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Science & Technology

Coffee-naps: A scientifically based life hack

by Kate Lord on

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University life is known for many things, but an overabundance of sleep is not one of them. The endless onslaught of lectures, papers, labs, and midterms that McGill throws at its students is not conducive to getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep every night. For many students, the most appealing option to combat their sleep-deprived states is to schedule a nap into their busy day, if not in a bed then at least on their library desk. While there are not many parallels that can be drawn between a university student and a toddler, the unreserved and delirious desire that the demographics share in regards to napping stands out as a point of similarity.

The other obvious option to restore mid-afternoon alertness is to consume copious amounts of caffeine. As the world’s most widely used and popular psychoactive drug, caffeine is a naturally-occurring stimulant that activates the central nervous system, staving off lethargy and encouraging mental acuity. While coffee, Red Bull, and Monster are all attractive options at three in the morning when your essay is due at noon, the side-effects—which can include jitteriness, headaches, aggravated anxiety, and/or sleep-disorders—may not be similarly desirable.

While it might initially seem counterintuitive, there is increasing evidence to suggest that a student in search of a much-needed burst of energy might have the most success by combining caffeine and napping. A ‘coffee-nap’ is the act of quickly consuming caffeine, most conveniently in the form of an espresso or an iced-coffee, before setting a timer and taking a 20-minute nap. In one study published in Psychophysiology in 1997, scientists found that taking a coffee-nap was significantly more effective in reinvigorating an individual in comparison to just napping or drinking coffee alone. Discovered two decades ago, the revelation of the coffee-nap is not a new one, but it certainly deserves more attention.

What explains the extra power of a coffee-fuelled power nap? Caffeine is chemically similar to adenosine, a molecule with a specialized receptor in the brain. Once enough adenosine builds up, the result is that groggy, tired feeling; however, when we drink caffeinated beverages, the caffeine competitively binds to the adenosine-receptors and thus blocks the adenosine from attaching. Taking a nap, on the other hand, is a process that naturally clears out the adenosine that builds up in the brain. As it takes about 20 minutes for the caffeine molecules to bind to the adenosine-receptors, a 20-minute coffee-nap allows for the perfect combination of clearing adenosine and binding caffeine, resulting in a more effective power nap overall.

The correct timing of the caffeine consumption is essential, as the power nap is designed to end before deeper sleep, or REM (rapid eye movement) cycling, begins. A 15- or 20-minute nap will usually limit the individual to the NREM (non-rapid eye movement) stages of sleep, and prevents sleep inertia, or the hangover-like grogginess that often results from a longer nap. The coffee-nap, therefore, allows the napper to hit the ground running after 20 minutes, and is the ideal solution for students who needs a quick break in the middle of their busy lives.

Private, Student Life

Safety on the trails with gendered violence in the background

by Grace Bahler on

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Content Warning: Graphic image. 

Running makes people happy, gets them fit, and adds years to their lives—it’s no wonder the sport is so popular. For many, running is the ultimate release; it’s a temporary escape from the bits of life we don’t like, and it just so happens that pounding the pavement is chock-full of health benefits. But despite its vast following, safety while running remains a common concern for many.

On March 5, Seattle, Washington runner Kelly Herron was washing her hands in a public washroom mid-run in Golden Gardens Park when she was assaulted. The attacker, a registered sex-offender, beat Herron and attempted to rape her, but she fought back and survived to share her story. In an Instagram post, Herron recalls the incident as her “biggest running nightmare” becoming reality.

 

 

 

My biggest running nightmare became reality- 4 miles into my long run Sunday afternoon, I stopped to use the restroom and was assaulted by a man hiding in a stall (that is my GPS in red lines). I fought for my life screaming("Not today, M**F**er!"), clawing his face, punching back, and desperately trying to escape his grip- never giving up. I was able to lock him in the bathroom until police arrived. Thankfully I just took a self-defense class offered at my work and utilized all of it. My face is stitched, my body is bruised, but my spirit is intact. #fightingchanceseattle #ballard #runnersafety #marathontraining #womensselfdefense #myballard #fightlikeagirl #fightback #dontbeavictim #nottodaymotherfucker #youcantbreakme #instarunners #garmin #garminvivosmarthr

A post shared by Kelly Herron (@run_kiwi_run) on

 

 

Unfortunately, this is a common narrative within the running community. ‘Woman abducted while running’ and ‘female jogger stabbed’ are just a few examples of common headlines.  

Megan Cheung, a first-year Master’s student and the vice president of Marketing for the McGill Students’ Running Club (McRun), is an avid runner, and she is alert to the world of gendered violence.

“Maybe it’s a stereotype in society [that females are] vulnerable, smaller, less able to physically compete if we had an attacker coming onto us,” Cheung said. “It’s good to be guarded, still [….] It is good to be cautious because [assault and harassment] still do happen.”

Though Cheung has never felt threatened while running, it is because she often sticks with a pack. For her, running within a group guarantees safety.

“Maybe I’m so biased because I’ve been exposed to running in groups, but I think that [running with others] is safety,” Cheung said. “[….] We’re always together, and there’s that sense of togetherness that you feel like, if something were to happen to you, somebody knows about it.”

However, for some, running with anyone at all may be neither an option nor a preference. Alexandra Yiannoutsos, U2 Arts, always finds time for running in her busy schedule, but often goes alone and at night—and that has proved to be enraging in some situations. From the pervasive male gaze to the occasional man stalking her, Yiannoutsos is well-aware of the realities women face when they’re out on the trails or on city sidewalks.

“I am catcalled almost every time I am out. That’s not frightening, it’s infuriating,” Yiannoutsos said. “They don’t know me, they don’t know my worth, but they choose to intimidate me because of my sex [….] It’s not flattering. I am not there for men to ogle at.”

Equipped with bear spray and emergency money, Yiannoutsos is always prepared for the worst—yet she remains outraged that those precautions are necessary.

“It’s bullshit that we are responsible for our own safety against violence because we are not the source [of this violence],” Yiannoutsos said.

She is not the first to address the problem with placing the burden of gendered violence on women, rather than on their attackers. Following the deaths of three female runners in Michigan, New York, and Massachusetts over the course of nine days in August 2016, writer and runner Meghan Kita published an article in Runner’s World Magazine addressing sexism in the running community. As a response to the multitude of articles on ‘staying safe,’ Kita called out the community for insinuating that victims of attacks are responsible.

“Women know ‘what to do to stay safe,’” Kita wrote. “The best practices of being aware of your surroundings, trusting your gut instincts, and staying within shouting distance of people who might be able to help in case of emergency are instilled in women from an early age, and they’re not just useful while running.”

Most women are familiar with the 101 on safety and strangers that they were given as young girls. From being aware to being visible, there are many techniques that could potentially save one’s life mid-run. While it’s frustrating that the burden of these precautions falls on women, they have proven they know how to fight back—and that they will.

Joke

Marty the Martlet elected SSMU president

by Joe Khammar on

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McGill mascot Marty the Martlet was announced as winner of the presidential contest for the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) for the 2017-18 school year. The gigantic bird fought a hard campaign against Jane Darnold, ultimately finding success with his “Just Wing It,” platform.

Upon hearing the news, Darnold was upset.

“He can’t even speak! He’s a literal gigantic plush bird,” Darnold said. “The debate was just a series of shrugs and dances. I don’t think he even knows he was running.”

Despite her qualms, hopes are high for the Martlet’s presidency. Students were positively atwitter about his optimistic demeanor in the face of adversity.

“I just loved how he always put his best tail forward,” U2 Arts Student Aaron Sanders said. “With everything going on at SSMU this year, I feel like I needed a friendly face—someone to make me feel better about all the controversy.”

Upon hearing the news, Marty enthusiastically hopped up and down with what could possibly be described as glee. Unfortunately, because he cannot vocalize, his communication was limited to dance. 

How this limitation will impact his presidency going forward remains a question. That said, his victory serves as a sign of hope.

This article is a work of satire and is part of the Joke Issue.

News, SSMU

SSMU Council votes to remain an observer at AVEQ

by Joe Khammar on

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“Order an Angelot” Campaign

At the March 24 Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council meeting, Lev Bukhman and Marie Gauthier, national coordinators of “Sans Oui C’est Non” (Without Yes, It’s No), and Alliance pour la Santé Étudiante au Québec (ASÉQ) presented on the “Order an Angelot” campaign. The initiative helps bar patrons feel safe by giving them the option to pretend to order a fake drink known as the “Angelot.” This code word will alert bar staff to a situation in which a patron may be in danger, so that they can react accordingly.

“The campaign aims to create a very simple and clear and certain way for people to get help if they do not feel safe, are in danger, or are victims of sexual assault,” Bukhman said. “The idea is to create a very simple code word that is widely known [and] widely understood.”

Councillors raised concerns over who the program would target. Specifically, it was criticized for not consulting sexual violence survivors and relying on bartenders, who may be poorly trained in handling such incidents.

“I am concerned about this campaign,” Nursing Representative Mckenzie Gingrich-Hadley said. “Mostly because it seems like they have not done any consultation with survivors of sexual violence at all at how this can be helpful. It has also been painfully obvious, recently, that consent education is not necessarily an effective way to stop sexual violence from happening.”

 

Motion on Participation in AVEQ

SSMU passed a motion to continue observer status on the Association for the Voice of Education in Quebec (AVEQ) and consider joining it as a full member in the Fall 2017 referendum. AVEQ is a provincial-level student association that was designed to increase the bargaining powers of Quebec university students. Following students’ vote against SSMU affiliating with AVEQ in the Winter 2016 referendum, SSMU has had observer status on AVEQ. 

While this guarantees SSMU no more than the ability to observe AVEQ sessions, AVEQ encourages its observers to participate in the decision-making processes. At Council, questions were raised about the organization’s budget, which Vice-President (VP) University Affairs Sobat claimed may have been overestimated.

“I recognize that maybe some of the updates and information on what was happening with AVEQ and the deficit could have been more actively reported,” Sobat said. “This motion is to ensure we are continuing to be at that table and are able to voice the concerns of SSMU members to this federation.”

After further deliberation, the motion was passed with 14 in favour, six against, and three abstaining.

 

Motion Regarding Endorsement of “No” Vote for Athletics & Recreation Fee Increase

Finally, the Legislative Council passed the motion to endorse “No” for the Athletics & Recreation Fee Increase. Sobat cited the same concerns that led to the recent motion against ancillary fee increases, which was invalidated due to an existing contract between SSMU and the McGill administration. The previous motion, which passed at the Winter 2017 General Assembly, would have had SSMU not approving ancillary fee increases until McGill met certain obligations.

Sobat critiqued McGill for its lack of transparency when increasing funds, raising his concern with the fact that Athletics & Recreation overhead charges have increased by 40 per cent since 2014. With reference to McGill Athletics specifically, Sobat highlighted the lack of investigation into sexual violence by McGill athletes.

“I’ve had many conversations with the deputy provost about this where I most recently asked on the February Student Services meeting,” Sobat said. “I asked him where these overhead charges were going and how they justified the deductions. They have no formula for actually determining them.”

The motion passed with 13 in favour, four against, and five abstaining.

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Beauty, trauma, and remembrance in new documentary ‘Cameraperson’

by Noah Sutton on

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Watching Cameraperson, the latest film by Academy Award-winning documentary cinematographer Kirsten Johnson, feels more like a slow walk through an art exhibit than a film. Cameraperson consists only of clips from past documentaries labeled by the location in which they were shot—the film thus remains opaque to the viewer for most of its 1 hour 40 minute runtime. But in a single moment, the narrative clicks together and reveals itself as a meditation on a lifetime spent observing through the eyes of a camera. 

At it’s core, Cameraperson is an attempt to reconcile the documentation of trauma with the memories surrounding it. The bulk of the films Johnson has worked on deal with trauma and death. Through her work, Johnson has collected the stories of victims of war crimes, rape, racially motivated murder, poverty, and terrorism. The film shows us scenes from across the world, such as a victim of a rocket strike in Afghanistan, a survivor of rape during the Bosnian civil war, and an African-American woman speaking about her decision to terminate a pregnancy. 

Often, we view remembrance as honouring—but remembering can renew trauma that victims may have long-struggled to move past. How does a filmmaker proceed with the work of preserving memories, when memories themselves can be traumatic? This question becomes poignantly relevant when the matriarch of a Bosnian family is pressed on her experiences during the war. The woman  vehemently denies that anything happened to her family. She remains defiant until she’s asked instead about her style of dress, and her face brightens up. The woman doesn’t tell us about the war, but through this exchange the viewer witnesses one of many coping mechanisms deployed in response to the lasting effects of trauma.       

Johnson’s choices of what to include in her film are also a method of coping with the trauma she has witnessed. After a difficult birth in an under-equipped Nigerian hospital, a midwife remarks that the infant needs oxygen—which the hospital doesn’t have. Although the scene ends with the door closing, shutting the viewer out of the outcome, Johnson and her crew did not have the luxury of ambiguity. By excluding a possibly-tragic outcome, Johnson’s construction of that narrative is evidence of the documentary genre’s ability to manipulate narratives. Cameraperson is an exploration into when to forget and when to remember—and how filmmakers can control what is entered into collective memory through editorial omissions. 

The play between remembering and forgetting, and showing and hiding, is central to this film. In one scene, a speaker from the “Syrian Dissident Film Collective,” tells his audience that when the media focuses on violence, it can remove the dignity of the victims. In Susan Sontag’s book Regarding the Pain of Others, a rumination on the effect of wartime photography, Sontag argued, “the only people with the right to look at images of suffering of this extreme order are those who could do something to alleviate it.” One of the questions implicit in a film about documentary filmmaking is that of whether the viewer has any power to affect change in response to the trauma they witness. If empathy is not a tool for change, documentary films collapse into voyeurism or hollow sympathy.

Cameraperson captures the uncomfortable pairing of tragedy and beauty. The film moves throughout history and across the globe, but the most personal moments for Johnson are the clips of her mother, who is slowly succumbing to Alzheimer's. Perhaps her mother’s loss of memory is a harrowing metaphor for documentary filmmaking in the face of the passage of time: No matter how hard we try to preserve stories for the future, the impermanence of all things prevails.   

Cinema Political Concordia will be screening the Montreal premiere of Cameraperson with the director in attendance on Monday March 27 at 7:00 p.m. Admission is on a by donation basis ($5-10 suggested). The venue is wheelchair accessible.

Album Reviews, Arts & Entertainment

Album review: Khalid – ‘American Dream’

by Morgan Davis on

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Khalid released his debut single“Location” weeks before his senior prom in hopes that the song could earn him the title of Prom King. The song earned him the crown, in addition to over 50 million Spotify plays. Less than a year later, the artist has released his first album, American Teen.

The record is inspired by the trials and errors of transitioning from teenage years to adulthood. Communication and youthfulness are central themes of American Teen, as Khalid sings of graduating, living with his parents, and the “stupid shit that young kids do” on the track “8TEEN.” The album is refreshingly honest in uncovering the frustrations of developing deep social connections as a young adult in 2017. 

American Teen follows a coming-of-age journey. The record is populated with fun, bubbly songs about the splendour of youth and the freedom to make mistakes. On the cusp of adulthood himself, Khalid’s lyrics have a sense of youthful innocence. The songs are upbeat and catchy–the chorus off ‘Young, Dumb, and Broke’ is a true earworm. Although his expressive lyrics are accompanied by an energetic tempo, Khalid’s vocals are what truly sets him apart from other pop singers of today. His honeyed voice has a lulling quality that pairs nicely with heavy beats on songs such as “8TEEN.” 

Despite being musically influenced by soul and early R&B, Khalid’s lyrics are startlingly contemporary. His debut single, “Location,” uncovers a smitten teenager asking a love interest to send him her IOS location. On the same song, “I don’t want to fall in love off a sub-tweet” references the phenomenon of referencing someone on Twitter without explicitly mentioning their name. It’s lyrics like these that remind listeners that Khalid has just recently turned 19–he came of age in the 2010s. Many tracks on the album speak of young love in the digital era. 

Khalid spoke about his lyrics and writing process with Urban Outfitters’ blog. 

“A lot of people my age don’t wanna accept the feelings that we have for other individuals… Because times have changed,” he explained. “Social media is a very big influence. It’s the distraction, it’s the lack of emotion, you can’t really feel something behind a couple of text messages the way you would feel something if it was said verbally to you. So that’s why I write songs about love.”  

The album follows a pattern of seemingly cheerful songs that through closer observation are tales of heartbreak and growing pains. Towards the end of the album, songs such as “Hopeless” and “Cold Hearted” begin to meld together as the lyrical themes become repetitive and tiring. Thankfully, we have much more to expect from Khalid after such a promising debut. 

Rating: 4/5 stars

Standout lyric: "What's fun about commitment when we have all life to live?" (Young, Dumb, and Broke)

Standout songs: Winter, 8TEEN, Angels

Sounds like: Anderson .Paak, dvsn, Frank Ocean

McGill, News

“Ethics of Immigration” event addresses moral aspects of border control

by Laura Oprescu on

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On March 9, Georgetown Assistant Teaching Professor of business ethics and Director of the Institute for Liberal Studies Peter Jaworski delivered a talk to approximately 150 McGill students on the ethics of immigration. The talk was co-hosted by the Institute for Liberal Studies and the Research Group on Constitutional Studies.

Jaworski began by questioning the legitimacy of borders and aimed to answer the question of whether human beings have a moral obligation to be open towards immigration.

“Personal liberty is a presumption,” Jaworski said. “Under this presumption, as barriers to our personal liberties, borders require moral justification. While states have a right to enforce borders, having the right doesn’t make it right.”

Jaworski also discussed the logical implications of borders. He argued that if there is a criterion to bar someone from entering a country, that same criterion should be grounds to throw someone out.

“If culture, crime, jobs, and social insurance are reasons to keep immigrants out of Canada, then it follows that they are sufficient reasons to kick people out,” Jaworski said. “Yet no one has proposed citizen deportation if individuals do not meet the same stringent guidelines set for refugees.”

Several of Jaworski’s points were devoted to debunking myths about refugees, focusing on job security, and social insurance.

“For every job given to an immigrant, there is one fewer job available for a Canadian,” Jaworski said. “But Canadian children will slowly begin to replace older generations in the workforce. If we limit immigration for job security, it follows that we should limit or license parents for having children.”

Jaworski addressed fears of the consequences of immigration, giving historical examples to support his argument.

“One concern is that a ‘flood’ of immigrants will cause overcrowding and saturate the job market and health care systems,” Jaworski said. “Historically we have seen two major ‘floods’ to the American job market–U.S. soldiers and women after World War Two–both of which we were equipped to deal with. If the health care system cannot handle additional strain from a few immigrants, the problem is with the health care system.”

When an audience member asked about his opinion on non-assimilation, Jaworski stated that assimilation is unnecessary.

“Provided immigrants can learn the law, I’m alright with non-assimilation, at least with respect to learning the language,” Jaworski said. “There’s nothing wrong with staying in a self-contained community.”

An audience member raised concerns about cultural values that differ drastically from Canadian values, particularly those that might be discriminatory towards women.

“The problem only comes when your values are diametrically opposed to your country’s values, but even this is not a sufficient reason to bar immigrants from Canada,” Jaworski said. “Laws have been put in place to prevent crime and Canadian culture is not this fragile.”

Tomlinson Professor of Political Theory at McGill Jacob Levy attended the event and weighed in on the discussion, using an analogy relevant to the student-populated crowd.

“Universities only admit the students with the highest marks–students that they expect will perform incredibly well,” Levy said. “Some students will retain their high GPAs, but some will drop down to C-average. This is not enough to drop out, but we also don’t kick them out for failing to meet expectations. The same should hold true for refugees.”

Jaworski argued that the situations were different, but agreed that his argument had been too symmetrical.

“Sending refugees back to their home countries will not make their situations drastically worse, it will just land them back where they started,” Jaworski said. “We don’t kick C-students out of school because it would make things disproportionately bad for them.”

The event attracted both students and staff and was largely seen as a success by its organizers. Leila Feng, U1 Science, said that recent visa issues surrounding Trump’s executive order were a likely reason that the event was so popular.

“[…] Jaworski’s PowerPoint slides were concise, containing statistics that effectively supported his arguments,” Feng said. “His arguments on jobs and culture assimilation were well-delivered–particularly his point that native-born children will replace more jobs than refugees.”

Baseball, Sports

2017 MLB breakout players

by Erich Rothmann on

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1. Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola

With one of the best curveballs in the league, Nola pitched like an ace before he suddenly lost his control and went down with a UCL sprain in his throwing arm in July 2016. He still finished the season with 121 strikeouts and a 3.12 FIP–a statistic similar to ERA, but solely focusing on outcomes that the pitcher has the most control over, such as strikeouts and homeruns. Barring another injury, expect him to develop into a household name by the end of 2017.

2. Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman

Bregman rapidly progressed through the Astros’ minor league system before making his big-league debut during the second half of last season. He started off 1-for-34 but eventually displayed his excellent contact ability and well-rounded skill set. A 2017 All-Star game appearance is a legitimate possibility for him.

3. Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi

Benintendi is currently viewed as the best prospect in the league. His swing is flawless and he will contribute in all phases of the game. After hitting .295 during his brief stint with the Red Sox last season, he will start in left field to begin 2017. He should win AL Rookie of the Year.

4. Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Zach Davies

While Davies will never be mistaken for Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, he could become this season’s version of Cubs SP Kyle Hendricks. His underrated changeup and elite command demonstrated by his league leading 3.5 per cent Called Strikes Above Average (CSAA)–a proxy for command developed by Baseball Prospectus–should allow him to thrive in 2016.

5. Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton

Buxton was widely considered to be the top prospect of 2015. He possesses five above-average tools, including premier base-stealing speed. His struggles with making contact resulted in multiple minor league stints last season, but his nine homers and .287 batting average with the Twins in September indicate that he may have turned the corner.

6. Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez

While his versatility helped the Cubs end their championship drought, Baez must learn to limit mistakes in the field before earning an everyday role at second base. However, during the postseason, he displayed superstar potential with his premium bat speed and power.

7. Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kevin Gausman

Gausman’s strong finish last season should give Orioles fans confidence that he can establish himself as one of the top pitchers in the American League. While his fastball velocity can reach the upper 90s, increased confidence in his breaking pitches was the main reason he posted a 2.83 ERA after Aug. 1. In order to take the next step, he needs to do a better job of preventing home runs.

8. Minnesota Twins outfielder Miguel Sano

Sano possesses jaw-dropping power and impressive plate discipline. On the other hand, he is prone to strikeouts, which could prevent him from attaining his All-Star ceiling. If his contact rate improves, he could finish 2017 at the top of the home run leaderboard.

9. Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jose Peraza

Cincinnati traded 2B Brandon Phillips to the Braves last month knowing that Peraza is ready to become the starting second baseman. He lacks power and needs to work on his plate discipline, but this athletic infielder should make contact at an above-average rate, steal more than 40 bases, and play decent defence.

10.  Chicago White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada

Moncada was acquired from Boston during the offseason in the Chris Sale deal and likely will start the season in Triple-A to work on handling breaking balls. Regardless, he is one of the most physically gifted players in the majors and could be this year’s version of Gary Sanchez.

Science & Technology

Will artificial intelligence be able to replace human vision?

by Erin Dwyer on

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In 2014, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking warned us of the dangers artificial intelligence (AI) poses to mankind. He told BBC News, “Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete, and would be superseded.”

Hawking is best known for his predictive theorem—called Hawking radiation—which predicts that black holes release blackbody radiation. His suspicions about intelligent machines were sparked by developments that helped him cope with his own terminal illness: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In 2014, Hawking began using a system based on basic AI that assists him in verbal communication.

Despite the fact that many people share this same concern, the rise of AI technologies has only accelerated. Developments in speech recognition, algorithmic trading, and probabilistic programming continue to astonish the scientific community. At McGill, researchers are managing to keep pace with the rapidly evolving industry.

Founded in 1985, the Centre for Intelligent Machines is a McGill research group interested in systems that can sense and perceive their environment, make inferences based on that information, and finally construct and execute a course of action.

“This is the centre for intelligent machines,” Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Dr. Frank Ferrie said. “[Here], you have theoreticians that are interested in the mathematical problem. And then at the far other end you have engineers interested in solving real-world problems. [Each] of us sees and understands a piece of [AI].”

Within the centre, there are 15 research labs that each tackle a more specialized field within AI. The Artificial Perception Laboratory, headed by Ferrie, took part in a project called Geoide that demonstrates the true extent of McGill’s AI capabilities. This massive cross-university research collaboration is a series of 121 projects related to the collection and interpretation of data about the Earth’s surface.

Ferrie and his students’ role in Geoide related to the construction of artificial visual systems for use by helicopter pilots in low-visibility conditions.

“If you’re in poor weather […] a helicopter can’t fly unless you can see the ground,” Ferrie said. “So the idea was, ‘How can we enhance the ability of a human to navigate in these situations?’”

The group had satellites collecting data and forming models of the environment from locations around the world. From previously collected data, it is possible to project a picture of what the pilot is supposed to see in real time. As part of the project, pilots were given helmets to shield their eyes, while a screen projected a virtual image.

“As the pilot moves his [or her] head around, he [or she] sees a fake world,” Ferrie explained. “It’s not meant to be [exact], it’s meant to provide just enough information so that they can perform their job.”

With this kind of technology, regardless of the weather, pilots can use the image to perform their duties. Ferrie points out that issues could arise if the world changes, invalidating the previously collected data. To tackle this issue, Ferrie’s previous PhD student, Phillippe Simard, developed a model that uses measurements that are made in real time to compare with the previously loaded data.

“So, essentially, we have a model that can build models on the fly,” Ferrie explained.

The Geoide project wrapped up in 2012. Since then, the Artificial Perception Lab has branched out into other fields.

“We are now trying to put together a project for use in an educational environment,” Ferrie said. “So you have a student, and you have a white board, and maybe one of the things you want to do is work interactively. What if the board could interact with you? What if it could push back?”

Currently, the group aims to develop perceptual illusions that will help education become more interactive.

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