The Sociolinguistics of Learning: Attitudinal Patterns and Implications (A Case Study of Moroccan Diglossia)

The present dissertation is a study of the attitudinal patterns and educational implications particular to the diglossic relationship between MA and CA. This relationship is characterised by the sole implementation of CA and the exclusion of MA from the formal learning process. This is particularly significant if we consider that only MA is a naturally acquired language

AI as a Material for Design

From Netflix recommendations to Amazon Echos sitting proudly on kitchen countertops, artificial intelligence (AI) has been inserted into the mundane settings of our everyday lives. These ‘smart’ devices and services have given rise to the collection of data and processing within everyday objects, accumulating new challenges, particularly in legibility, agency, and negotiability of interactions. The emerging field of Human Data Interaction (HDI) recognises that these challenges go on to influence security, privacy, and accessibility protocols, while also encompassing socio-technical implications. Furthermore, these objects challenge designers’ traditional conventions of neutral interactions, which only work as instructed. However, these smart objects go beyond typical human-object relationships functioning in new and unexpected ways, creeping in function, and existing within independent and interdependent assemblages of human and non-human actants—demanding alternative considerations and design practice. This thesis aims to question the traditional practice of considering and designing for AI technology by arguing for a post-anthropocentric perspective of things with agency, by adopting the philosophical approach of Object Orientated Ontology with design research. This research ultimately presents and builds (a currently) unorthodox design approach of Human-AI Kinship that contests the design orthodoxies of human-centred design. Conclusively, this research seeks to bring into being AI as a material for design and justify through the case study of AI legibility. A More than Human Centered Design approach is established through a transdisciplinary and iterative Research through Design methodology, resulting in the design of AI iconography that attempts to communicate and signify AI’s ontology to human users. This thesis is concluded by testing the legibility of the icons themselves and discussing philosophy as an asset for design research

Reliable file storage in a distributed computing system

This thesis considers the problem of how to construct a file-store which is reliable in terms of high accessibility of data and low likelihood of data loss. In particular the problem is discussed in the context of a local area network computer architecture. A novel approach is taken to the implementation of the naming network for files, which controls multiple copy redundancy. The naming network is a single hierarchy which incorporates redundancy in the access paths to files as well as in the files themselves, thus improving accessibility as well as reducing likelihood of file loss. A prototype file-store was developed and implemented; to facilitate this the author had to develop a simple distributed operating system which evolved as an interesting research project in its own right. A distributed name-server algorithm was developed, and interesting insight gained into the design of local area network computer systems. The property of local area networks important to the file-store is scope for dynamic redundancy; the file-store is constructed out of a number of independent file-servers. Inconsistencies between multiple copies of a file are resolved automatically. Levels of redundancy and data location are controlled through the naming network, allowing replication of files to any degree thought necessary, bounded by the number of independent storage volumes in the system. Deadlock avoidance and automatic reconfiguration on hardware component failure are included. Some simple combinatorial mathematics is included to highlight the reliability of multiple independent copies of a file; the need for a more quantitative approach is indicated

PROCEEDING THE 2nd INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON LINGUISTICS (ISOL-2): Language and Civilization

ISOL is a biennial international seminar held by the Linguistics Graduate Program of Faculty of Humanity, Andalas University in collaboration with the Linguistic Society of Indonesia (MLI), Unand Chapter. ISOL aims to provide a discussion platform for linguists and language observers across Indonesia. Its main objective is to enhance the exchange of research and new approaches in language studies. The seminar is open to interested people from outside of Indonesia. The theme of the 2nd ISOL is Language and Civilization. Civilization is the process by which a society or place reaches an advanced stage of social development and organization. It is also defined as the society, culture, and way of life of a particular area. Over time, the word civilization has come to imply something beyond the organization. It refers to a particular shared way of thinking about the world as well as a reflection on that world in art, literature, drama and a host of other cultural happenings. Language is itself a social construct – a component of social reality. Thus, like all social constructs and conventions, it can be changed. A civilization is any complex state society which is characterized by urban development, social stratification, symbolic communication forms and a perceived separation from and domination over the natural environment. To advance civilization is to construct a new social reality which emerges through language. In other words, social reality is the operational expression of words and the meanings of them that society has agreed upon. Language is itself a social construct – a component of social reality. Thus, like all social constructs and conventions, it can be changed