How much does language influence how we think? How far are the categories of our language contingent and culture-specific? Few questions are of greater significance to the social sciences. In this paper we attempt to demonstrate that linguistic semantics can address these questions with rigour and precision, by analysing some examples of cultural 'key words' in several languages. We want to arg...

This study explored touchscreen keyboards using high precision touchscreen strategies. Phase one evaluated three possible monitor positions: 30, 45, and 75 degrees from horizontal. Results indicate that the 75 degree angle, approximately the standard monitor position, resulted in more fatigue and lower preference ratings. Phase two collected touch bias and key size data for the 30 degree angle....

This paper presents a simplified nonlinear observer for power systems by exploring the special features of the nonlinear power system model. Rather than directly applying the existing nonlinear observer theory to the 6 order nonlinear power system model, the model is first decoupled into a 3 order nonlinear subsystem and a 3 order linear subsystem. Low order observers are designed for each subs...

In this paper some adaptive nonlinear multivariable techniques used in the control of robotic manipulators are presented. The nonlinear control law and state feedback are used in achieving a linear inputoutput behavior for the controlled system. For the design of the adaptive nonlinear control, the exact feedback input-output linearization and the method of gradient are used. The nonlinear cont...

We have simulated the behaviors of nonlinear fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). The generalized nonlinear equations governing these structures are solved by a method which uses a Fourier series procedure and a simple iterative method. All of the nonlinear effects are considered. Bragg soliton generation in intrinsic media and birefringence effects in FBGs are studied. We found that the first order di...

The design of new optimal nonlinear voltage regulator for power systems is considered. In the proposed approach, the Hamilto-Jacobi-Belman (HJB), a partial differential equation, is solved using Taylor series expansion of its nonlinear terms. The performance of the proposed controller in a single-machine infinite-bus power system is simulated and the advantages of the nonlinear feedback control...

This paper describes a systematic technique for obtaining controllers for Nonlinear Systems using a Continuous Piecewise Linear Approximation (CPWL) of the given Nonlinear vector field. The method proposes the use of a CPWL approximation of the Nonlinear System and then a theory is developed to show that the stabilization of the CPWL aproximation ODE yields stability for the Nonlinear ODE. An e...

This paper investigates the problem of observer design for a class of nonlinear systems with timedelay and uncertain nonlinearity. Firstly, using the Mean-value Theorem and combining constructing the Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional, the convergence conditions of nonlinear observer for a class of nonlinear systems with time-varying delay and uncertain nonlinearity are established in terms of a li...

The paper presents the design of nonlinear state feedback controller for a rigid manipulator. In order to obtain such controllers, a partial differential equation, HJB equation, should be solved, which is difficult to find a closed solution of that. In this paper, an efficient method using Taylor series expansion of nonlinear terms is used to tackle this problem. The tracking performance of the...