Master\u27s Recital

Program listing performers and works performe

Integration of Assistive Technologies into 3D Simulations: Exploratory Studies

Virtual worlds and environments have many purposes, ranging from games to scientific research. However, universal accessibility features in such virtual environments are limited. As the impairment prevalence rate increases yearly, so does the research interests in the field of assistive technologies. This work introduces research in assistive technologies and presents three software developments that explore the integration of assistive technologies within virtual environments, with a strong focus on Brain-Computer Interfaces. An accessible gaming system, a hands-free navigation software system, and a Brain-Computer Interaction plugin have been developed to study the capabilities of accessibility features within virtual 3D environments. Details of the specification, design, and implementation of these software applications are presented in the thesis. Observations and preliminary results as well as directions of future work are also included

Digital Object Identifier: Privatising Knowledge Governance through Infrastructuring

This chapter uses what has become arguably the most ubiquitous piece of thinking infrastructure, the Digital Object Identifier (DOI), as a point of entry to explore the infrastructuring of hegemonic power in knowledge circulation. The chapter opens with a technical explanation of the DOI, followed by a brief history of the formation of the organizations that undergird the DOI. Along with the other metric devices, emerging “norms'' and narratives about the DOI further reinforce its centrality and we spend time debunking these myths. We close by exploring and making visible the relational work that the DOI performs to enable and shape the development of surveillance publishing, a dominant mode of profit and cognitive extraction in the higher education and research market

The SAGE-Spec Spitzer Legacy Program: The Life Cycle of Dust and Gas in the Large Magellanic Cloud

http://arxiv.org/abs/1004.1142The SAGE-Spec Spitzer Legacy program is a spectroscopic follow-up to the SAGE-LMC photometric survey of the Large Magellanic Cloud carried out with the Spitzer Space Telescope. We present an overview of SAGE-Spec and some of its first results. The SAGE-Spec program aims to study the life cycle of gas and dust in the Large Magellanic Cloud, and to provide information essential to the classification of the point sources observed in the earlier SAGE-LMC photometric survey. We acquired 224.6 hours of observations using the InfraRed Spectrograph and the SED mode of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer. The SAGE-Spec data, along with archival Spitzer spectroscopy of objects in the Large Magellanic Cloud, are reduced and delivered to the community. We discuss the observing strategy, the specific data reduction pipelines applied and the dissemination of data products to the scientific community. Initial science results include the first detection of an extragalactic "21 um" feature towards an evolved star and elucidation of the nature of disks around RV Tauri stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Towards some young stars, ice features are observed in absorption. We also serendipitously observed a background quasar, at a redshift of z~0.14, which appears to be host-less.M. Cohen thanks NASA for supporting his participation in SAGE-Spec through JPL grant 1320707 with UC Berkeley. B. Sargent, M. Meixner, and B. Shiao were supported for SAGE-Spec through JPL/SSC grant 1310534 with STScI. M. Meixner was additionally supported by NASA NAG5-12595. R. Szczerba acknowledges support from grant N203 393334 (MNiSW)

Voice of customers: Text analysis of hotel customer reviews (cleanliness, overall environment & value for money)

The rise of the Internet has caused many changes on our daily lives. Internet has drastically changed the way we live our life, the way we spend our holidays, how we communicate with each other daily, and how we purchase products. The growth of Internet amongst consumer has generated content on the Internet by sources such as social media, review website, blogs, product fan page and many more. This has lead on to a new way of planning a holiday or looking for a suitable hotel to stay. Hence, hotel reviews websites have become a popular platform for customers to share their experiences, reviews, and recommendations on hotels, which they have visited. In Malaysia, hotel industry has been one of the most important economic growths of the country. The primary goal of a hotel is to satisfy customers, to be able to provide a high quality of service, and provide customers with a memorable experience whilst staying at the hotel. The purpose of this study is to understand and identify the range of factors, which may contribute to the satisfaction of customers as well as through expectations. Data was collected from online review websites such as Trip Advisor. Text analytics are used to analyze the contents collected

2x20 Gbps - 40 GHz OFDM Ro-FSO transmission with mode division multiplexing

Radio-over-Free-Space-Optics (Ro-FSO) is a promising technology for future wireless networks.In this work, we have designed a hybrid orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) Ro-FSO system for transmission of two independent channels by mode division multiplexing.Two independent 40 GHz radio signals are optically modulated at 20Gbps by mode division multiplexing of two laser modes LG00 and LG10 and transmitted over a free-space link of 20 km to 100 km. The performance of proposed Ro-FSO system is also evaluated under the effect of strong atmospheric turbulences

Unblocking performance blocks : an interdisciplinary approach towards an exploratory study on musical performance blocks in "late arriving" pianists

This thesis critically examines performance blocks among late arriving pianists. In particular, this thesis tests the potential of the Bio-aesthetic Approach to Musical Performance (BAMP) developed by Phil Cohen, in reducing established performance blocks through an exploratory methodology. BAMP is evaluated in terms of the performer's somatic and cognitive experiences in unblocking via the organization principle of sketch and test mode of verification. Specifically, this thesis considers the effectiveness of BAMP concepts in enhancing coherence in music performance---these include aesthetic order; cross-modal synchronization; expressive timing; homeokinesis; vocabulary; metaphoric imperative; paradoxical causality and delegated external I embodied conductor. Through a three-part research study---(1) case studies: one reflective, two participatory, and two observational; (2) a two-year case study with a late arriving pianist; and (3) interview studies with three career track concert pianists---a select number of tangible contributions to the formation of blocks have been examined. Effective unblocking processes have also been explored with late arriving pianists using concepts from BAMP. This study demonstrates that BAMP provides a useful perspective towards the study of musical performance blocks in late arriving pianists. The subtext of the research is to encourage researchers, performance analysts, and pedagogues to re-examine existing assumptions about appropriate methodology, pedagogical practices and approaches to musical performanc

The solo pianist : a critical analysis of concepts of musical giftedness

This thesis, proceeding from an interdisciplinary perspective, offers a critical analysis of the premises governing concepts of musical giftedness and their relevance to the understanding of the nature and development of the solo virtuoso pianist. Drawing on research in psychology, education and piano pedagogy, it examines the specific characteristics of the virtuoso performing experience with special reference to the relationship between the pianist and her\sp1 instrument, performing environment, and audience. In particular, it discusses the cognitive and physical demands placed upon the artist in preparing for and performing "live" in concert. In examining the premises underlying representative theoretical frameworks as well as more widely used evaluative measures of music ability, the study identifies several major limitations. In particular, this thesis argues that the most significant inherent weaknesses in existing tests of musical performance abilities are their undue reliance on isolable and easily quantifiable components, such as acuity of aural perception and sight-reading accuracy, as the primary measures and predictors of high level musical performance skills

Application of the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI-24) Among Hong Kong University Students

The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI-24). Two hundred thirteen undergraduate students in Hong Kong completed the Chinese SISRI-24, the Meaning of Life Questionnaire, the Metapersonal Self-Construal Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale to allow examination of internal reliability and construct validity. Confirmatory factor analysis was also performed to examine whether the model of King and DeCicco (2009) fit our data. Our results indicated that the full scale of the Chinese SISRI-24 and its four subscales had acceptable internal reliability. The results also showed a positive relationship between spiritual intelligence and metapersonal self-construal. However, no significant relationship was reported between spiritual intelligence and life satisfaction. As such, construct validity was low to moderate. This study can be considered a foundation for understanding and measuring spiritual intelligence among undergraduate students in Hong Kong. Future research directions are suggested