b'Contemporary Viability of Autonomous VehiclesEmmanuel Olofintuyi and Yasmeen HartSponsor: Dr. ChakrabortyAutonomous vehicle industry is undergoing a tremendous growth in terms of production and general interest among people around the world. Notable automobile makers and other corporates have invested and continually investing into this industry. Though autonomous vehicle powered with modern technologies, especially sensors and artificial intelligence, represent the pinnacle of technological advancements, there are still some hesitations and doubts about its efficacy and wide-range adoption. In this paper, we study the effectiveness of autonomous vehicles by examining automotive AI in various circumstances, including third-party oversight of corporations in automotive AI research. We also examine, through a survey, public perception regarding safety of autonomous vehicles and peoples outlook on future developments in automotive AI. Finally, we highlight the current state of existing and proposed policies that regulate the use and future development of autonomous vehicles.Disparity between Men and Womenin the Technology and Computer Science FieldsShelby A. ParrishSponsor: Dr. DasguptaIn recent years, technology has become part of the workforce at an absolutely rapid rate. With working from home on the rise and more advanced technology being used in offices all around the world, a necessary increase in tech workers from all backgrounds has followed. Even so, the computer science field continues to be primarily male-dominated. Determining whether this disparity stems from preconceived notions around women in tech or is merely a coincidence required additional research. This study, which surveyed the student body of a southeastern United States university, allowed us a better understanding on how the general public view women in computer science and technology jobs. Additionally, this research examines documents and interviews from major companies in the field to give us an outlook from a more professional environment. All of this collective data can be used to make the necessary steps towards bridging the gap between men and women in technological fields.The Effects of Exposing Children to Computerized TechnologyAlessa Castillo, Coleton Glidewel, and Andrew LinSponsor: Dr. ChakrabortyComputing technologies have become an integral part of modern society where almost every person in any age-spectrum has some level of exposure to it. While the extent of the use of computing depends on many factors, the time of first encounter is critical in influencing usage levels later on in life. The earlier this encounter is, the greater the time spent on computing technologies becomes. In this paper, we survey the effects of computing on children and its integration in the world. We highlight various studies that establish the benefits that computers offer to cognitive development in young children and focus on learning through dynamic methods and attention-catching practices. However, we note the adversity whereby childrens computer-related unmonitored activities tend to develop addictive and negative habits. Unmonitored exposures also give rise to instances of online threats such as hackers, scammers, cyberbullies, and predators. We postulate that these events can lead to difficulties when children are not aware of or taught proper computer use. We conclude our work discussing the importance of controlling integration of technology in family life and childrens access to computers to address the existing pressing threats to childrens online safety.32'