Teaching
To fulfill its mission, AC-DC carries out challenging human studies, which accrue big data, requiring sophisticated analysis. The skills required for such studies is a superset of the skills required for any other data-driven project.

COURSES

UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING

The Ubiquitous Computing (UC) course was one of the first of its kind when it was created back in 2003. Its goal is to train students in software development for mobile devices. Initially, the course used the Windows mobile platform; programming included not only smartphones, but also custom-made sensors, such as 3D accelerometers that were Bluetooth enabled. With the introduction of the iPhone in 2008, the UC course was one of the first nationwide to switch platforms. The iPhone brought a revolution in mobile computing by redefining the user-interface and incorporating a number of sensors in the device itself.

STATISTICAL METHODS IN RESEARCH

The course covers statistical methods in human and technology studies or experiments. The course starts with a contrast of hypothesis-driven research supported by statistical inference versus rigorous deduction based on first principles; this is in order to delineate the current from the past mode of science and motivate the subject. Then, it proceeds in a step-wise manner building the student’s background in the statistical tools of the trade. The course culminates the last two weeks with a connection of sound research methods to sound researchers’ attitudes, by delving into the teachings of stoic philosophy.