Behind our daily navigation and interactions is the technology taking us from place to place and connecting us in the growing digital landscape. In this issue, we explore developments in technology taking us from one place to the next – through movement, across the web, and through music.
Our first article takes inspiration from ants, specifically Ant Colony Optimization: Lessons in Transit Network Design from Ants, to explore how pre existing transit network designs can be modified to become more optimal. Following the topic of public transport, we examine the development of autonomous vehicles in “Navigation—Without the Human Hand.” With the extensive time drivers spend on the road, autonomous vehicles can serve as a solution for reshaping urban life given their growing sensing and navigating capabilities. Next, we take a deep dive into escalators in Elevating Experiences: The Role of Escalators in Public Spaces. This climbing innovation has shaped pedestrian behavior and continues to evolve with a focus on energy efficiency and safety, and how new innovations like artificial intelligence can improve escalator safety and longevity. Switching our exploration from the physical into the digital space, we explore online transparency with Browser Hardening: An Entry-Level Guide to Protect Digital Privacy, to discuss valuable and practical tips to balance privacy with functionality as our digital presence and interactions grow. Our final article, Synthesizers: Engineering Harmonies, will allow you to immerse yourself in the sounds of electronic music and learn more about how waves of sound become music we know and love.
We hope that you enjoy learning about the technology we use to navigate our daily lives in this issue, and that you can further examine your surroundings and think critically about engineering innovation.
Managing Editors Ashly Lam and Vidya Iyer
Illumin Team
