Articles tagged with Computers
Researchers at Brigham Young University found that software developers often interrupt users with security messages at inconvenient times, leading to a significant decrease in user engagement. The study suggests that displaying security warnings when users are not multitasking can substantially increase their security behavior.
The US Department of Energy is investing $16 million in two four-year projects to develop software for designing new functional materials. The research teams will use supercomputers to model and simulate material behavior, with the goal of revolutionizing alternative energy, electronics, and other fields.
Bernd Bickel's algorithm improves technical modelling of planar-rod structures for optimal stability and efficiency in manufacturing. The software has applications in art, wire sculptures, and rapid prototyping.
Researchers found that daytime bright light exposure reduces the negative impact of evening blue light screen use on sleep. The study, published in Sleep Medicine, involved young adults who used self-luminous tablets for two hours after a day of outdoor activities or office lighting.
New research reveals that Android apps can automatically transmit sensitive information, such as routes traveled, through phone sensors, bypassing user consent. The study found a 50% chance that the actual path taken was one of the five most likely paths generated by the algorithm.
Researchers developed a new language called Simit that automatically switches between low-level and high-level descriptions of physical systems, reducing simulation time and code complexity. The language has applications in various fields, including machine learning, data analytics, and robotics.
Scientists from Oxford University have successfully created a quantum logic gate with unprecedented 99.9% precision, paving the way for more efficient processing and simulation capabilities in quantum computing. This achievement is a significant step towards building a functional quantum computer.
Researchers at University of California - San Diego create method to improve light interaction with small details called glints on surfaces, enabling accurate rendering of materials with metallic finishes and injection-molded plastics. The new algorithm is 100 times faster than current methods and can be used in animations.
A new character animation technique has been developed by Disney Research, eliminating unsightly artifacts that occur when bending joints in computer animations. The method uses pre-computed centers of rotation to calculate skin deformation, minimizing volume losses and bulging.
Researchers aim to detect insider threats before they occur by analyzing digital forensic traces and identifying abnormal patterns in employee behavior. The new technology has the potential to prevent corporate espionage and widespread breaches like those committed by Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden.
A computational design tool developed by Disney Research enables users to create delicate, yet structurally sound, 3D objects with interconnected shapes. The tool helps identify and strengthen weak areas in the designs, making it possible for the general public to create beautiful artifacts that also withstand handling and shipping.
A study found that American black bears can recognize visual features of objects they know in real life when presented with photographs. This ability has important implications for the use of photographs in computerized studies involving bears and their welfare.
The new tool allows organizations to create custom database queries and reports using familiar functions, eliminating the need for in-house expertise. By enabling direct manipulation of data, it provides a hands-on approach that mimics physical interactions, reducing errors and increasing user productivity.
Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a technique called LAVA, which intentionally adds vulnerabilities to source code to test bug-finding tools. The results show that many popular bug finders detect only 2 percent of vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for improvement.
Researchers led by Josef van Genabith are working on two EU-funded projects to improve automatic machine translation, particularly for complex languages like Latvian and Czech. They aim to use 'deep learning' to recognize patterns in large text datasets and learn from them.
Researchers at UCL have created a new approach to simulate virtual universes, allowing for accelerated research into the effects of dark energy and dark matter. By comparing results from large studies to computational models, scientists can gain more accurate predictions and explore alternative versions of these mysterious substances.
Researchers from Binghamton University and Stevens Institute of Technology found that smartwatches can crack private PINs with 80-percent accuracy on the first try. The study used data from embedded sensors in wearable devices to break codes without contextual information, highlighting security vulnerabilities in these devices.
A team of Russian physicists used a personal computer with GPU to solve complicated integral equations of quantum mechanics, previously only solvable with expensive supercomputers. They achieved speeds up to 15 minutes for calculations that took days on supercomputers.
Researchers use new computer codes to create accurate models of the universe and its contents, shedding light on the evolution of the universe and the growth of structure within it. The study confirms that small-scale structures produce significant effects on larger distance scales, providing new insights into gravity and cosmology.
Computer vision systems can now learn to recognize objects they have never seen before by analyzing word use and contextualization, reducing the need for thousands of labeled images. This new learning paradigm, called semi-supervised vocabulary-informed learning, was developed by Disney Researchers using a large dataset of English words.
The structure-mapping engine (SME) enables computers to reason more like humans and make moral decisions by leveraging cognitive science theories. SME can handle the size and complexity of relational representations needed for visual reasoning, cracking textbook problems, and solving moral dilemmas.
Automated camera system improves sports broadcasts by learning from human operators and achieving smoother footage without jerkiness. The system uses a new approach called imitation learning, which repeats multiple times and analyzes deviations to learn from human mistakes.
Researchers at MIT developed a new compiler that translates human-written instructions into low-level specifications for analog computers. The compiler enables efficient simulation of biological systems using differential equations, which describe cell dynamics and chemical reactions.
Researchers at Rice University developed RedEye, a technology that can provide computers with continuous vision, enabling wearables to see and remember what their owners need. By analyzing analog signals in real-time, RedEye improves energy efficiency and presents unique privacy advantages.
CropQuant uses Raspberry Pi computers to control infield cameras capturing crop growth images, then analyzes data on high-performance computers to link environmental data with crop traits. This enables scientists to reduce farming costs and improve crop yields through field-based phenotyping methods.
Researchers created a detailed, high-resolution simulation of weather patterns in the Western US using data from tens of thousands of personal computers. The analysis showed impacts of terrain on local weather and improved accuracy for regional climate predictions.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo introduce Tap-Kick-Click, a foot interaction method for standing desks that reduces cyberslacking and increases physical activity. The system tracks user movement using a depth camera and instrumented shoes, encouraging users to stand in an uncomfortable position while viewing distracting content.
Researchers have discovered a new type of weak topological insulator, made from bismuth combined with iodine or bromine, which could lead to significant advances in technology. The material's unique properties make it an attractive option for creating new transistor-like technologies and powering quantum computers.
Researchers found that participants abandoned automated advisors after receiving bad advice, but forgave human advisors more easily. The study suggests potential downsides of automation in the workplace, highlighting the importance of trust and forgiveness in human-computer interactions.
The Cubimorph modular interactive device can change shape on-demand, featuring touchscreens on each of its six faces and a hinge-mounted turntable mechanism. Researchers from the University of Bristol presented their design rationale and prototypes demonstrating key aspects at ICRA 2016.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a system that allows users to trigger different keyboard shortcut commands by pressing the same key with different fingers, hands, or hand postures. The system uses a built-in computer vision algorithm to identify fingers and hands on the keyboard.
Researchers found that simplified EULAs with separate pages and bullet points led to increased comprehension and a better attitude among users. This 'halo effect' enhances goodwill, transparency, and online safety for consumers concerned about privacy and security.
A large-scale study found that offering small gifts, such as chocolate, can increase the willingness of people to share their passwords with strangers due to the principle of reciprocity. In the experiment, 43.5% of participants shared their passwords when given chocolate beforehand, compared to 29.8% in control groups.
Scientists at the University of Bristol have developed a new method to simulate a 'quantum walk' on a primitive quantum computer, which they claim can solve problems that classical computers cannot. The study suggests that these smaller quantum processors could outperform classical computing for specific tasks, such as 'Boson Sampling'.
Researchers developed a software tool called DefSense that enables non-experts to create deformable objects with deformation-sensing functionality. The tool optimizes sensor layouts based on user-defined deformations, allowing for customized input devices.
Researchers found that human brains produce feelings of confidence that mirror statistical calculations, informing decisions. The study's model suggests that confidence is an objective computation, with the brain acting as a 'statistician' to make informed choices.
An experimental study found that readers prefer articles attributed to real journalists, but rate computer-generated texts as more credible. The study suggests that readers' expectations and limited experience with computer-based reports contribute to these differing assessments.
Researchers at NC State University developed a system that uses sensors in custom dog harnesses to monitor the dog's posture and body language. The algorithm triggered rewards when the dog exhibited the desired behavior, resulting in a 96% accurate rate.
Experiments at Cornell University and Beijing University found that retweeting creates cognitive overload, leading to poor comprehension and recall of information. The study suggests that web interfaces should be designed to promote rather than interfere with cognitive processing.
Researchers from SMU's Lyle School of Engineering are developing a computer-generated image of an object hidden from sight to create a hologram. The goal is to enable soldiers to 'see' around corners and behind walls, improving their situational awareness.
A comprehensive review of studies on one-to-one laptop programs found significant improvements in test scores and educational outcomes. The research suggests that laptops can enhance student engagement, teacher-student relationships, and 21st century skills like technological proficiency and problem-solving.
Researchers found that tablet use significantly improved children's performance on standardized tests of reading preparedness in three deployments. The system used inexpensive tablets loaded with educational apps and allowed children to explore and figure out the content on their own, yielding promising results.
Numerical simulations using BURST code reveal insights into the role of neutrinos, nuclei, and other particles in shaping the early universe. The research aims to investigate existing puzzles of cosmology, including dark matter and dark radiation.
The BURST code simulates conditions during the first few minutes of cosmological evolution to model the role of neutrinos, nuclei and other particles in shaping the early universe. This allows physicists to investigate existing puzzles of cosmology, including the nature and origin of visible matter and dark matter.
A new decentralized planning algorithm for teams of robots factors in moving obstacles, reduces communication bandwidth, and preserves strong mathematical guarantees. The algorithm allows robots to operate in a world with static and dynamic obstacles while retaining their local and global objectives.
A team of researchers at Binghamton University recorded the brain activity of 50 people while they looked at images, finding that participants' brains reacted differently to each image. This allowed a computer system to identify each volunteer's unique 'brainprint' with 100% accuracy.
Ganguly's research aims to reduce energy consumption in data centers using wireless frequencies, potentially saving 10 times the current energy usage. The project could lead to a more sustainable computing infrastructure by reducing power consumption and prolonging computer lifespan.
A recent study by Jacob Sherson and his team at Aarhus University found that humans excel in approaching problems heuristically and solving them intuitively, a skill computers struggle with. The research used an online game called Quantum Moves to analyze player solutions and identified common features in human intuition.
Researchers found that users need different workstation components when standing at a computer workstation compared to sitting down. The final standing workstation setups were significantly different from seated workstation setups, with lower desks and monitors, and closer mouse and keyboard positions.
A study by KU Leuven researchers found that more than 70% of cloud-based security providers' DNS redirection strategies can be bypassed, exposing websites to DDoS attacks. To mitigate this risk, website owners can adjust their firewall settings or change their IP address once the contract with the provider is initiated.
Physicists at Ames Laboratory have discovered a topological metal, PtSn4, with a high density of conduction electrons and large number of closely positioned Dirac points. This discovery may lead to energy-efficient computers with increased processor speeds and data storage.
Researchers developed a system to enable robot or computer avatar interaction with patients playing the mirror game, promoting attachment and improving social coordination. The results show that players sharing similar movement features interact better, paving the way for social rehabilitation.
Researchers at Disney Research and Carnegie Mellon University have developed a system to debug intermittent systems, such as those that harvest energy from the environment. The Energy-interference-free Debugger (EDB) can monitor and debug these systems without interfering with their power state.
Researchers found that mimicking simple actions can aid recovery, with human trainers outperforming computer-based methods. The study suggests a potential tool for rehabilitation, providing insight into the ongoing ability of Alzheimer's patients to imitate movements.
A study published in Cognition reveals that a specific facial expression, known as the 'not face', is universally interpreted as a symbol of negative emotion across languages. The researchers found that this expression is identical across native speakers of English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and American Sign Language.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has developed an intelligent wheelchair system called iWheelchair, integrating various functions such as environment control, safety, and health monitoring. The system allows users to control home devices using a tablet computer, with features like fall monitoring and smart diaper detection.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have shown that magnetic chips can operate with the lowest fundamental level of energy dissipation possible, leading to dramatic reductions in power consumption. This breakthrough is critical for mobile devices and cloud data centers, which demand powerful processors on small batteries.
Researchers found that humans can recognize objects in partial- or low-resolution images, with a
The cloud-based virtual globe portal offers unprecedented speed and ease of use for visualizing Earth's geological evolution. It features interactive reconstructions of supercontinents and 3D visualizations of seafloor geology, allowing users to explore how the planet has changed over time.
A computer program developed by researchers can categorize leaves into large evolutionary categories, leading to improved fossil identification and a better understanding of flowering plant evolution. The method achieves a 72% accuracy rate over 19 leaf families compared to random chance.