18397 research outputs found
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Electrolysis of Silicate Minerals in Reduced Gravity for Metal and Oxygen Production
No full textA discussion of the terrestrial economics of electrochemical and hydrogen based green steel production methods. Aggregation of material property models for molten silicate minerals and an investigation into how those material properties change during iron and oxygen production. Experimental work on electrolysis of viscous solutions in random positioning machine simulated micro-gravity. Multiphysics simulation of Lunar regolith electrolyzer which includes temperature and composition dependent material properties. Fluid convection (natural and bubble driven), heat flows, and primary current distributions were simultaneously solved for and compared for Earth, Moon, and Mars operation.</p
Addressing Ash-Related Challenges from Biomass Combustion using Ceramic and Composite Coatings
No full textBiomass-fired boilers deteriorate from ash that deposits on and corrodes the heating surface. Protective coatings are an effective countermeasure to address both issues. This thesis focuses on developing four types of coatings for boilers and their performance evaluation using an in-house apparatus. The thesis reveals the mechanism that reduces ash deposition using a lotus-leaf-like coating, inspired by nature, and corrosion minimising using the developed coatings. The performance comparison among the four coatings is consolidated, providing options for surface engineering to solve ash deposition and corrosion in boilers.</p
The challenges and opportunities of collaboration between design and occupational therapy for assistive technology
No full textDesign practices are being implemented to address wicked problems in healthcare but are underutilised in assistive technology. This thesis explores how to improve assistive technology outcomes through collaboration between people with lived experience of disability, occupational therapists and design professionals. The findings demonstrate that assistive technology issues are wicked problems and that the current scope of practice for design within assistive technology is limited and may benefit from being extended to process and systemic levels. However, this must be tempered through genuine collaboration with people with lived experience of disability and leveraging the clinical experience of occupational therapists.</p
Latency Analysis of a Haptically-Enabled Robot for Teleoperated Echocardiography
No full textAdvancements in ultrasound examination have improved diagnostic accessibility; however, access to this technology and medical expertise in remote regions remains a significant challenge. This thesis explores the use of collaborative robots and haptic technology to facilitate teleoperated echocardiography in remote locations. A comprehensive literature review identified the absence of haptic feedback and the reliance on high-quality network connections in previously developed systems. This research assesses lightweight communication protocols and the impact of network latency on a newly developed Haptically Enabled Robot for Teleoperated Echocardiography (HERTEC). A pilot study with five echocardiographers demonstrated the system's feasibility for future clinical applications.</p
Development of equatorial soil loss equation under simulated rainfall conditions
No full textThis research aimed to understand and predict soil erosion in equatorial regions caused by heavy rainfall. By studying rainfall patterns and soil properties, researchers developed a new method to estimate soil loss. Key components of this method include the Equatorial Rainfall Erosivity Factor, Equatorial Slope Length Factor, and the resulting Equatorial Soil Loss Equation. This research provides valuable insights for environmental protection, land management, and conservation efforts in regions prone to heavy rainfall.</p
Digital Inclusion among Elderly Consumers in Sarawak: Drivers and Barriers to Adoption of Wearable Health Technology
No full textThis study examined the acceptance of Wearable Health Technology (WHT) among elderly in Sarawak, Malaysia. Using the UTAUT model, the research investigated how performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions influence WHT acceptance, including the moderating effects of digital literacy and resistance to change. Survey results revealed the four UTAUT variables positively influenced WHT acceptance. Digital literacy moderated the effects of performance and effort expectancy on behavioural intention, while resistance to change moderated effort expectancy's influence on WHT acceptance. Mitigating resistance to change and improving digital literacy through targeted education and user-friendly interfaces can enhance elderly's WHT acceptance.</p
ADM+S Submission to The Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society
No full textThis submission considers some important and complex questions around the role of social media in Australian society by a large group of researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S).Facial recognitionWhen considering the use of age verification to protect Australian children from social media, ADM+S research shows that facial recognition technologies are unreliable, of limited efficacy and have a racial and gender bias. In cases where facial recognition is deployed, cumbersome reallife double checking of the system’s alerts is required, with humans still required to do the actual work of age-verification. This submission also considers developments in China, where authorities placed a series of restrictions on people aged 18 or below playing video games and relied on facial recognition technology to enforce the reform. Despite the significant technological capabilities of the Chinese state, the use of facial recognition technology has been largely ineffective there. News Media Bargaining CodeThe submission questions the viability of the News Media Bargaining Code, with the model wrongly presuming that all digital platforms consistently need news content to provide a service. The committee is encouraged to re-consider the recommendations from the Digital Platforms Inquiry Preliminary Report, where holistic regulatory oversight was proposed that directly remedied the information asymmetry news organisations are currently facing. If the Australian Government wants to force certain platforms to carry a certain amount of Australian news content, a different legislative instrument may be required. Mis- and disinformationAustralian journalism, news and public interest media currently play both constructive and less constructive roles in the circulation of mis- and disinformation on digital platforms. While responsible reporting is a critical element of the wider information ecosystem, mis- and disinformation can also be amplified through reporting from mainstream media outlets. The practice of sourcing stories from social media, including by reporting on viral TikTok videos or Twitter controversies, is a key source of this amplification. The submission also highlights the important role that independent fact-checkers continue to play. Further researchThere is very little systematic knowledge about how platforms’ algorithms, recommender systems and business tactics influence what Australians see (and hear). The submission details a range of new and ongoing research projects and infrastructure across the ADM+S Centre, which are developing the methods and tools to better understand these systems. The newly launched, federally funded Australian Internet Observatory (funded by NCRIS through the ARDC) will enable such work to be scaled further to a national level.The ADM+S Australian Ad Observatory has also found that harmful and illegal content can also form a substantial component of the everyday advertising content served to Australians by social media. The Australian Ad Observatory has used novel data donation methodologies to provide unprecedented insights into the online advertising experience of Australian Facebook users, identifying harmful or illegal advertising content that includes unlawful scam content, harmful and, in some cases, potentially unlawful gambling advertising, and concerning patterns of alcohol and unhealthy food advertising.</p
A Scoping Review of the Use of Robotics Technologies for Supporting Social-Emotional Learning in Children with Autism
No full textThis scoping review synthesises the current research into robotics technologies for promoting social-emotional learning in children with autism spectrum disorder. It examines the types of robotics technologies employed, their applications, and the gaps in the existing literature. Our scoping review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. The systematic search of relevant databases allowed us to identify studies that use robotics technologies for fostering social, emotional, and cognitive skills in young children with autism. Our review has revealed that various robots, such as Nao, Kaspar, and Zeno, have been used to support the development of social and emotional skills through imitation games, turn-taking, joint attention, emotional recognition, and conversation. As most of these studies were conducted in clinical settings, there is a need for further research in classroom and community-based environments. Additionally, the literature calls for more high-quality longitudinal studies to assess the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of robot-assisted therapy and to assess adaptive and personalised interventions tailored to individual needs. More emphasis is recommended on professional development for educators, parents, and health professionals to incorporate robotics technologies as evidence-based interventions as a pathway for creating inclusive learning environments for children with autism.</p
Tunable Origami-Inspired Phononic Structures and Acoustic Metamaterials
No full textThis thesis develops a research framework exploring the combination of origami structures with acoustic materials. It introduces novel methods for sound control through tunable structures, whose acoustic properties change in response to their folding state. This research contributes to the advancement of tunable and programmable acoustic solutions, including noise reduction, sound focusing, and sound cloaking. These innovations have the potential to benefit sectors such as architecture, automotive engineering, and the medical field by enhancing sound control and manipulation
Narrative Complexity in Videogames
No full textThis thesis considers narrative complexity within the videogame medium. Narrative complexity refers to stories that are difficult to follow or hard to understand. I explore the connection between narrative complexity and gameness and argue that due to it functioning like a cognitive game for the narratee, complexity is connected to the videogame medium in ways it is not to film and television. I also focus on the impact narrative complexity has on player engagement and highlight the intensified scrutiny and fandoms that videogames can elicit through challenging storytelling devices. This research therefore highlights a new way of considering videogame narrative that foregrounds challenges to player comprehension, the gamelike nature of complexity and the intensified engagement that it can facilitate