53,121 research outputs found
Ten Quick Tips for Using a Raspberry Pi
Much of biology (and, indeed, all of science) is becoming increasingly
computational. We tend to think of this in regards to algorithmic approaches
and software tools, as well as increased computing power. There has also been a
shift towards slicker, packaged solutions--which mirrors everyday life, from
smart phones to smart homes. As a result, it's all too easy to be detached from
the fundamental elements that power these changes, and to see solutions as
"black boxes". The major goal of this piece is to use the example of the
Raspberry Pi--a small, general-purpose computer--as the central component in a
highly developed ecosystem that brings together elements like external
hardware, sensors and controllers, state-of-the-art programming practices, and
basic electronics and physics, all in an approachable and useful way. External
devices and inputs are easily connected to the Pi, and it can, in turn, control
attached devices very simply. So whether you want to use it to manage
laboratory equipment, sample the environment, teach bioinformatics, control
your home security or make a model lunar lander, it's all built from the same
basic principles. To quote Richard Feynman, "What I cannot create, I do not
understand".Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure
The Cowl - v.77 - n.2 - Sep 13, 2012
The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol 77 - No. 2 - September 13, 2012. 24 pages
Competing or aiming to be average?: Normification as a means of engaging digital volunteers
Engagement, motivation and active contribution by digital volunteers are key requirements for crowdsourcing and citizen science projects. Many systems use competitive elements, for example point scoring and leaderboards, to achieve these ends. However, while competition may motivate some people, it can have a neutral or demotivating effect on others. In this paper we explore theories of personal and social norms and investigate normification as an alternative approach to engagement, to be used alongside or instead of competitive strategies. We provide a systematic review of existing crowdsourcing and citizen science literature and categorise the ways that theories of norms have been incorporated to date. We then present qualitative interview data from a pro-environmental crowdsourcing study, Close the Door, which reveals normalising attitudes in certain participants. We assess how this links with competitive behaviour and participant performance. Based on our findings and analysis of norm theories, we consider the implications for designers wishing to use normification as an engagement strategy in crowdsourcing and citizen science systems
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