2. It is amazing … That we can arrange to be in the same space at the same time –Considering that the universe is so big –… and old –…. Yet, here we are …

3. How did you get here today? Got in my car Drove to Fitchburg Parked my car Walked to my office

4. Detail, details and more details Got in my car –Opened the door –Started the car Drove to Fitchburg –Drove to highway –Got on highway –Got off highway –Took streets to campus Etc, etc.

6. More details! (tedious, isn’t it?) Got in my car –Opened the door (did you use a key?) –Started the car (did you get in?) Drove to Fitchburg –Drove to highway (did you put the car in gear?) –Got on highway (did you avoid other cars?) –Got off highway (did you stop at the stop sign?) –Took streets to campus (did you make any turns?) Etc, etc.

7. Levels of Analysis Biological research –Make observations –Apply reasoning –From behavior to molecules –From animals to cells Software development –Understand the problem –Apply reasoning … express a solution –Breakdown solution procedures in detail

8. This is the 1 st step … Agonizing stepwise refinement of details The process is called DESIGN It generally begins with a set of user requirements The users must think the process through with copious detail and precision The developers must listen and ask clarifying questions

9. The process is iterative … Users & developers meet to identify requirements Developers start to design The design procedure will identify new questions and require more user input Users & developers meet again … and again and again if necessary

10. To make the process work … Each of us must be: –knowledgeable in our areas –be respectful to others and listen well –cooperative and considerate –fearless in the expression of our ideas It helps to be enthusiastic Get to know each other

11. Organization of design work

12. Lots to learn … Normally, in the CS curriculum: –Students do not learn software design until their last year –Even then, they do not get a chance to build what they design –Students never do electronic design –Students never fabricate devices Biology students will have to stretch too

13. What we want you to know is … There is no magic to this process It takes many months to produce a working product Thoughtful user input is key for getting a desired result

14. The to-do list … Software –High-mid level software design (2 man-months) –Mid-low level software design (4 man-months) –Learning the tools (2 man-months) –Coding and testing (4 man-months) Hardware –Component selection and testing (2 man- months) –Target hardware design (2 man-months) –Learning the tools (2 man-months) –Target hardware fabrication and testing (1 man-month)

15. My perspective on research … The purpose of research is to learn new things In the beginning, everything is new to you It is likely that others have asked questions similar to yours In science, we disseminate what we know through scholarly publication The first step is to gain a comprehensive knowledge of what others have done

16. It starts with a question … To make progress in science, we must ask questions When we have a question that cannot be adequately answered by reading scholarly literature … it’s time to do an experiment Take all of your knowledge, apply it to your question and form a hypothesis

17. A Hypothesis and an Experimental Design A hypothesis is your best guess at what will happen in a controlled situation To prove your hypothesis you will collect data Your data will be collected according to an experimental design In addition to a data collection protocol, a data analysis protocol will also be specified

18. You are the experts … We depend on you to explain your –Hypotheses –Data collection paradigms –Statistical analysis methods The sooner we know these things, the sooner they can impact the design

19. Anticipating Fireflies in June … We have to start somewhere The design of basic male and female prototypes has begun Our goal is to have functional prototypes by June 21

20. Design assumptions … Each device will –Have a single transmitter and receiver –Log both received and transmitted flashes –Emulate the behavior of photinus ignitus by default –Response paradigm is field modifiable to target other species –Respond to flashes within a 1 meter radius

21. Transmitter details … Yellow LEDs will be used –Specific device has not yet been identified Flashes will be triangular shaped waveforms –Rising and falling edges can be specified –Flash duration can be specified Male flash –Duration 85 msec –Size 4mm square Female flash –Duration 170 msec –Size 2mm square

22. Receiver details … Range of 1 meter Light detector technology –PMT or photodiode –Tests are underway to identify specific devices Responds to flash duration measured at half-maximal amplitude Compound eye of photinus pyralis

23. Protocol details … Unengaged male signals –with __ msec duration flash at __ second intervals Receptive female responds –with __ msec duration flash after __ seconds Engaged male –approaches and responds after __ seconds Engaging female –detects approach responds after __ seconds Disengagement happens when ___________