Browsing by Author "Wilson, David"
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Item Electrospun Reinforced Polymer-Polymer Composite Membranes for Applications in PEM Fuel Cells(University of Delaware, 2015-05) Wilson, DavidPolymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) ffuel cells are seen as the next generation of clean energy, sought to replace the likes of batteries. However, PEM fuel cells are limited by a mechanically unstable Nafion membrane that limits its lifespan. To combat this dilemma, it has been suggested that such membranes can be mechanically reinforced in a variety of ways, specifically through the consolidation of electrospun nanofiber mats. Previous research in the development of electro-active composites successfully derived the procedure for producing such hierarchically consolidated nanofiber composite films, called the μVARTM method. Application of this technique towards the PEM fuel cell membrane dilemma, thus, could result in the next huge step in PEM fuel cell lifespans. Therefore, as a proof-of-concept, polystyrene and polyvinylidene fluoride were chosen and dissolved in dimethyl formamide to be electrospun for the creation of the reinforcements for this study. Afterwards, degradation testing provided that the reinforcements should be consolidated within a Nafion solution dissolved in methanol and deionized water at a 4:1 ratio. Dimethyl acetamide was also a tested solvent to compare against Methanol, however, was shown to destroy the reinforcements. In consequence, the results that followed not only yielded a much more in depth understanding of the nanofiber consolidation process, or μVARTM method, for producing composite membranes, but also sifted through the challenges of applying such a discovery towards PEM fuel cells to bring about the necessary procedure in producing accurate membranes in the future.Item Media Messages and U.S. Public Opinion about Artificial Intelligence(Department of Communication, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 2020-08) Brewer, Paul; Wilson, David; Bingaman, James; Paintsil, Ashley; Obozintsev, Lucy; Brewer, Paul; Wilson, DavidA national survey conducted March 17-27, 2020 and supervised by researchers at the University of Delaware finds that the American public holds favorable but wary views on artificial intelligence (AI). Most Americans support the development of AI, a plurality support public funding for it, and few support banning it. A majority also favor regulating the technology. The survey finds widespread support for AI uses involving military drones and diagnosing diseases, but opinions are more divided on self-driving vehicles and facial identification. Americans are similarly divided on whether AI will have mostly positive or mixed effects on society. Only a small percentage believe the technology will do more harm than good. Most Americans are hopeful that AI will create jobs, improve health care, help stop harmful content online, prevent terrorism, catch criminals, and make day-to-day life easier. Yet large majorities are worried that AI will eliminate jobs, invade people’s privacy, help spread harmful content online, and enable cyber-attacks. More than half of Americans also say they worry that AI may eventually pose a threat to the existence of the human race. The public trusts university researchers, technology companies, and the U.S. military to develop and use AI. By contrast, only one in three Americans trusts the government in Washington to do so. Experiences with media and technology are linked to positive views of AI, and messages about the technology shape opinions toward it.Item U.S. Public Opinion about Artificial Intelligence: Declining Support for Development and Divided Views on Facial Recognition(Department of Communication, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 2020-12) Brewer, Paul; Wilson, David; Bingaman, James; Paintsil, Ashley; Obozintsev, LucyA national survey supervised by researchers at the University of Delaware finds that the American public holds favorable views on artificial intelligence but also worries about its implications. This study, conducted in fall 2020, re-interviewed 1,205 respondents who took part in a March 2020 survey supervised by the same research team. Public opinion about AI was largely stable across the two waves of the study. The new survey found that most Americans favor regulating the technology, a majority support developing it, a plurality favor public funding for it, and few support banning it. However, support for developing AI has declined by 7 percentage points. The new survey also found ongoing support for AI uses involving military drones and diagnosing diseases. Opinions are more divided on self-driving vehicles, and support for facial identification applications has eroded. Americans remain split on whether AI will have mostly positive or mixed effects on society, though only a small percentage believe the technology will do more harm than good. Most Americans continue to say they are hopeful that AI will create jobs, improve health care, help stop harmful content online, prevent terrorism, catch criminals, and make day-to-day life easier. Yet some of these hopes have faded. Moreover, large majorities are still worried that AI will eliminate jobs, invade people’s privacy, help spread harmful content online, and enable cyber-attacks. More than half of Americans say they worry that AI may eventually pose a threat to the existence of the human race. The survey results show that the public trusts university researchers, the U.S. military, and technology companies to develop and use AI. Meanwhile, fewer than one in three Americans trusts the government in Washington to do so. Most Americans support law enforcement agencies using facial recognition technology to identify suspected criminals. However, public opinion is divided on whether law enforcement agencies should use facial recognition technology to monitor public protests.