Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-111). / Recent research in sensor networks has made it possible to deploy networks of sensors with significant local processing. These sensor networks are revolutionising information collection and processing in many different environments. Often the amount of local data produced by these devices, and their sheer number, makes centralised data processing infeasible. Smart camera networks represent a particular challenge in this regard, partly because of the amount of data produced by each camera, but also because many high level vision algorithms require data from more than one camera. Many distributed algorithms exist that work locally to produce results from a collection of nodes, but as this number grows the algorithm's performance is quickly crippled by the resulting exponential increase in communication overhead. This thesis examines the limits this puts on peer-to-peer cooperation between nodes, and demonstrates how for large networks these can only be circumvented by locally formed organisations of nodes. A local group forming protocol is described that provides a method for nodes to create a bottom-up organisation based purely on local conditions. This allows the formation of a dynamic information network of cooperating nodes, in which a distributed algorithm can organise the communications of its nodes using purely local knowledge to maintain its global network performance. / (cont.) Building on recent work using SIFT feature detection, this protocol is demonstrated in a network of smart cameras. Local groups with shared views are established, which allow each camera to locally determine their relative position with others in the network. The result partitions the network into groups of cameras with known visual relationships, which can then be used for further analysis. / by Jacky Mallett. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2012. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-119). / Digital materials are comprised of a small number of types of discrete physical building blocks, which assemble to form constructions that meet the versatility and scalability of digital computation and communication systems. This work seeks to demonstrate the applicability of a digital material approach in designing new cellular materials and methods for assembly of structures with static reconfigurability. The science of cellular solids has enabled the widespread use of lightweight materials to meet important engineering needs, such as passive energy absorption, but they are not in widespread use for structural applications, perhaps due to a large gap between the strength and stiffness to weight ratios of popular classical solids, and the performance of known lightweight cellular materials that are produced from the same constituent material. The engineering of fiber reinforced composite materials has enabled structures with large reductions in weight for given strength and stiffness targets, but at very high design and processing costs, and many challenges producing mechanical interfaces (joints). Digital materials promise scalable methods of producing functional things with reconfigurable sets of discrete and compatible parts, but the presence of many reversible connections raises questions about the performance of the end result. Digital Cellular Solids are cellular solids that exhibit improvements in relative stiffness and strength compared to relative density, over current practices for producing lightweight materials. This is accomplished by assembling lattice geometries that perform better than any that we know how to make with traditional methods. When implemented with fiber composites, the result is not only stiffer and stronger than any previously known ultra-light material, but it presents a new scalable and flexible workflow for applying fiber composites to engineering problems. / by Kenneth C. Cheung. / Ph.D.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2009. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-125). / In recent years, we have seen the proliferation of ubiquitous computers invading our public and private spaces. While personal computing is unfolding to become mobile activity, it rarely crosses the boundary of our personal devices, using the public interactive infrastructure as a substrate. This thesis develops an approach to interoperability and modular composition in the design of ubiquitous devices and systems. The focus is placed on the relationship between mobile devices and public infrastructure, in particular how a device with access to information about its physical and social context can dynamically configure and extend functionality of its cooperative environment to augment its interactive user experience. Based on Internet concepts of connectivity utility and resource utility, we derive the concept of interaction utility which we call the Third Cloud. Two complementary systems designs and implementations are presented to support this vision of computing. Substrate is an authoring framework and an execution environment intended to provide the necessary language and tools to easily compose self-operable applications capable of dynamically instantiate desired functionality in their proximate environment. The Amulet is a discrete portable device able to act on behalf of its user in a multitude of contexts. We evaluate the power and flexibility of these systems by using them in the construction of two applications. In the final chapter, we compare our approach with alternative ways of building such applications and suggest how our work can be extended. / by David Gauthier. / S.M.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-108). / Mediated communication between public spaces is a relatively new concept. One current example of this interaction is video conferencing among people within the same organization. Large scale video-conferencing walls have begun to appear in public or semi-public areas, such as workplace lobbies and kitchens. These connections provide a link via audio and/or video to another public space within the organization. When placed in public or semi-public work spaces, they are often designed for casual encounters among people within that community. Thus far, communicating via these systems has not met expectations. Some drawbacks to such systems have been lack of privacy, gaze ambiguity, spatial incongruity, and fear of appearing too social in a work environment. In this thesis we explore a different goal and approach to linking public spaces. We are not creating a substitute for face-to-face interaction, but rather new modes of conversational and physical interaction within this blended space. This is accomplished through the introduction of what we are defining as a social catalyst. We address the need for designs best suited for linking public spaces and present a series of design criteria for incorporating mediated communication between public and semi-public spaces. / Kyratso G. Karahalios. / Ph.D.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2011. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-62). / Mobility on Demand (MOD) systems allow users to pick-up and drop-off vehicles (bikes, automobiles) ubiquitously in a network of parking stations. Asymmetric demand patterns cause unbalanced fleet allocation decreasing level of service. Current redistribution policies are complex to plan and typically cost more that the usage revenues of the system. The Market Economy of Trips (MET) explores a new operation model based on a double auction market where cost-minimizing users are both buyers and sellers of trip rights while profit-maximizing stations are competing auctioneers that trade them. Trip rights are priced relatively to the inventory needs of origin and destination stations. A theory, a game, and a model are presented to explore equilibrium and limits of efficiency of MET under different demand patterns and income distribution. / by Dimitris Papanikolaou. / S.M.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Program in Media Arts & Sciences, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-164). / Michael W. Halle. / Ph.D.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-60). / Kwindla Hultman Kramer. / S.M.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Program in Media Arts & Sciences, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-85). / by Warren Sack. / M.S.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Program in Media Arts & Sciences, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [91]-92). / Daniel Ethan Dreilinger. / M.S.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Program in Media Arts & Sciences, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [58]-60). / by Araz Vartan Inguilizian. / M.S.