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AI + Transportation

Traffic pollution contributes to a large part of environment pollution, such as air pollution (greenhouse gas and road dust emission) and noise pollution. In urban aeras, traffic is one of the major sources of air pollution, which significantly affects our life. However, with the unprecedented development of artificial intelligence (AI), transportation is revolutionized, pollution can also be reduced. Signal control, navigation, and autonomous vehicle (AV) are several fields in transportation that are most related to our life and have already been cooperated with AI.
Traditional signal control uses fixed signal plan, which means that the duration and offsets of lights will be constant. Although fixed timing plan is stable and works for the most scenarios, it fails in some scenarios like congestion because it cannot change based on various traffic states. However, as AI can be involved, real-time signal control is possible. Real-time signal control changes light duration and offsets based on current traffic state and thus can be adaptive and flexible to resolve congestion. Google in 2021 launched a project that uses AI in signal control to make traffic lights more efficient. Apart from AI controlled signal that reduces congestion, AI also helps to navigate drivers (ie. Google map navigation) and then reduce congestion in one region. When detecting high traffic volume or density in one region, AI can propose different routine plan for nearby drivers such that traffic flow can be divided and balanced to prevent congestion. Faster traffic flow and less congestion reduces fuel usage and air pollution.
With the deployment of intelligent signal and navigation, the development of AVs can be accelerated. Since AV is controlled by computer, it accelerates and brakes smoother, which makes fuel uses more efficient and reduces energy consumption. Ideally, after all vehicles become AVs, vehicles together with signal and navigation can be fully controlled by AI, efficiency will be optimized, and congestion will be minimized.
With all the benefits of AI being said, the application is still challenging. Unlike classifying an image where making mistake is tolerable, any mistake in real-world application may be fatal, such as turning on the wrong signal light or failing to recognize a pedestrian in AV. Therefore, computer scientists and traffic engineers are still seeking better AI tools to accomplish cleaner and faster traffic.

CHENHAO ZHANG

The perception of online education: A cross-cultural analysis of U.S. and Chinese students

The perception of online education: A cross-cultural analysis of U.S. and Chinese students

S.Wang
J.Du

Abstract

The last decade has seen online degree programs playing an increasingly important role in the field of education, suggesting the potential of online education to become a key solution to limitations of the traditional education system. This suggests a need for a better understanding of how people perceive online education to determine whether online education is a viable option in the field of education and how it can be better facilitated. The respondents generally had favorable attitudes toward online education. The respondents emphasized accessibility as the most important advantage of online education. No respondent reported teacher quality. In terms of the most important disadvantages of online education, U.S. students were most likely to indicate interaction, whereas Chinese students indicated initial stage as the most important disadvantage. Some limitations and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords: Cross-Cultural Analysis, Students, Perception, Online Education, China, U.S.

Master’s Slave Or Slave’s Master

A piece of Paper;

Our whole life revolves around it.

Signature moments as we call;

Are so few on record.

Hatred and Stress,

Pain and Agony;

Finding its due place in this piece of paper.

Erasing joy and happiness forever.

Insecurity creeps in; with the possession of the

papers,

Poverty follows man as soon as he abandons it.

Middle path is hard to find;

Since contentment is so rare.

A piece of paper,

Acts as Almighty God.

Leaving us human beings

As mere puppets in its hands.

Student: Vidya Nair

A loaf of bread

A loaf of bread

K.Park

I gently knocked on the door three times, but there was no answer. After a while, I finally heard some noise inside the apartment. The door creaked open, and a tiny old woman peeked out. Although her hollowed cheeks were nothing like those of my own grandmother, I felt as though I had known her for a very long time. Her face was lined and creased like the pages of an old notebook with a lifetime of stories. Perhaps that was why, as I stepped into the cramped and cinnamon-scented room, there was a feeling of comfort embracing me in her gentle smile and wise eyes.

In contrast to the soothing smell of warm cinnamon, the room was gray and dim. Soon the awkward movement of a small soul crawling about near my feet caught my attention. There, on the floor, was a little girl whose anxious eyes met mine. I turned to the old woman as she began talking.

“Come in, come in. Oh, look at your face. The weather must’ve been killin’ you!”

Trying not to alarm the girl, I tried to say hello but realized that she was nervously dragging herself away from where I stood toward her grandmother.

“Don’t worry my dear, my little one needs no legs. She has me here all the time.”

The old woman put her bony arms around the child, brushing her soft hair and hugging her tightly as if she would never let her go. Watching her cuddling the little girl as if she were holding a treasure, I felt tears welling in my eyes.

Lost in my thoughts in this beautiful yet sorrowful scene, I didn’t realize that the old woman had stopped talking and seemed to be waiting for something. Suddenly remembering why I was there, I hurriedly rummaged through my bag for the loaf of bread and gave it to her, who now appeared sincerely apologetic. I felt my face redden for making her feel this way and silently watched as she tore the bread into tiny pieces and put them into the girl’s hungry mouth. As she slowly and carefully fed each piece to the beaming child, I wondered whether I had ever had such as a delicious meal myself.

Finding Something Requires Losing Something

Are you afraid of losing things?

Before you answer this seemingly straightforward question, I think you should think carefully about what losing really means.

No one is completely calm when he or she loses something valuable. Sometimes this loss…like losing a loved one…can be devastating.

On the other hand, we should keep in mind that those who are likely to succeed are ones who can overcome their loss and become stronger. This is because the key to success may be learning from the loss.

For example, in John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath, Joad’s family is driven from their land by drought and the dust bowl. They move west to find a better life, and as a result, they lose their familiar homeland. That is, they lose their home only to take the risk of finding a better one. Later they find no jobs and a hard life and therefore begin to lose hope and confidence. However, they are determined to work harder because they want new opportunities and a better life. As a result, the more they lose, the harder they try and more they find.

As another example, Rosa Parks was arrested and jailed in 1955 because she refused to give up her seat to a white person. This event inspired Martin Luther King to become one of the most powerful figures in the civil rights movement, eventually leading to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. What did King lose? He lost his freedom, peace, and time. And he lost the most important thing to any person…his life……a hero killed by a madman. However, he found his life’s purpose and helped the oppressed find freedom.

On a personal note, I have faced two main paths in my academic career: to take Gao Kao and go to a Chinese college or take the SAT and go to an American college. The choice was very hard for me. Going to a Chinese college means staying close to my family and friends. Going to an American college means more diversity and new experiences and opportunities. No one knows what the future holds, and so I don’t know which path is the right one. However, I have chosen the American path because I am one adventurous woman! J This also means that I would lose the Chinese path. So, does this loss mean I would gain something in America? Well, I think that depends on how hard I work and challenge myself. I am ready!

There is a saying that water continues to exist even after turning into vapor. This tells us that, each time we lose something, we have a new opportunity to reach our ultimate goals.

Finding something requires losing something.

J.Du