An Automated Grading and Feedback System for a Computer Literacy Course

Computer Science departments typically offer a computer literacy course that targets a general lay audience. At Appalachian State University, this course is CS1410 - Introduction to Computer Applications. computer literacy courses have students work with various desktop and web-based software applications, including standard office applications. CS1410 strives to have students use well known applications in new and challenging ways, as well as exposing them to some unfamiliar applications. These courses can draw large enrollments which impacts efficient and consistent grading. This thesis describes the development and successful deployment of the Automated Grading And Feedback (AGAF) system for CS1410. Specifically, a suite of automated grading tools targeting the different types of CS1410 assignments has been built. The AGAF system tools have been used on actual CS1410 submissions and the resulting grades were verified. AGAF tools exist for Microsoft Office assignments requiring students to upload a submission file. Another AGAF tool accepts a student “online text submission” where the text encodes the URL of a Survey Monkey survey and a blog. Other CS1410 assignments require students to upload an image file. AGAF can process images in multiple ways, including decoding of a QR two-dimensional barcode and identification of an expected image pattern

Immunochromatographic diagnostic test analysis using Google Glass.

We demonstrate a Google Glass-based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) reader platform capable of qualitative and quantitative measurements of various lateral flow immunochromatographic assays and similar biomedical diagnostics tests. Using a custom-written Glass application and without any external hardware attachments, one or more RDTs labeled with Quick Response (QR) code identifiers are simultaneously imaged using the built-in camera of the Google Glass that is based on a hands-free and voice-controlled interface and digitally transmitted to a server for digital processing. The acquired JPEG images are automatically processed to locate all the RDTs and, for each RDT, to produce a quantitative diagnostic result, which is returned to the Google Glass (i.e., the user) and also stored on a central server along with the RDT image, QR code, and other related information (e.g., demographic data). The same server also provides a dynamic spatiotemporal map and real-time statistics for uploaded RDT results accessible through Internet browsers. We tested this Google Glass-based diagnostic platform using qualitative (i.e., yes/no) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and quantitative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. For the quantitative RDTs, we measured activated tests at various concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 ng/mL for free and total PSA. This wearable RDT reader platform running on Google Glass combines a hands-free sensing and image capture interface with powerful servers running our custom image processing codes, and it can be quite useful for real-time spatiotemporal tracking of various diseases and personal medical conditions, providing a valuable tool for epidemiology and mobile health

Ten technologies for academic libraries

"The iSchool at the University of Missouri--Columbia, 9410 Emerging Technologies in Libraries, Fall 2017.""Emerging technologies can assist academic librarians in many areas of their work. It is sometimes difficult to determine which technologies will be worthwhile or applicable to a particular library. To aid in this process, we have compiled a list of ten of the top technology resources for academic librarians. As job roles and responsibilities can vary widely, we have chosen technologies that address organization, cataloging, retrieval, storage, and resources for patrons including students, faculty, and staff."--Introduction.Introduction -- 3D Printing -- Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems -- Blacklight -- Evernote -- Open Textbook Library (through the Open Textbook Network) -- Pic2shop App -- PlumX Metrics -- QR Codes -- Trello -- WolframAlpha -- References.Includes bibliographical references

Working with what you have: Utilizing an event management framework

Library events provide opportunities for patrons to connect with collections, services, and library staff in meaningful ways. However, managing these events when programming and outreach are often only a small portion of library staff work presents many challenges. Recognizing these challenges, a Programming Team at an art library created a framework for library event workflows and group documentation; all of which maximized staff time, resources, and overall efficiency. While this framework was designed in a large, academic setting, the model and tools like the crucial event workbook and worksheet were later adapted to different contexts, including remote programming during the COVID-19 pandemic, a library committee’s event series, and at an art and design school with only two librarians managing the library’s events. The presenters will showcase this top-level model for coordinating events systematically, share customizable tools created using commonly available software (like the Microsoft and Google suites) and provide scalability advice for various institutional sizes. This model is built to be flexible, adaptable, and sustainable no matter how few or many staff are able to coordinate or support library programming. The application of this model and these tools will be shown in two brief case studies, which offer more complex event series as examples. One discusses hosting multiple in-person events in a one-week span, and the other discusses coordinating multiple guest speakers over a three-month span for remote, synchronous events. The presenters will conclude with a list of recommendations for librarians contemplating a similar approach for their events and programming

Developing a medical software to enhance patient participation

Mental health disorder is a frequent issue among cancer patients. It is estimated that in about 30% of cancer patients, psychological issues are undetected. Psychooncology is a subdomain of psychology, which studies cancer related psychological issues and, hence, develop appropriate treatments. With the help of screening instruments like the Distress Thermometer, patients are rated according to their mental state. The result of the screening indicates, whether a patient needs psychological treatment or not. However, in most medical facilities this screening is processed using paper-based questionnaires, which complicates the treatment. This thesis aims for enhancing the screening process as well as the overall psychological treatment with a newly developed mobile application Feelback. The mentioned application uses patient participation principles by applying the latter. Patients shall feel more involved in the psychological treatment process. This results in patients that take a more active role in making decisions related to their treatment. Moreover, sophisticated gamification concepts guarantee long-term motivated users. From the medical facility’s point of view, screened patients are evaluated in an automated manner, which, in term, saves time and money. In addition, Feelback makes it easier to document psychological treatments. At the current state of development, further steps should focus on user acceptance testing, in order to verify, whether the mentioned concepts work as intended

Project Hermes: The Socially Assistive Tour-Guiding Robot

With the reduced amount of availability of a labor force for non-technical tasks, service robotics has grown to be used in place of human labor to handle these tasks. There have been various studies on the impact of using robotics in a sociological context. The use of service robots in a social and labor environment recognizes the need of cohesive Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). In this senior design project, we delve into the thought process of using a service robot in place of a human for tasks that are normally reserved for humans. These tasks outline design considerations when performing emotional-centric activities and the need to deliver an effective and efficient service. Codenamed as Project Hermes, we developed a guided tour robot that will provide an interactive routine. Using the robot’s array of sensors and motors, the routine consists of navigating from one room to another, providing an audible explanation of each room, answering visitor questions, and moving on. With the robot’s embedded microphones, the robot is capable of limited interactions with humans, providing feedback and performing tasks accordingly. Once the core functionalities are developed, Hermes will be evaluated in a real-world environment to garner data and feedback. With all these considerations in hand, the design of the service robot needs to cover many of these areas for our framework. To address this need, we outline the ideas and considerations for the task