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Events for March 02, 2020

  • CS Colloquium: Melisa Orta Martinez (Stanford University) - Design and Analysis of Open-Source Educational Haptic Devices

    Mon, Mar 02, 2020 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Melisa Orta Martinez, Stanford University

    Talk Title: Design and Analysis of Open-Source Educational Haptic Devices

    Series: CS Colloquium

    Abstract: The sense of touch (haptics) is an active perceptual system used from our earliest days to discover the world around us. However, formal education is not designed to take advantage of this sensory modality. As a result, very little is known about the effects of using haptics in K-12 and higher education or the requirements for haptic devices for educational applications. This talk will present three novel, open-source, low-cost haptic devices for educational applications and discuss some general principles for designing such devices. The first device, Hapkit is a one-degree-of-freedom kinesthetic device that has been used in several education environments, where we have discovered the potential of haptics to display abstract mathematical concepts and observed the importance of device customization for the students. The second, Haplink, introduces a novel mechanism that enables the device to transform between a one- and two-degree-of-freedom haptic device in order to enable additive learning. The third device, HapCaps is a tactile haptic device that was developed to study the connection between finger perception and math learning in young children. The aim is to design haptic devices that can be used in several educational environments in order to understand the role of haptics in learning.

    This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium.

    Biography: Melisa Orta Martinez received the BS degree in electronic systems engineering from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico City, during which she spent a year working as a research intern at the Heinz Nixdorf Institute, Paderborn, Germany. She then obtained a MS degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, CA. After her masters degree she worked at Apple Inc. for three years in the Human Interface Devices group. She is currently working toward the doctoral degree in mechanical engineering at Stanford University. Her research interests include haptics, robotics and education.

    Host: Heather Culbertson

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 109

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Assistant to CS chair

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  • Warming Up the Engineering Classroom: Sharing Stories of International Students

    Mon, Mar 02, 2020 @ 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Viterbi Students, Prof. Harly Ramsey, Prof. Helen Choi,

    Series: DEI Week

    Abstract: At USC, one in four students is an international student. However, their diverse voices can sometimes be excluded from critical classroom discussions. To improve learning experiences for international students, Professors Harly Ramsey and Helen Choi of the Viterbi Engineering Writing Program and Viterbi students will share ideas for building more inclusive and productive classrooms.

    Host: Prof. Harly Ramsey and Prof. Helen Choi

    More Info: https://calendar.usc.edu/event/building_inclusive_productive_learning_communities_for_international_students

    Location: Mark Taper Hall Of Humanities (THH) - 420

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Helen Choi

    Event Link: https://calendar.usc.edu/event/building_inclusive_productive_learning_communities_for_international_students

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  • Center for Cyber-Physical Systems and Internet of Things and Ming Hsieh Institute Seminar

    Center for Cyber-Physical Systems and Internet of Things and Ming Hsieh Institute Seminar

    Mon, Mar 02, 2020 @ 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Tuba Yavuz, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Florida

    Talk Title: Improving IoT Reliability and Security using Automated Model Extraction and Guided Analysis

    Series: Center for Cyber-Physical Systems and Internet of Things

    Abstract: The number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has reached 26 billion in 2019. A typical IoT ecosystem consists of a variety of components including the cloud, mobile devices, edge devices, and constrained devices. Although each component in IoT comes with unique capabilities and challenges, the system software that runs on each type of IoT component forms an important part of the IoT attack surface. Therefore, the ability to perform precise and scalable analysis of system software and to detect deep system vulnerabilities throughout the IoT ecosystem are critical for IoT reliability and security. System software includes the firmware, operating system, device drivers, and libraries. Despite recent advances in program analysis techniques and decision procedures, the complexity of system software creates challenges in terms of scalability and precision.

    In this talk, I will introduce Model Extraction and Model Guided Analysis as an approach for effective and scalable analysis of system software. The idea is to use extracted models as oracles in a client analysis, where the client analysis can become a model extraction step for another client analysis, and so on. I will present our experience with Model Extraction and Model Guided analysis in the context of USB and Bluetooth firmware and protocol stacks, Linux device drivers, cryptographic libraries, and SGX enclaves. I will specifically discuss the motivations, challenges, and our achievements using the tools and methodologies we have developed including FirmUSB, ProXray, MOXCAFE, and PROMPT. I will conclude with a vision and a roadmap for Model Extraction and Model Guided Analysis to support the reliable and secure development and evolution of IoT frameworks.



    Biography: Dr. Tuba Yavuz is currently an Assistant Professor at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of University of Florida (UF). She is also affiliated with the Florida Institute of Cyber Security Research (FICS) andthe Nelms Institute for the Connected World at UF. She received her Ph.D. in computer science from the Computer Science Department of University of California, Santa Barbara in 2004.Her research areas include formal methods, software engineering, and system security. She has recently developed tools and techniques for detecting vulnerabilities and malicious behavior in system software.



    Host: Chao Wang, wang626@usc.edu

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Talyia White

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