The Volume: How “The Mandalorian” Revolutionized Filmmaking
Category: Entertainment, Issue I, Volume XXIV
We go to the movie theater expecting to be tricked into believing a story that takes place in another world often beyond our imagination. But we’ve all seen the behind-the-scenes look at our favorite films of the actor or actress we love standing in front of a green screen with
Careful Where You Click! How Social Media is Made With You in Mind
Category: Computer Science, Entertainment, Issue I, Volume XXIV
Abstract As the basis of app design, User Interface User Experience (UI/UX) is aimed to make platforms appealing to users. The UI/UX design of a social media app plays a significant role in attracting and retaining users, and even influencing their behavior. For this reason, much of UI/UX is based
Shall We Play A Game: The Story of Deep Blue
Category: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Issue I, Volume XXIV
Abstract. Deep Blue was a chess computer built by IBM in the late 20th century. Its development and victory against world chess champion Garry Kasparov was a landmark achievement in the field of computer science. The creation of a machine that had surpassed humanity’s ability to play chess well could
Algorithmic Symphonies: How Spotify Strikes the Right Chord
Category: Entertainment, Issue I, Volume XXIV
Abstract: This article explores Spotify’s recommendation algorithm, including how it has revolutionized the music industry, and the machine learning techniques it uses, such as collaborative filtering, hybrid recommendation, and feedback loops. Through a discussion regarding the importance of data collection and the role it plays in the success of Spotify’s
Perception and Vision: The Keys to Unlocking Our World
Category: Computer Science, Issue I, Volume XXIV
Introduction Think about what you were doing twenty minutes ago. Perhaps you were walking from class to class on your college campus and saying “hi” to friends as you saw them walk by. Maybe you were playing basketball at the gym and perfecting your three-pointer. Or maybe you were replying
It’s the weekend after Black Friday. You spontaneously remember that you forgot to find a Christmas gift for your best friend. Inspiration strikes. Your friend is part of the record hobby revival trend. To be sure that your gift arrives on time, you scramble to your laptop, enter your credit
Abstract: The electric grid has recently been under duress. While lots of electricity is generated in the afternoon, demand is higher in the evening as people turn on their high-energy appliances. This problem has been worsened by extreme weather and the rise of solar energy. As millions of electric cars
Quantum Dots and Your Vacation: Illuminating the Virtual Reality Displays of the Future
Category: Issue III, Physics, Volume XXIII
Key Words: Quantum Dot Display | Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode | Virtual Reality | Semiconductors | Abstract: Quantum mechanics is often perceived as a theoretical science that is outside the scope of our everyday lives. However, it is the driving factor behind the creation of semiconductor materials that
NASA’s Memory Wheels
Category: Aerospace Engineering, Issue III, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Volume XXIII
Abstract: Space exploration is a dangerous yet necessary endeavor humanity must take on to ensure its survival as a species. The conditions in outer space and on other planets are hostile and utterly different from the ones on earth; for humans to survive outside our planet, everything must be reinvented.
Physical Training in Athletes Professional athletes are seen as the epitome of excellence in sports. To reach such status, athletes train for years, sacrificing family time, holidays, and many other monumental memories. They test their bodies by pushing themselves to their physical limits. Michael Jordan, a legendary basketball player, was
Swipe By Color? — The Pitfalls of Online Dating for Women of Color
Category: Computer Science, Issue II, Lifestyle, Volume XXIII
Abstract: In the technological age, most of a person’s daily life can be completed through their device, including dating. Apps such as Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble allow people to connect, but for people of color, especially women, the already difficult dating landscape has acquired a new dimension. The racism, sexism,
The SR -71 Blackbird: An Engineering Headache of Supersonic Speed
Category: Aerospace Engineering, Issue II, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Volume XXIII
Abstract The SR-71 “Blackbird” was a Strategic Reconnaissance aircraft designed in the late 1950’s and built in the early 1960’s [2]. It was born out of a necessity for high performance and stealth as Soviet Union missile technology began to threaten the safety of United States Air Force pilots working
Manipulating the Intangible: Modern Advancements in Dream Engineering
Category: Building & Architecture, Health & Medicine, Issue II, Volume XXIII
Abstract There’s a lot of research built around the field of sleep, such as the role it plays for our body from a biological standpoint (i.e. regulating metabolism, flushing out toxin build-up in the brain, consolidating learning and memory). However, one essential part of sleep is not discussed as widely
Touch Screens: How our devices moved beyond buttons
Category: Computer Science, Issue II, Volume XXIII
If your phone is anything like most phones these days, it probably has four buttons, and I could probably name them all, regardless of model or manufacture. Volume up, volume down, silent mode, and lock. Four buttons is not a lot to work with, yet your phone is capable of
From Curbs to Code: Using Modern Digital Technology to Confront Homelessness
Category: Computer Science, Editors' Picks, Issue II, Volume XXIII
When asked about the connotation of words such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain, most would point to lofty, technical, and even futuristic concepts: Robotics. Self-driving cars. Cryptocurrency. For the most part, these highly functioning digital technologies are considered to be designed for the advanced, by the advanced, with
At Illumin, we aim to share how profoundly engineering intertwines with the daily routines of our lives. In our first issue of 2024, we explore the impact of machines and artificial intelligence on how we perceive and interact with the world around us. In “Security Through Abstraction,” we examine
To our readers, With the rise of powerful AI text and image generation tools such as OpenAI’s Chat-GPT and DALL-E, many media organizations are grappling with how these tools should or should not be incorporated into their content. In this light, we at Illumin believe that it’s important to present
Analog Computers: Looking to the Past for the Future of Computing
Category: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Issue III, Power, Volume XXIII
Abstract Although computers have made great jumps in efficiency and speed in the past several decades, recent developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence applications are increasingly challenging the efficiency of powerful computers. The tremendous pressure in the computer hardware industry to significantly improve performance with each new generation of
How to Build a Dragon
Category: Issue I, Volume XXIII
Abstract Dating back to the late 1800s, visual effects have long fooled film and television audiences. Modern filmmakers and VFX engineers have since taken the industry to new heights, with the Game of Thrones franchise breaking new ground with its digital implementation of three lifelike dragons. The intensive dragon-engineering process
Abstract: The engineering aspect of computer-generated imagery (CGI) is a cross-disciplined area involving computer science, physics, and mathematics. The verisimilitude of CGI is often achieved by various techniques that lead to our amazement. I will introduce four commonly used techniques in CGI production: ray-tracing, physics-based animation, randomized noise, and machine
Abstract Space films are often praised for being visually stunning and thought provoking, with a strong emphasis on realism and scientific accuracy. Part of the magic of these films are zero-gravity scenes that add to the immersive experience of the story. Simulating zero gravity is difficult, and the methods used
JPEG: The Timeless Insights that Make Us Still Use a Format from 1992
Category: Issue I, Volume XXIII
Abstract It is easy to see how today’s media-rich internet runs on the JPEG algorithm just by seeing how many image file names end in “.jpeg”. Since JPEG is decades old, the fact that our internet still uses it should be strange. However, this testifies to how monumental the JPEG
Each season, we see new fashion trends emerge. Recently in women’s fashion, we’ve seen bright bags, mini skirts, and low-rise pants return to the spotlight. These items were also in style in the 90s and early 2000s but were deemed gauche by the late 2000s. Who, or what, decides these