Category: Physics and Technology

2025-26, Physics and Technology

Bridging Communication: How SpellRing Improves ASL Fingerspelling Recognition

By Samantha Libbey, Class of 2027 Figure 1: Conversation in sign language. In American Sign Language (ASL), certain words, including proper nouns and names, have to be manually spelled out in a technique known as fingerspelling. In conversation, fingerspelling can comprise up to 35% of signed language, driving research on technology that could improve accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals. Prior technological … Continue reading Bridging Communication: How SpellRing Improves ASL Fingerspelling Recognition

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2025-26, Physics and Technology

From Palette to Plane: A Linear Path to Pigment Mixing

By Sajia Athai, Class of 2026 Figure 1  Pigments are mixed to produce new hues across a range of industries. These mixtures are predicted using distinct color coordination systems.  The illusion of mixing paints seems to be simply rooted in visual perception and appearance to the eye. As painters stroke their brushes across a canvas, it is easy for the observer to see how the … Continue reading From Palette to Plane: A Linear Path to Pigment Mixing

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2025-26, Physics and Technology

Color-Changing Light Systems in Adaptive Camouflage

By: Judy Zhao, Class of 2029 Figure 1. Image of a chameleon on a branch The very survival of many animals in nature depends on how well they blend into their environment. From chameleons’ shifting hues to cephalopods’ ability to change the pattern of their skin, there are many strategies for camouflaging that material scientists now aim to replicate. This study by Dr. Gong at … Continue reading Color-Changing Light Systems in Adaptive Camouflage

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2025-26, Physics and Technology

Chromotherapy Meets Technology: Integrating Light-Based Art with Virtual Reality

By Maegan Diep, Class of 2029 Figure 1.  An image of the early cosmos, an example of what researchers may have based their virtual reality artworks on.  Since the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety disorders have become increasingly prevalent, affecting 4% of the world’s population and roughly 50% of the Taiwanese population. Anxiety not only impacts mental health, but also can have effects on the cardiovascular and … Continue reading Chromotherapy Meets Technology: Integrating Light-Based Art with Virtual Reality

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Physics and Technology, Technology, YIWC 2025

Technology – Tyler Nicastro

Quantum computing has immense potential to transform a plethora of industries. Leveraging knowledge of quantum mechanics, quantum computers perform computations more efficiently than classical computers (Kim, 2025). Classical computers represent data in bits, as either a 0 or 1, whereas quantum computers store data in qubits, which utilize the unique property of superposition. This quantum principle allows qubits to exist in multiple states concurrently until … Continue reading Technology – Tyler Nicastro

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COVID-19, General Psychology, Health, Psychiatry, Psychology, Technology

The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Gaming Behavior

Laura Ladekarl, Class of 2025 THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON MENTAL HEALTH AND GAMINGAs we got locked out of the world and got stuck inside, our computers became our escape. The impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was more than just shutdowns and quarantines, it impacted our behaviors and mental health. Specifically, there was an increase in depression, anxiety, and loneliness, along with an upswing … Continue reading The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Gaming Behavior

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2024-25, Degenerative Disease, Neuroscience, Psychology, Technology

The Joystick of the Mind: The Quest of Battling Dementia

Author: Sajia Athai, Class of 2026 Figure 1. Pictures on a map representing memories. People often fear the likelihood of their relatives and friends struggling to remember them as they age. From diseases such as Alzheimer’s to dementia, patients all over the world often struggle with the detrimental impacts of memory loss and the inability to form new ones.  Previous experiments unveil the impact of … Continue reading The Joystick of the Mind: The Quest of Battling Dementia

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2024-25, Health, mental health, Psychology, Sociology, Technology

Online Gaming: Is it a beneficial social space for everyone?

Author: Asher Agarwal, Class of 2027 Figure 1. A person playing Fortnite on a Nintendo Switch. Online gaming, an activity played with others via the internet, is popular across all ages, abilities, and genders. Recently, research has been delving into the positive effects of gaming, such as the correlation of online gaming with social well-being. Researchers from NTNU Social Research, the University of Agder, and … Continue reading Online Gaming: Is it a beneficial social space for everyone?

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2024-25, Computer Science, Neuroscience, Technology

Touchscreen or Webcam VR? Different Virtual Reality Games Improve Motor Performance of Individuals with Genetic Ataxia Uniquely

Author: Asher Agarwal, Class of 2027 Figure 1. A child playing a game with a VR headset, reaching out for something in-game. Patients with ataxia present with poor balance and impaired motor coordination and control. Genetic ataxia (GA) is rare and varies greatly as many gene mutations can be responsible for it. Virtual reality has shown promising results as an enjoyable and effective rehabilitation method … Continue reading Touchscreen or Webcam VR? Different Virtual Reality Games Improve Motor Performance of Individuals with Genetic Ataxia Uniquely

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2024-25, Biology, Fluid Mechanics, Medicine and Physiology

The Heart-The Clock of the Human Body

Author: Sajia Athai, Class of 2026 Figure 1. Accurate measurements of a fluid model are critical to the development of medical device design. The vessels in the heart work like the hands of a clock. Sometimes the vessels become impacted, like a clock with a depleted battery. Patients with cardiovascular disease often fear the blood clotting mechanism called thrombosis because it can induce vascular injury … Continue reading The Heart-The Clock of the Human Body

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2024-25, Cognition, education, Technology

Video Games: A New Way to Facilitate Cognitive Development in Students with Learning Disabilities

Author: Sean Krivitsky, Class of 2026 Figure 1. Image of letter tiles spelling out “Learning Disability” According to The Treetop ABA Therapy, approximately 1 in 7 individuals worldwide possess a learning disability and it is important to acknowledge and address these learning differences to facilitate their learning and development (1). Recently, video games have become far more prevalent worldwide, and a series of research examining … Continue reading Video Games: A New Way to Facilitate Cognitive Development in Students with Learning Disabilities

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2024-25, Cognition, Neuroscience, Technology

Mastering the Map: The Role of Gaze Movement in League of Legends

Author: Tiffany Ang, Class of 2025 Figure 1: A Competitive League of Legends Team in Action Gaze movement refers to the motion of a visual focal point and is essential for understanding perceptual-cognitive processing. Fixation, a specific aspect of gaze movement, plays a crucial role in processing visual information, as the majority of the visual experience is constructed during fixation. Dr. Jeong and colleagues at … Continue reading Mastering the Map: The Role of Gaze Movement in League of Legends

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