Inertial measurement components, which sense either acceleration or angular rate, are being embedded into common user interface devices more frequently as their cost continues to drop dramatically. These devices hold a number of advantages over other sensing technologies: they measure relevant parameters for human interfaces and can easily be embedded into wireless, mobile platforms. The work in this dissertation demonstrates that inertial measurement can be used to acquire rich data about human gestures, that we can derive efficient algorithms for using this data in gesture recognition, and that the concept of a parameterized atomic gesture recognition has merit. Further we show that a framework combining these three levels of description can be easily used by designers to create robust applications.

Ulrich Beck and other theorists of reflexive modernization are allies in the general project to reduce technocracy and elitism by rendering decision making more democratic and robust. However, this study of U.S. climate politics reveals complexities and obstacles to the sort of democratized decision making envisioned by such theorists. Since the early 1990s, the U.S. public has been subjected to numerous media-driven campaigns to shape understandings of this widely perceived threat. Political interests have instigated an important part of these campaigns, frequently resorting to ethically problematic tactics to undermine attempts at policy action designed to avert or reduce the threat. The disproportionate influence of such interests suggests the need for a more level political playing field characterized by more equalized access to power and influence. Keywords: climate change; controversy; democracy; expertise; technocracy; U.S. conservative movement; reflexive modernization Again and again, like a mantra, we heard calls for “sound science ” from Members [of U.S. Congress] who had little or no experience of what science does and how it progresses. —Brown (1996, ii) AUTHOR’S NOTE: This article has benefited from insightful commentaries from numerous friends and colleagues. I especially want to thank Michael M. J. Fischer, Dale Jamieson, Sheila Jasanoff, Roger Pielke Jr., and two anonymous reviewers for the care and time they put into reading and commenting on this manuscript at various stages of its development. Their comments

this paper we will apply MacKenzie's theories to the subject of our study, Symbolics Inc., a leading Cambridge software company in the 1980s. MacKenzie's theory of heterogeneous engineering easily lends itself to a study of technology companies. As in a research lab, funding must be obtained (initially through financing, later through sales of products and/or services), a framework/company 6

The role of unstated mistrust and disparities in scientifi c capacity- examples from Brazil