Writing
A collection of what I consider to be my best writings. Each one was chosen either because I really like it, or because I put so much blood, sweat, and tears into it that I refuse to let the effort go to waste. I'll let you decide which category each of these falls into.
WPI MQP: Digital Acoustic Software Radio
04.28.2005
Warning: The above document is approximately 16 megabytes.
The Major Qualifying Project (MQP) requires that students use all of the knowledge they've accumulated in their studies to complete a substantial project. Our project was simply: take MATLAB, two laptops, a speaker, and a microphone and make a communication system. No big deal, we've got it covered. It turns out that after many problems, a few intense status meetings, and much grinding of noses, and a year of work, building a comm. system is a lot harder than it sounds.
Despite the setbacks, my teammates were awesome (how often can you really say that?), I loved my project (once
it was done), and I learned a lot (and I've retained it too). My project advisor, Professor Brown, is definetly my favorite
professor at WPI, and that project is the reason I am where I am today.
Show Abstract
Hide Abstract
The paradigm for developing communication systems has begun to shift away from traditional analog hardware designs towards systems implemented in software and reconfigurable digital hardware. The Digital Acoustic Software Radio, developed in this project, uses the software radio paradigm and acoustic signals to transmit data wirelessly between two computers. Two fully functioning non-coherent 300 baud communication systems were implemented using Matlab, and their performance was evaluated in various acoustic environments. Reliable communication was achieved at distances up to 15 feet.
WPI IQP: Mining the Census Data for the Borough of Merton
02.28.2004
Warning: The above document is approximately 5 megabytes.
The Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) is a social science project designed to illustrate how the information that engineering students learn in the classroom can be applied to the real world. I was lucky enough to get to do my IQP in London, studying poverty, analyzing census data, and making maps.
Of all of my interpersonal experiances in my entire life, this is definently the worst. Our team
of four worked well during the seven week prep course, so I thought "hey, this will be a piece of cake." Our second
week (out of seven) in London two of team members decide to have a personality conflict that nearly ripped the team
apart. Five weeks later, we somehow managed to finish and get a good grade but boy were those tense days in the office.
Show Abstract
Hide Abstract
Having obtained 2001 census data, the London Borough of Merton desired a small area analysis of deprivation and improved data presentation. To achieve this, an intranet website was created to display key statistics and analyses, including updated demographic information and a profile of poverty. In addition, the construction of data maps made possible the examination of the spatial dimensions of poverty. These accomplishments provided Merton’s local authority with a detailed analysis of deprivation and a central location for census statistics.
WPI Sufficiency: The Berserker of Oz
04.29.2003
One of the three projects required to graduate from WPI, I focused my Sufficiency on drama. Rather than act, or work on a scenic design, I decided to write a play. It's a comedy based on a skit I took part in at a winter youth retreat. I doubt anyone from those days remembers it but me.
This was produced at a crazy time in my life. While I theorectically had three weeks to write
the rough draft and two weeks to polish it up, I really did it all in ten days. Meetings with my advisor were scheduled
for Mondays. But with ECE 2799 I spent all week working on my ECE project, and all weekend on my Suff. So while
each week I technically had seven days to work on it, each weekend found me frantically scribbling dialogue in my notebook
to prepare for Monday.
Show Abstract
Hide Abstract
Beginning with an introduction to dramatic works and technical theatre, my Sufficiency course work concluded with an advanced analysis of the defining works of modern drama. To augment the drama courses, I have experienced several theatrical performances from both the audience, the stage and backstage. I wrote The Berserker of Oz by combining my creativity with my theatrical experiences. Parody, farce, absurdism. No comedic stone is left unturned in this original dramatic work.
BCS 2001 Commencement Address
06.19.2001
The year I graduated from high school, there were three valedictorians. I was one of them. I was also the only one who was willing to get up in front of all of the faculty, staff, students, parents, relatives, etc, and speak. It's fortunate for me that I did drama. It's fortunate for the audience that I'm funny.
The last few graduation speeches had been pretty serious affairs, droning on about the
important things that they learned while at BCS and about making a difference. All well and good, but
pretty standard fare. I started the trend to perk up graduation with some humor. Although sadly, in recent
years its gotten pretty pathetic. Ironically I long for the days of serious speeches.
Show Abstract
Hide Abstract
Tonight, I would like to speak on a very pressing issue. I am sure that no one here would
mind a speech about the conflict in the Middle East, or about the need for election system
reforms (which, let me tell you, is ripe territory for a few puns and what-not). And I am sure no
one here would object to me talking about the need to build community. However, I have
chosen to speak about one of the most lofty, most nebulous concepts. A concept that is spoken
about in hushed tones and hurried whispers. A concept that is known only vaguely and
ominously as “the future.”
<Pause for effect>
1st Calculus AB
03.01.2001
If you aren't familar with the Bible, specifically 1st Corithians chapter 13 (the love chapter), then this probably won't be very funny. Also if you don't know calculus then it may go over your head, but you might still enjoy it.
At my high school, one of the required classes was called Relationships. It was a bible class, but it
dealt with the practical issues of our relationship to ourselves, God, and other people. The assignment was too rewrite
1st Corithians 13 using a different subject. In the past people have done Star Wars parodies, Austin Powers, etc.
My partner, Kristie Murphy, and I decided to use calculus as our subject since we were both taking AP Calc that semester.
This is the result.
Show Abstract
Hide Abstract
1) If I speak in the language of limits and theorems, but have not love, I am only a college textbook.
Essay on Artificial Insubordination
10.01.2000
Of the many essays I was forced to write in AP English, this one is definently my favorite.
I also think it's the only one I actually enjoyed writing. Not too many of the assignments allowed me to
excersize my creativity like this. I don't remember what the assignment actually was, but this is what I produced.
Also, I absolutely hate having to fix printers. The only thing that might harder than fixing printer problems
is using MATLAB, and even then I'm not so sure.
Show Abstract
Hide Abstract
Just because machines are not as neurotic as HAL 9000 or as menacing as the agents in the Matrix is not to say that they are merely cold, calculating, number crunching masses of metal and circuitry. On the contrary, every single machine from a doorbell to a Mainframe server has a personality based on one thing: A.I. factor. In this case, A.I. does not stand for Artificial Intelligence but Artificial Insubordination. The premise is simple. The more complex the machine, the higher the A.I. factor and, consequently, the higher probability of the device rebelling. And by rebelling I mean not performing it’s designated function. The reverse is also true. As the machines become more simplistic, the A.I. factor decreases and the machine will be more “user friendly.”
Extra
Auiiui uieiouo auuaa oiaue uaou iioiiou uiio a io ieeoai uaouoe uoiaau eeauauou u oiauuie eo ui.
For extra cool things to be put here
Aaeao aiieuouiu io ueuiieu uei oeio uooiau uue ooiea ooiaui eue ouue i uiaoo iouieiuia uueeo ieieuiiau ueaooa iou iaeieuo uoao iauoi u i oeioooe auo a ooe u uuuo oaooaae uoa iuiuiaeu iioaeu uuiu eeu ea eouoiuo ua o.
Iiuiuaea ouea ieuuio o i iuo oiei uoeeou ieoau uaeeiu uouooa uiaiaue ii oo iei eiaiueoo iaoa euiaou uoia uuei ua aoauia ieoae eioiaia eu uiueeiui ueuaiuo uaa eie oaeee uau ooieoi uoii oeuioei uouiiuu ioeiuoe eaeuoi.
Iueuouii eei iueoie i iooououe eoio eeeuoeio u eu ee uueeo eiuoi iooeiu uuiei uiaeo oaaoo iuu uuue auo au o ooueooii oueui aeeeau uoeoeee aeuaea aoeuoieeo aio aaiio iuouau e aouueuuie oiieae eioii oeeiu uaeuueuu eeue ieu.