such as attention, expectation, and imagination). Second, hierarchical prediction offers progress on a concrete descriptive level for testing and constraining conceptual elements and mechanisms of predictive coding models (estimation of predictions, prediction errors, and internal models)

A Finite State Automaton Representation And Simulation Of A Data/Frame Model Of Sensemaking

This thesis presents the application of a finite state automaton (FSA) to analytic modeling of Data/Frame Model (DFM) of sensemaking. A FSA is chosen for the DFM simulation because of its inherent characteristics to mimic changes in system behaviors and transitional states akin to the dynamic information changes in dynamic and unstructured emergencies. It also has the ability to capture feedback and loops, transitions, and spatio-temporal events based on iterative processes of an individual or a group of sensemakers. The thesis has exploited the human-driven DFM constructs for analytical modeling using Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW) software system. Sensemaking times, problem stage time (PST), and nodeto-node (NTN) transition times serve as the major performance factors. The results obtained show differences in sensemaking times based on problem complexity and information uncertainty. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis, for three developed fictitious scenarios with different complexities and Hurricane Katrina, was conducted to investigate sensemaking performance. The results show that sensemaking performance was significant with an F (3,177) of 16.78 and probability value less than 0.05, indicating an overall effect of sensemaking information flow on sensemaking. Tukey’s Studentized Range Test shows the significant statistical differences between the complexities of Hurricane Katrina (HK) and medium complexity scenario (MC), HK and low complexity scenario (LC), high complexity scenario (HC) and LC, and MC and LC

Impact of Inquiry-Based, Question-and-Answer Instruction in High-Enrollment Classes

Lecturing is a common way to teach large classes, especially in mathematics. Other styles of instruction have been proven to be more effective in small classroom settings, but those styles are not always practical (or even feasible) in classes with 200+ students. The lecturing dialogue primarily exists at the intersection of Spectrum Theory and the Socratic Method, utilizing inquiry-based learning within the realm of active learning, experiential learning, and constructivism to appeal to learners with various learning styles, which helps students to discover new information (specifically, why things occur in the way that they do) and make connections between old and new material. Spectrum Theory outlines different teaching styles, based on how much a specific style is teacher-centered versus student-centered. The lecturing dialogue combines several of the different approaches from the Spectrum of Teaching Styles, specifically lecture, tutoring, instructional conversation, inquiry-based learning, and guided discovery. It utilizes the Socratic Method to turn students into active learners through constructivism and experiential learning. A high-enrollment, college algebra class using a standard lecture significantly outperformed a class using the lecturing dialogue on labs, surveys/questionnaires, and final grade, but not on final grades without the labs. The labs could be worked on outside of the class, so factors beyond the teaching style may have influenced the results. There was not significant difference between the classes in regards to attitude (enjoyment, motivation, value, and self-confidence). Overall, it appears as though the teaching style has no real impact on either student performance or student attitude in large college algebra classes

Finding the forest in the trees. The challenge of combining diverse environmental data

Development of analytical and functional guidelines to help researchers and technicians engaged in interdisciplinary research to better plan and implement their supporting data management activities is addressed. An emphasis is on the projects that involve both geophysical and ecological issues. Six case studies were used to identify and to understand problems associated with collecting, integrating, and analyzing environmental data from local to global spatial scales and over a range of temporal scales. These case studies were also used to elaborate the common barriers to interfacing data of disparate sources and types. A number of lessons derived from the case studies are summarized and analyzed

Finding the forest in the trees: The challenge of combining diverse environmental data

It has become increasingly important to conduct interdisciplinary environmental research assessments, both nationally and internationally. For this reason, the Committee for a Pilot Study on Database Interfaces was charged to review and advise on data interfacing activities. The committee used six case studies (1) to identify and understand the most important problems associated with collecting, integrating, and analyzing environmental data from local to global spatial scales and over a very wide range of temporal scales; and (2) to elaborate the common barriers to interfacing data of disparate sources and types. Consistent with the committee's charge, the primary focus was the interfacing of geophysical and ecological data. The case studies used by the committee were: The Impact Assessment Project for Drought Early Warning in the Sahel, The National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program, The H.J. Andrew Experimental Forest Long-Term Ecological Research Site, The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, The First International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Field Experiment, and The California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigation. The committee derived a number of lessons from the case studies, and these lessons are summarized at the end of each case study and analyzed in the last chapter. Some are generic in nature; others are more specific to a discipline or project. The conclusions and recommendations are based on the committee's analysis of the case studies and additional research. They are organized according to four major areas of barriers or challenges to the effective interfacing of diverse environmental data. In the final section the committee offers a set of broadly applicable principles (Ten Keys to Success) that can be used by scientists and data managers in planning and conducting interfacing activities

Expressive entities:An Exploration and Critical Reflection on Poetic Engagements with Technology

The overarching motivation of this thesis is to open new ideas on designing aesthetic interactions in everyday technology, moving beyond goal-directed utility to more nuanced, experimental, and even challenging interactions. My research endeavor is to impact human value by creating critical and imaginative technology-human relations. In particular, I design digital expressiveness to accommodate sensitive human sides before highlighting digital beings’ effective performances. In doing so, I strive for expressive yet thoughtful computational embodiments that empower humans to be expressive, reflective, explorative, and connected to each other. To bring these conceptual experimentations into tangible experiences in people’s lives, my research is based on designing interactive artifacts called “Expressive Entities”. To carry on this research outline above, I pursue an integrated approach from 1) conceptual and 2) methodological sides to steer 24 design explorations that underpin this thesis. First, I built conceptual experimentations on imagining what could present “Poetic Engagements with Technology”. Essentially, Poetic Engagements allow humankind to be protagonists who feel, sense, perceive, choose, and appropriate the engagements with technology, and avoid defining human beings from a generalized and filtered result through a technological lens. The outcome of this conceptual framework is composed of Four Poetic Interaction Possibilities: Expressive, Felt, Meditative, and Ludic Tech. Second, I open methodological development that bridges the conceptual exploration to design practice through “Experimental Making”. In particular, I propose art practice strategies and values in designing through three practice components, Defamiliarization, Creativity, and Imagination. This approach incorporates critical design perspective and imaginative ideas into material explorations and fluid assemblages for designing new aesthetic interactions. These two main research streams are correlated and complementary, introducing new concepts, embedding metaphors, and developing sensual aesthetics to expand thoughtful human-technology relations, bringing poetic experiences into life

Ambient Intelligence with Wireless Grid Enabled Applications: A Case Study of the Launch and First Use Experience of WeJay Social Radio in Education

Wireless grid and ambient intelligent (AmI) environments are characterized as supportive of collaboration, interaction, and sharing. The conceptual framework advanced for this study incorporated the constructs of innovation, creativity and context awareness while offering emergence theory -- emergent properties, structures, patterns and behaviors -- to frame and investigate a wireless grid enabled social radio application which was theorized to be potentially transformative and disruptive. The unintended consequences and unexpected possibilities of wireless grid and smart environments were also addressed. Using a single case study, drawing upon multiple data collection methods, this research investigated the deployment and use experience of WeJay, an application incubated through the Wireless Grids Innovation Testbed (WiGiT), from the perspective of beta trial participants. Guided by the broad research question -- Do wireless grid enabled applications, such as WeJay social radio, add to the potential for new and transformative outcomes for people, information and technology when deployed in an academic setting? -- this empirical study sought to: a) learn more about the launch experience of this first pre-standards wireless grid enabled application among WiGiT members and selected Syracuse University students and faculty; b) understand how this application was interpreted for use; c) determine whether novel and unexpected uses emerged; d) investigate whether wireless grid enabled environments fostered innovation and creativity; and e) elicit whether a conceptual relationship was emerging between wireless grid and AmI environments, focusing on context-awareness and ambient learning. While this early stage of diffusion and first user sample was a key limitation of the study it was also the core strength. Although challenged by the state of readiness of WeJay, study findings supported the propositions that WeJay fosters innovation and creativity; that novel and unexpected uses were generated; and that the theorized relationship between wireless grid applications and embedded awareness does exist. Recommendations for enhanced tool readiness were made and embedded smartness was found to be both desirable and beneficial. This research makes a contribution as a bridge study for future research while having theoretical and methodological implications for research and practice. Social, emotion/affect, and human-centered computing (HCC) dimensions emerged as rich areas for further research

Supervisory Control System Architecture for Advanced Small Modular Reactors

This technical report was generated as a product of the Supervisory Control for Multi-Modular SMR Plants project within the Instrumentation, Control and Human-Machine Interface technology area under the Advanced Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Research and Development Program of the U.S. Department of Energy. The report documents the definition of strategies, functional elements, and the structural architecture of a supervisory control system for multi-modular advanced SMR (AdvSMR) plants. This research activity advances the state-of-the art by incorporating decision making into the supervisory control system architectural layers through the introduction of a tiered-plant system approach. The report provides a brief history of hierarchical functional architectures and the current state-of-the-art, describes a reference AdvSMR to show the dependencies between systems, presents a hierarchical structure for supervisory control, indicates the importance of understanding trip setpoints, applies a new theoretic approach for comparing architectures, identifies cyber security controls that should be addressed early in system design, and describes ongoing work to develop system requirements and hardware/software configurations