7903 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring Extended Realities Metaphysical, Psychological, and Ethical Challenges
No full textThis volume highlights interdisciplinary research on the ethical, metaphysical, and experimental dimensions of extended reality technologies, including virtual and augmented realities. It explores themes connected to the nature of virtual objects, the value of virtual experiences and relationships, experimental ethics, moral psychology in the metaverse, and game/simulation design.
Extended reality (XR) refers to a family of technologies aiming to augment (AR) or virtually replace (VR) human experience. The chapters in this volume represent cutting-edge research on XR experiences from a wide range of approaches including philosophy, psychology, Africana studies, and cognitive sciences. They are organized around three guiding questions. Part 1, “What is Extended Reality?”, contains a series of chapters examining metaphysical questions about virtual objects, actions, and worlds. Part 2, “Is There an Ethics for Extended Realities?”, includes chapters that address ethical questions that arise within XR experiences. Finally, Part 3, “What Can We Do with Extended Realities?”, features chapters from a diverse group of social scientists on the potential uses of XR as an investigative and educational tool, including its strengths and pitfalls.
Exploring Extended Realities will appeal to scholars and advanced students working in philosophy of technology, metaphysics, moral psychology, applied ethics, and game studies.https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/faculty_books/1643/thumbnail.jp
Voting for Ethics: A Guide for U.S. Voters (Second Edition)
No full textVoting for Ethics is a non-partisan guide that equips U.S. voters to make informed decisions. It emphasizes identifying ethical candidates, irrespective of political affiliations.
The updated second edition delves into the role of artificial intelligence in politics and the importance of a candidate\u27s commitment to the peaceful transition of power. This book is a call to action for voters to scrutinize candidates\u27 integrity, ensuring their vote contributes to an ethical political landscape.https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/faculty_books/1657/thumbnail.jp
Threading a decolonial feminist response to COVID-19: One community psychologist\u27s reflection on the assemblages of violence
No full textTo challenge and interrogate the assemblages of violence produced by racial capitalism, and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, community psychologists must engage in a transdisciplinary critical ethically reflexive practice. In this reflexive essay, or first-person account, I offer a decolonial feminist response to COVID-19 that draws strength from the writings of three women of Color decolonial and postcolonial feminist thinkers: Gloria E. Anzaldúa, Sylvia Wynter, and Arundhati Roy. Through their writings I share my reflections on the sociopolitical moment associated with COVID-19. Of importance, I argue in support of engaging a decolonial feminist standpoint to understand the inequitable and dehumanizing conditions under COVID-19, and the possibilities for transformative justice. I offer this reflexive essay with the intention of summoning community psychology and community psychologists to look toward transdisciplinarity, such as that which characterizes a decolonial standpoint and feminist epistemologies. Writings oriented toward imagination, relationality, and borderland ways of thinking that are outside, in-between or within, the self and the collective “we” can offer valuable guidance. The invitation toward a transdisciplinary critical ethically reflexive practice calls us to bear witness to movements for social justice; to leverage our personal, professional and institutional resources to support communities in struggle. A decolonial feminist standpoint guided by the words of Anzaldúa, Wynter, and Roy can cultivate liberatory conditions that can materialize as racial freedom, community wellbeing, and societal thriving
The Study of Grammar Tgrigna language Language“ዓውደ መጽናዕቲ ናይ ስርዓተ ሓሳባት ሰዋሰው ትግርኛ ሰዋሱው ከም ኣካል ናይ ስነ ቋንቋ በዚ ዝስዕብ ናይ ዓውደ መጽናዕቲ ዓንቀጻት ይግለጽ”።
No full textMy name is Habte Micael I am pleased to present Tigrigna grammar in the event of the Symposium on August 18th 2023. Tigrigna, as it is a part of our theoretical linguistics, I do my best to develop our Tigrigna grammar skills in our culture
Autonomous Microgrid System
Get PDFMicrogrids have made a revolutionary change in the realm of energy distribution due to the features that they offer, including localized, resilient, and sustainable energy solutions. Operating renewable resources in a microgrid while maintaining generation-load balance and acceptable voltage-frequency limits has been an open research problem. This thesis presents smart python agents for microgrid systems to automate the operations and control of microgrid renewable resources in an effort to provide resilient solutions to the intermittence issues that could potentially arise within the microgrid energy system. The smart agents operate the microgrids by not only integrating the use of renewable energy resources but also optimizing energy consumption while maintaining a balance between power generation and load and keeping voltage and frequency within limits. We used SPADE (Smart Python Agent Development Environment) for the design and implementation of the microgrid multi-agent system. We assign each agent a different set of functionalities and responsibilities. These include reinforcement learning and forecasting of end-user energy demand (load) and the solar and wind power generation. We used four types of forecasting models, namely linear regression (as a baseline), random forest regression, gradient boosting regression, and long short-term memory (LSTM). The agent design embeds these forecasting models for load power consumption, solar power, and wind power. We used SCU’s 2021-2023 load dataset for training and testing, which covers the energy usage of several residential and academic buildings across campus. We also used Kaggle datasets for the solar and wind forecasting. The forecasting results show a high degree of accuracy for the load models when compared to solar and wind. This is because, for the load, we used a large temporal dataset that lends itself to sequence models and specifically LSTMs. In the case of solar and wind, though, the variance and quality of the dataset degraded the forecasting models’ predictive power. Agents also embed reinforcement learning to achieve optimal power distribution and energy market participation. This minimizes the cost of the system (selling unused power to the grid), while maximizing the use of available renewable energy. We use XMPP and ACL protocols for agent communication and authentication. Therefore, the SPADE multi-agent framework presented in this thesis proves to be a viable technology solution for microgrid systems. It can further be enhanced to accommodate real-time operation and control in real-world scenarios
Piloted Autonomous Crisis Reconnaissance Robot (PACRR)
Get PDFPACRR stands for Piloted/Autonomous Crisis Reconnaissance Robot. The aim of PACRR is to create a low-cost, autonomous-capable quadruped robot for first responder applications such as search and rescue, detecting gas leaks, mapping obstructed areas, and other situations that are dangerous or too confined for humans. The design process for PACRR involved the addition of perception sensors to use with a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm, alterations to the power delivery system, adjusting the control of the robot, as well as other hardware and software modifications to an open-source 3D-printed design originally developed at Monash University called DINGO
The Journey to Desensitization: A Mobile App for Oral Immunotherapy Patients
Get PDFMillions of individuals in the United States confront the daily challenges of food allergies, with the threat of potentially life-threatening reactions ever-present. Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) emerges as a beacon of hope in this landscape, gradually desensitizing patients to their allergens. This groundbreaking treatment, contrasting avoidance strategies, promises a life with fewer restrictions. However, it is a journey fraught with complexities, requiring rigorous adherence to protocols, emotional fortitude, and frequent medical supervision for patients. This thesis centers on the creation of an iPhone application tailored to OIT patients, leveraging Apple’s privacy and security features. The app integrates seamlessly with the Apple Health app, providing a platform for dose tracking, symptom logging, and the visualization of long-term trends. As a comprehensive resource, it educates users about anaphylaxis and OIT. This project seeks to address the unmet needs of OIT patients, offering vital support, guidance, and resources, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for those grappling with food allergies
Using the Methodology of Liberation Theology, “See, Judge, And Act,” to Analyze the Effects of Domestic Violence on Women in India, Recognize the Holy Spirit\u27s Presence in Victims, and Use Liturgy to Enable the Holy Spirit to Stir the Hearts of the Faithful, Prompting them to Respond to the Domestic Abuse Crisis.
Get PDFThe Second Council’s reforms directed at full and active participation in the liturgy are not limited to the reform of the Church’s celebrations and rites. What is also required is a further engagement of the Church in the world in order to address the problematic social realities that impede the realization of what the liturgy promises and represents. One particular social reality in need of such analysis and engagement is domestic abuse, and this paper seeks to address that issue within the context of India. To gain a better understanding of the problem, first, a survey of the roots and causes of domestic abuse within India is offered, with a focus on the historical role of gender in India. Next, this paper proposes the Gospel pericope of the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42) as a basis for examining cycles of abuse that trap women within oppressive systems. This exegesis, along with Paul’s address of trauma (Romans 8), serves as the foundation for examining how the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of Indian women subject to abuse. Above all, these passages point to how a living Church is guided by the Holy Spirit and prompts us with ever-hopeful ways forward while also demanding how the Church may better listen to the voices of the voiceless. Such promptings are connected to the liturgy, and so the homily, in particular, is examined as a way of both illuminating and confronting the harms of domestic abuse. Finally, a specific case of interreligious liturgy that addresses the problem more holistically is proposed as a practical way of addressing abuse in India
The Preferential Option for the Poorest Street Children in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: A Study Based on John Sobrino’s Theological Framework
Get PDFThis thesis explores child poverty in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), within the Preferential Option for the Poor (POP) context. The POP, a core principle of Catholic Social Teaching, emphasizes the obligation to position the needs of society\u27s marginalized and impoverished at the forefront of moral and ethical considerations. The study, grounded in the theological framework of John Sobrino, delves into the plight of Kinshasa\u27s street children, a direct manifestation of prolonged material poverty. It investigates the underlying causes, the multifaceted nature of poverty, and its implications on children\u27s well-being and survival. The thesis examines the role of the Catholic Church in poverty alleviation, peacebuilding, and social justice within the DRC, focusing on the Centre Monseigneur Munzihirwa (CMM), a Jesuit social center for reintegrating street children into their families. It critically analyzes the impact and challenges of initiatives aimed at reducing child poverty, calling for a transformation beyond charity towards a spiritual and systemic alteration of the children\u27s circumstances. The study also applies Emmanuel Katongole\u27s paradigms for understanding Christianity\u27s social role in Africa, advocating for a new imagination for street children in Kinshasa. This work concludes by arguing that true solidarity necessitates addressing the children\u27s immediate needs and challenging the systemic inequalities perpetuating their marginalization. Furthermore, it suggests empowering them to become agents of liberation in a more just society. The research employs an interdisciplinary approach incorporating theological, ethical, sociological, and practical aspects. It contributes to social justice by promoting the principles of justice, love, and compassion advocated by Catholic Social Teaching, providing actionable insights for organizations working with street children in Kinshasa. Furthermore, it aligns with global goals of poverty eradication and promoting every child\u27s right to a dignified life