Join us at the next MMM for a presentation by A. Prof Robert Mailhammer about English on Croker Island, followed by A. Prof John Cass about investigating cognitive load stress in virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) environments Topic: The Creole Continuum in Australia: English on Croker Island in the World Atlas of Variation in English (WAVE)
Speaker: A.Prof Robert Mailhammer Abstract: The topic of this paper is the sociolinguistic classification of English on Croker Island, NT. There is significant variation to the degree that it is not practical to consider English on Croker Island a homogenous variety (Mailhammer in press). Nonetheless, it is useful to ask where it sits in relation to varieties of English in Australia and what typological profile it aligns with most, because this also has historical implications. For example, in his discussion of the WAVE profile of Aboriginal English, Malcolm (2012) argues that the typological proximity of Aboriginal English to Australian creoles suggests that it is both typologically and historically closer to creoles than to restructured varieties of English. In contrast to that, while the WAVE profile of English on Croker Island overall is closest to that of the WAVE sample of Aboriginal English (https://ewave-atlas.org/languages/61), it shows a significantly higher degree of similarity to Australian Vernacular English. This suggests that English on Croker Island is more of a restructured English than a creole.
 Topic: A Paradigm to Investigate Effects of Cognitive Load Stress on Visual Sampling Efficiency in Virtual and Augmented Reality Environments
Speaker: A.Prof John Cass
Abstract: Visual augmented reality (AR) systems superimpose computer-generated images into users’ visual fields, producing a perceptual composite of normal ‘natural’ visual input with computer-generated content. AR has been adopted by industry as a means of facilitating procedural training and improving situational awareness. Augmenting a given scene with computer-generated content enriches the total amount of information available to the viewer. However, it has the potential to produce profound costs in both situational safety and performance. The extent to which AR is useful (and potentially harmful) in a given situation is determined not only by the content of the AR, but critically, its compatibility to both the perceptual and cognitive constraints of the viewer’s brain in combination with the demands of a given objective. In this talk, I’ll provide an overview of the experimental paradigm used by my team to investigate the effects of both cognitive load and acute stress on the humans’ capacity to extract AR information. In addition to evaluating psychophysically the fit between AR technology and human performance, the project tackles numerous fundamental questions including whether the application of pain (shock) modulates local and/or global perceptual processing. We thank you for your continued attendance at the MMM's and look forward to seeing you again. MARCS staff and students are reminded that all meetings and workshops have an important role in building and maintaining the sense of community which is central to the success of MARCS as a cooperative and energetic research institute. Your attendance is both welcomed and expected. The zoom ID is: 986 9057 6845 . Link to zoom https://uws.zoom.us/j/98690576845 |
