Strategic Growth Areas (SGAs)
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Similar to Destination Areas in structure, Strategic Growth Areas are smaller and aim for regional or national leadership. Strategic Growth Areas represent additional areas of strength, identified by a faculty survey conducted in January 2016. SGAs may mature into Destination Areas.
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Browsing Strategic Growth Areas (SGAs) by Content Type "Conference proceeding"
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- 2nd Annual Advancing the Human Condition Symposium(Virginia Tech, 2018-11-27)The Office for Inclusion and Diversity presents the second annual Advancing the Human Condition Symposium, Nov. 27-28, 2018 at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. The two-day event fosters intellectual discourse around emerging questions of the human condition from multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, and adopts a dialogue format that features key discussants and respondents in conversation with other researchers, practitioners, and scholar activists.
- 3D Time-Based Aural Data Representation Using D⁴ Library’s Layer Based Amplitude Panning AlgorithmBukvic, Ivica Ico (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-07)The following paper introduces a new Layer Based Amplitude Panning algorithm and supporting D⁴ library of rapid prototyping tools for the 3D time-based data representation using sound. The algorithm is designed to scale and support a broad array of configurations, with particular focus on High Density Loudspeaker Arrays (HDLAs). The supporting rapid prototyping tools are designed to leverage oculocentric strategies to importing, editing, and rendering data, offering an array of innovative approaches to spatial data editing and representation through the use of sound in HDLA scenarios. The ensuing D⁴ ecosystem aims to address the shortcomings of existing approaches to spatial aural representation of data, offers unique opportunities for furthering research in the spatial data audification and sonification, as well as transportable and scalable spatial media creation and production.
- Adult Day Services Participation and Client Depressive Symptoms: A Longitudinal AnalysisBivens, Rebecca; Norouzi, Neda; Jarrott, Shannon E. (Virginia Tech, 2013-04-04)Our study explores whether adult day service (ADS) use is associated with the reduction of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores of older adults who participated in ADS for at least six months.
- AffecTech-an affect-aware interactive AV ArtworkCoghlan, Niall; Jaimovich, Javier; Knapp, R. Benjamin; O’Brien, Donal; Ortiz, Miguel A. (ISEA International, 2009)New developments in real-time computing and body-worn sensor technology allow us to explore not just visible gestures using inertial sensors, but also invisible changes in an individual’s physiological state using bio-sensors (Kim & André 2008). This creates an opportunity for a more intimate interaction between the observer and technology-based art (Gonsalves 2008). We present a technical overview of the AffecTech system; a bio-signal based interactive audiovisual installation commissioned as part of the pre-ISEA symposium in November 2008. Observers were invited to sit on one of 2 sensor-enhanced chairs (Coghlan & Knapp 2008), which transmitted physiological data about the occupant to a central control system. This data was used to control and modulate interactive visuals, live video feeds and a surround sound score, with events and interactions dependent on the observers’ affective/emotional state and the disparity or similarity between the bio-signals of the chairs occupants. This technical overview is followed by an examination of the outcomes of the project, from both the artistic and technical viewpoints, with recommendations for modification in future implementations.
- Affective Feedback in a Virtual Reality based Intelligent SupermarketSaha, Deba Pratim; Martin, Thomas L.; Knapp, R. Benjamin (ACM, 2017)The probabilistic nature of the inferences in a context-aware intelligent environment (CAIE) renders them vulnerable to erroneous decisions resulting in wrong services. Learning to recognize a user’s negative reactions to such wrong services will enable a CAIE to anticipate a service’s appropriateness. We propose a framework for continuous measurement of physiology to infer a user’s negative-emotions arising from receiving wrong services, thereby implementing an implicit-feedback loop in the CAIE system. To induce such negative-emotions, in this paper, we present a virtualreality (VR) based experimental platform while collecting real-time physiological data from ambulatory wearable sensors. Results from the electrodermal activity (EDA) data analysis reveal patterns that correlate with known features of negative-emotions, indicating the possibility to infer service appropriateness from user’s reactions to a service, thereby closing an implicit-feedback loop for the CAIE.
- “All the World’s a Stage” – Bridging the Generational Gap through TheatreNorouzi, Neda; Lyon-Hill, Sarah (Virginia Tech, 2014-11-05)This research arose from a shared interest and collaboration between two colleagues in different academic fields. Neda Norouzi is a doctoral student in Architecture and Human Development, interested in how the physical environment affects intergenerational collaboration. Sarah Lyon-Hill is a doctoral student in Urban Planning, studying community-based theatre as an alternative approach to community and economic development. Both authors have theatre backgrounds due to their fathers’ professorial careers in script writing and set design. Understanding their common background and interest in building collaborative relationships among diverse groups, these authors turned to the growing presence and effects of intergenerational theatre programs (IG theatre). IG theatre emerged from the community-based theatre movement, which focuses on building the capacity and voice of different and often marginalized groups within communities through intergroup collaboration and helping diverse groups find a shared community identity (Strimling 2004).
- An Architecture for Electronic TextilesJones, Mark T.; Martin, Thomas L.; Sawyer, Braden (ICST, 2008)This paper makes a case for a communication architecture for electronic textiles (e-textiles). The properties and re- quirements of e-textile garments are described and analyzed. Based on these properties, the authors make a case for em- ploying wired, digital communication as the primary on- garment communication network. The implications of this design choice for the hardware architecture for e-textiles are discussed.
- THE ART OF PROBLEM DISCOVERY: Adaptive Thinking for Innovation and GrowthMathews, Brian (Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), 2013-04-02)What challenges do students face in the classroom? What issues do faculty encounter when applying for grants? How does the Writing Center plan to help students abroad? What keeps senior administrators up at night? We invest a lot of time and effort discussing library issues, but how well do we know the issues of our constituents? What are the problems, priorities, and possibilities of the people we serve? Higher education is poised to undergo a historic evolution with the introduction of new pedagogies, publishing models, and user preferences. Libraries will not only be asked to adapt, but to help lead monumental changes. This paper presents an innovation strategy designed around growth. By adopting a discovery-oriented problem-seeking outlook and a holistic view of our institutions, librarians can develop an entrepreneurial mindset stretching beyond traditionally predefined boundaries. By advancing the objectives of others, we not only help our organizations succeed, but simultaneously reframe the role, value, and perception of libraries throughout the process.
- Assuring Quality Care: Exploring Strategies of Medicaid E&D Waiver ProvidersBrossoie, Nancy; Roberto, Karen A.; Teaster, Pamela B.; Glass, Anne (Virginia Tech, 2004)Implementing quality assurance (QA) programs in unregulated noninstitutional settings remains a challenge for home and community-based service providers. A sample of 65 Elderly & Disabled (E&D) Waiver providers in Virginia were presented with eight problem scenarios commonly found in home-care services. Each of the respondents was able to identify strategies they would use to recognize and address each problem. Findings suggest providers currently use multiple mechanisms as part of their overall QA program. Discussion focuses on the strengths of using multiple approaches and on increasing provider awareness of complementary QA strategies and reducing the reliance on staff report as a major QA strategy.
- Building Community Resilience and Supporting Vulnerable Populations: Social Networks and Community CapacityMancini, Jay A. (Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 2009-06-23)
- Caregivers of Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Information and Support NeedsWilcox, Karen L.; Roberto, Karen A.; Blieszner, Rosemary; Winston, Brianne L. (Virginia Tech, 2004-11)One of the newer concepts of age-related memory deficit is mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI reflects self-reported changes in cognitive function that do not necessarily interfere with work or social relations; it is viewed as a transitional phase between normal cognitive aging and dementia. Researchers and practitioners lack a comprehensive understanding of what relatives of persons with MCI are actually experiencing and what they realistically believe would be helpful to manage their situation now and in the future. In a multi-method, mini-longitudinal design that incorporated quantitative and qualitative approaches, we collected information from patient charts and semi-structured family interviews to investigate the information and support needs of 20 (out of 100 to be interviewed) family members of older adults with MCI. We found that, apart from information available about potential later diagnoses such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, families reported having little information available to them to assist in decision making and caregiving for early stages of memory loss. Family members were hesitant to think about and plan very far into the future and were more likely to take things a day at a time. Past experiences with family members or friends with memory difficulties or other serious health conditions enabled some family members to feel more at ease and knowledgeable with the process of seeking help for themselves and the older adult they were supporting. Findings suggest that earlier identification of memory loss has implications for clinical practice and the delivery of health care and social services to older individuals and their relatives.
- Caregiving Stress, Coping Strategies, and Health Outcomes: Results from the REACH II StudyButner-Kozimor, L. Michelle (Virginia Tech, 2015-11-21)The objective of this study was to understand CGs of PwD use of social support and religious and spiritual coping as coping mechanisms and potential impacts on physical and psychological outcomes, in line with the Stress Process Model (Pearlin, Menaghan, Lieberman, & Mullan, 1981).
- A Case Study of an Interdisciplinary Design Course for Pervasive ComputingCoupey, Eloise; McNair, Lisa D. (IEEE, 2010)This paper provides a case study of an interdisciplinary design project course for pervasive computing products. As a team of faculty from computer engineering, industrial design, and marketing, we have run several interdisciplinary design projects with teams of undergraduates from those disciplines. Our paper will detail our process for each of these projects and how that process has evolved with each offering of the course.
- CCS 2017- Women in Cyber Security (CyberW) WorkshopYao, Danfeng (Daphne); Bertino, Elisa (ACM, 2017)The CyberW workshop is motivated by the significant gender imbalance in all security conferences, in terms of the number of publishing authors, PC members, organizers, and attendees. What causes this gender imbalance remains unclear. However, multiple research studies have shown that a diverse group is more creative, diligent, and productive than a homogeneous group. Achieving cyber security requires a diverse group. To maintain a sustainable and creative workforce, substantial efforts need to be made by the security community to broaden the participation from underrepresented groups in cyber security research conferences. We hope this workshop can attract all underrepresented cybersecurity professionals, students, and researchers to attend top security and privacy conferences, engage in cutting-edge security and privacy research, excel in cyber security professions, and ultimately take on leadership positions.
- Change in Reports of Unmet Need For Help with ADL or Mobility DisabilitiesSands, Laura P.; Yuan, Miao; Xie, Yimeng; Hong, Yili (Virginia Tech, 2015)Self-care (SC) and Mobility (MO) disabled older adults require the help of others to successfully complete daily tasks. Thirty percent of respondents to the 2011 NHATS survey reported unmet need for one or more SC or MO disabilities. Reports of unmet need for disabilities is associated with: Future hospitalization¹ Readmission² Emergency Department use³ Mortality⁴ Little is known about patterns of unmet need over time, especially the degree to which unmet need resolves, varies, or begins. Determination of predictors of change in unmet need status would inform the development of interventions to reduce unmet need.
- Cinemacraft: Immersive Live Machinima as an Empathetic Musical Storytelling PlatformNarayanan, Siddhart; Bukvic, Ivica Ico (University of Michigan, 2016)In the following paper we present Cinemacraft, a technology-mediated immersive machinima platform for collaborative performance and musical human-computer interaction. To achieve this, Cinemacraft innovates upon a reverse-engineered version of Minecraft, offering a unique collection of live machinima production tools and a newly introduced Kinect HD module that allows for embodied interaction, including posture, arm movement, facial expressions, and a lip syncing based on captured voice input. The result is a malleable and accessible sensory fusion platform capable of delivering compelling live immersive and empathetic musical storytelling that through the use of low fidelity avatars also successfully sidesteps the uncanny valley.
- Co-located Collaborative Play in Virtual Environments for Group Learning in MuseumsApostolellis, Panagiotis (ACM, 2014-06)Having witnessed the unexplored potential of co-located group collaboration in contemporary museums, the proposed research aims to identify which elements of collaborative virtual environments and serious games can be leveraged for an enhanced learning experience. Our hypothesis is that synchronous, co-located, group collaboration will afford greater learning compared to the conventional approaches. We developed C-OLiVE, an interactive virtual learning environment supporting tripartite group collaboration, which we are using as a test bed to respond to our research questions. In this paper, we discuss the proposed research which involves building and testing a conceptual framework and also suggesting a list of design guidelines for anyone interested in developing virtual environments for informal learning spaces.
- Communications in Electronic Textile SystemsNakad, Z.; Jones, M.; Martin, T. (2003)Electronic textiles (e-textiles) are emerging as a novel method for constructing electronic systems in wearable and large area applications. This new type of processing system merges textile and electronic technologies. This paper studies the communication requirements between the computing and sensing elements of an e-textile. This communication is studied through the construction of a prototype as well as through modeling and simulation. A new algorithm based on token grid schemes is presented that takes advantage of the e-textile physical configuration.
- Community Connections and Sense of Community among Older AdultsBrossoie, Nancy; Mancini, Jay A.; Roberto, Karen A.; Blieszner, Rosemary (Virginia Tech, 2003)The goal of this exploratory study is to identify what factors predict sense of community in older adult community members.
- Comparative Dimensions of Disciplinary CultureMartin, Thomas L.; McNair, Lisa D.; Paretti, Marie C. (ASEE, 2015)Despite calls to promote creativity as “an indispensable quality for engineering” [1], the U.S. engineering educational system has been slow to develop pedagogies that successfully promote innovative behaviors. Engineers need more creativity and interdisciplinary fluency, but engineering instructors often struggle to provide such skills without sacrificing discipline-specific problem-solving skills. At the same time, engineering programs continue to struggle with attracting and retaining members of underrepresented populations—populations whose diversity could greatly contribute to innovation. Interestingly, the lack of diversity in engineering is often attributed to cultural traits of the field, which is often characterized as masculine, individualistic, and function-oriented. To address these issues, we have undertaken a 3-year study to investigate patterns of cultural traits in students across disciplines, and to build an actionable theory of engineering culture that can support pedagogies of inclusive and collaborative innovation as well as strategies for recruiting and retention efforts. In this paper, we present preliminary results from our survey in order to define how Hofstede’s dimensions of national culture map to 14 majors in a research university. Specifically, we are applying Hofstede’s original four dimensions of national business cultures (power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, masculinity) [2] to academic disciplines to explain how students develop skills to operate within and across disciplinary boundaries. To do so, we are addressing the following research questions: 1. How do Hofstede’s dimensions of national cultures map to academic disciplines? 2. Do different majors have different disciplinary cultures according to Hofstede’s dimensions? This research purpose is to understand how students in different disciplines behave and perceive their majors. The information presented builds up on a pilot study where we applied Hofstede’s instrument with no major findings. However, we improved the survey based on the responses and expanded it outside engineering majors.