Techniques for Disambiguation of Uncertain User Input

This disclosure describes techniques to perform disambiguation of uncertain or inaccurate user inputs to a computing device. Uncertain input can occur, for example, by an inadvertent touching of the touchscreen of a smartphone in a user’s pocket, inadvertent detection of gesture, etc. Current devices often interpret such input incorrectly, and respond in a manner that is unexpected for the user. Techniques disclosed herein determine a user intent based on the detected gesture. Machine learning is used to disambiguate user-intended input from inadvertent input. The framework described herein detects input and triggers an analyzer. The analyzer receives data from various sources, based on user permission to access such data. The data can include a state of the device, device configuration, user context, sensor data, history, etc. Results from the analyzer are provided to a resolver that determines the user intent and performs an appropriate action, e.g., triggering an application on the device

Status of the KTeV Experiment at Fermilab

The KTeV experiment is a fixed target experiment at Fermilab. Its primary goal is the search for direct CP violation in the decay of neutral kaons. Its current status and some preliminary results will be discussed.Comment: 5 pages Latex, 4 figures; to be published in the proceedings of the XVI International Workshop on Weak Interactions and Neutrinos, WIN '97, Capri, Italy, June 22-28, 199

Tidal streams in a MOND potential: constraints from Sagittarius

We compare orbits in a thin axisymmetric disc potential in MOND to those in a thin disc plus near-spherical dark matter halo predicted by a $\Lambda$CDM cosmology. Remarkably, the amount of orbital precession in MOND is nearly identical to that which occurs in a mildly oblate CDM Galactic halo (potential flattening q=0.9), consistent with recent constraints from the Sagittarius stream. Since very flattened mass distributions in MOND produce rounder potentials than in standard Newtonian mechanics, we show that it will be very difficult to use the tidal debris from streams to distinguish between a MOND galaxy and a standard CDM galaxy with a mildly oblate halo. If a galaxy can be found with either a prolate halo, or one which is more oblate than $q \sim 0.9$ this would rule out MOND as a viable theory. Improved data from the leading arm of the Sagittarius dwarf - which samples the Galactic potential at large radii - could rule out MOND if the orbital pole precession can be determined to an accuracy of the order of $\pm 1^o$.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. Final version accepted for publication in MNRAS. The modelling of the Sagittarius stream has been improved, but otherwise the conclusions remain the sam

Matrices A such that R A = A^{s + 1} R when R^k = I

This paper examines matrices A∈C^(n×n) such that R A = A^(s+1) R where R^k = I, the identity matrix, and where s and k are nonnegative integers with k⩾2. Spectral theory is used to characterize these matrices. The cases s = 0 and s⩾1 are considered separately since they are analyzed by different techniques

Building dashboard : using real-time web-based utility usage feedback to promote energy conservation and education in residential halls

Project Leaders: Ben Datema, Paul Coleman, Frankie Minor, Jan Weaver, Pat MargherioMU Interdisciplinary Innovations Fun

Los Alamos RAGE Simulations of the HAIV Mission Concept

The mitigation of potentially hazardous objects (PHOs) can be accomplished by a variety of methods including kinetic impactors, gravity tractors and several nuclear explosion options. Depending on the available lead time prior to Earth impact, non- nuclear options can be very effective at altering a PHOs orbit. However if the warning time is short nuclear options are generally deemed most effective at mitigating the hazard. The NIAC mission concept for a nuclear mission has been presented at several meetings, including the last PDC (2013).We use the adaptive mesh hydrocode RAGE to perform detailed simulations of this Hypervelocity Asteroid Intercept Vehicle (HAIV) mission concept. We use the RAGE code to simulate the crater formation by the kinetic impactor as well as the explosion and energy coupling from the follower nuclear explosive device (NED) timed to detonate below the original surface to enhance the energy coupling. The RAGE code has been well validated for a wide variety of applications. A parametric study will be shown of the energy and momentum transfer to the target 100 m diameter object: 1) the HAIV mission as planned; 2) a surface explosion and 3) a subsurface (contained) explosion; both 2) and 3) use the same source energy as 1).Preliminary RAGE simulations show that the kinetic impactor will carve out a surface crater on the object and the subsequent NED explosion at the bottom of the crater transfers energy and momentum to the target effectively moving it off its Earth crossing orbit. Figure 1 shows the initial (simplified) RAGE 2D setup geometry for this study. Figure 2 shows the crater created by the kinetic impactor and Figure 3 shows the time sequence of the energy transfer to the target by the NED

Mina Bissell: Context is everything

Bissell remains as passionate about science as ever

Beyond Encryption: Our Vision for Trustworthy Messaging in a Viral World

Private messaging platforms like Messenger, Signal, Telegram, WeChat, and WhatsApp are seminal technologies. By assuring private communication on a global scale, these innovations expand and protect democracy as well as our human rights. They have fundamentally reshaped human connection.Omidyar Network believes in the promise of this type of technological innovation. We also believe tools with this depth of political, economic, social, and cultural influence must be held to the highest standards of trustworthiness and safety.For the past three years, we have invested in individuals and organizations that are working to make private messaging platforms more trustworthy (and as a result, safer). We have seen firsthand the pivotal role of private messaging platforms in empowering diverse ideas and social movements. And we have witnessed the inequality, injustice, and trauma that result from risky design choices which preference the technology's scale, virality, and monetization over its users' well-being. To preserve the best qualities of these innovations, all stakeholders must engage in renovating the product designs, policies, and incentives that introduce and increase risk

Optimal surface salinity perturbations of the meridional overturning and heat transport in a global ocean general circulation model

Recent observations and modeling studies have stressed the influence of surface salinity perturbations on the North Atlantic circulation over the past few decades. As a step toward the estimation of the sensitivity of the thermohaline circulation to salinity anomalies, optimal initial surface salinity perturbations are computed and described for a realistic mean state of a global ocean general circulation model [Océan Parallélisé (OPA)]; optimality is defined successively with respect to the meridional overturning circulation intensity and the meridional heat transport maximum. Although the system is asymptotically stable, the nonnormality of the dynamics is able to produce a transient growth through an initial stimulation. Optimal perturbations are calculated subject to three constraints: the perturbation applies to surface salinity; the perturbation conserves the global salt content; and the perturbation is normalized, to remove the degeneracy in the linear maximization problem. Maximization using Lagrangian multipliers leads to explicit solutions (rather than eigenvalue problems), involving the integration of the model adjoint for each value to maximize.The most efficient transient growth for the intensity of the meridional overturning circulation appears for a delay of 10.5 yr after the perturbation by the optimal surface salinity anomaly. This optimal growth is induced by an initial anomaly located north of 50°N. In the same way, the most efficient transient growth for the intensity of the meridional heat transport appears for a shorter delay of 2.2 yr after the perturbation by the optimal surface salinity anomaly. This initial optimal perturbation corresponds to a zonal salinity gradient around 24°N. The optimal surface salinity perturbations studied herein yield upper bounds on the intensity of the response in meridional overturning circulation and meridional heat transport. Using typical amplitudes of the Great Salinity Anomalies, the upper bounds for the associated variability are 0.8 Sv (1 Sv ? 106 m3 s?1) (11% of the mean circulation) and 0.03 PW (5% of the mean circulation), respectively