Waterloo Research
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This is the University of Waterloo Research collection.
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Item HIV and the Volatile New World Order: From Declining Pandemic to One Crisis among Many(Balsillie Papers, 2025-04-08)In the initial months of the second Trump administration, US foreign aid infrastructure was rapidly dismantled, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a principal implementing agency of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This abrupt policy shift placed the lives of millions of people living with HIV at risk and significantly weakened global HIV prevention efforts. Numerous health services and local organizations were forced to close, staff were dismissed, and essential HIV services became inaccessible. Concurrently, financial support was withdrawn from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). These changes were enacted without prior notice, consultation or international coordination, and unfolded in the context of a global HIV response unprepared for such a disruption. While the consequences are severe, this unprecedented circumstance offers a critical moment for reflection and reimagining the future of the HIV response.Item On the three charge regimes of bipolar charge conditioners(Taylor & Francis, 2025-03-12)Many aerosol instruments utilize bipolar charge conditioners (neutralizers), including scanning mobility particle sizers (SMPS). The charge distribution from a bipolar charge conditioner must be known to calculate size distributions from SMPS scans. Therefore, a reproducible and known “steady-state” charge distribution is desired to improve measurement accuracy. In this work, we show that although a steady-state charge develops within a common Kr-85 bipolar charge conditioner (TSI 3077A), gaseous ions are readily convected into tubing downstream of the charge conditioner, causing significant deviation from steady-state in less than a second. The “downstream ions” are predominantly positive since negative ions are more readily lost to tubing walls due to their higher diffusivity. Others have previously studied this potential effect, but there is disagreement among them. This study resolves the disagreements, and to the authors’ knowledge, we are the first to: quantify the surprising significance of this effect (mean charge at 239 nm changes by up to a factor of 4); show it occurs rapidly (milliseconds); and demonstrate that a true steady-state distribution is more asymmetric than classical theory (mean charge at 239 nm is >3x higher in magnitude). Interaction time of the particles with the remaining free ions downstream of the charge conditioner is shown to be the main consideration for this effect, as demonstrated by varying flow rate, tube length and tube diameter and achieving similar charging results as a function of this time. We perform advanced numerical modeling of charging, convection and diffusion of particles and ions, and show good quantitative agreement with experimental data. These results are further supported by similar charging results measured from a bipolar charge conditioner that has a different internal geometry and ion source than the 3077A charger. To increase consideration of this critical charging effect and enhance understanding of bipolar charging in general, we thereby quantify three distinct regimes of bipolar charging, namely: the (1) charging regime (i.e., as charge develops from its initial to steady-state), (2) steady-state regime, and (3) discharging regime (i.e., effect of “downstream ions”). These three regimes of bipolar charging have wide implications for designing instrumentation, interpreting measurements and validating charging models with the aim of improving accuracy in aerosol instruments such as the SMPSItem Can Social Robots Improve People’s Attitudes towards Individuals who Stutter?(ACM, 2025)Public attitudes towards stuttering are rooted in stereotypes and misconceptions, leading to negative reactions and discrimination against individuals who stutter. Previous research highlights the positive impact of educational interventions on people’s attitudes towards stuttering. The potential of social robots as an educational tool in the context of stuttering awareness remains unexplored. In the present study, we investigate whether a social robot can improve public attitudes when giving an interactive presentation on the topic. We compare its impact with a tablet-only condition. Additionally, we differentiate between two robot conditions - one in which the robot imitates stuttering and another where the robot has fluent speech. In the robot conditions, visuals are shown on a tablet.We used a co-design approach and incorporated the perspectives and experiences of two individuals with lived experiences of stuttering into our study design. A user study with 69 participants reveals significant improvements in attitudes across all three conditions, with no significant difference between conditions. However, participants perceived the robot as significantly ‘warmer’, more ‘attractive’ and ‘novel’ when compared to the tablet. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential of social robots as intervention techniques for improving attitudes in the field of stuttering.Item Mitigating Privacy Harms from Deceptive Design in Virtual Reality(University of Waterloo, 2025-03-15)This report was prepared as a final project report in response to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada Contributions Program 2024-25. This research investigates deceptive design in Virtual Reality (VR) environments and its impact on user privacy. The research team at the University of Waterloo conducted an autoethnographic evaluation of 12 top-rated VR applications to analyze deceptive design patterns in their privacy communication and interaction mechanisms. The findings reveal 14 distinct deceptive design patterns and demonstrate how deceptive tactics in traditional web and mobile environments are being adapted to immersive environments. While many of these patterns still heavily rely on 2D interfaces elements, VR’s spatial, immersive, and multi-sensory features amplify their impact and increased the privacy risks for users. The VR applications’ convoluted privacy policies and consent mechanisms further hinder user comprehension on the data practices. Through the evaluation, the team also identified 7 exemplary privacy-enhancing design strategies, which can serve as a foundation for improved implementation of privacy mechanisms in VR environments. To assess user perceptions of these deceptive design patterns, the team surveyed 424 users of the selected VR applications. The findings indicate that while users felt the manipulative influences and expressed discomfort, they often resign themselves to accepting privacyinvasive options and viewing such design as “typical” or “inevitable” across both VR and nonVR platforms. Their repetitive exposure to such design in mobile and web environments fostered a false sense of normalcy, and eroded user resistance to manipulation. This research provides valuable insights for VR developers, designers, policymakers, and researchers on creating privacy-preserving VR experiences and developing clearer, more ethical privacy policies in this rapidly evolving field.Item Coronavirus, Climate and a Clean Energy Transition: Is Resiliency Achievable?(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-04-02)In the seeds of this current tragedy lies a historic opportunity for Canada to transition to a low-carbon energy economy — away from dependence on the oil and gas sector.Item COVID-19 and Global Human Health Resources(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-04-02)The unprecedented global shut-down due to the pandemic of COVID-19 is exposing public health system weakness globally.Item In the Aftermath of COVID-19: Policy Implications for Canada(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-04-02)The COVID-19 global pandemic has reinforced the need for today’s policy to address humanity’s future critical challenges.Item The Significant Insignificance of International Sport in a Global Crisis(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-04-22)The inherent socio-political tension of sport — that it simultaneously matters and doesn’t matter — is never more apparent than times like the current COVID-19 crisis.Item The Post-COVID-19 Economy: Financing Canada's Leadership in Sustainable Energy(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-05-04)The politicians and policy makers who will be tasked with addressing Canada’s future fiscal situation likely have not yet begun their careers.Item COVID-19 Arising: Lessons in Proactive Response in East Asia(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-06-02)In China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea, a combination of disciplined and proactive responses led to early containment of initial COVID-19 outbreaks.Item COVID-19, Age and Mortality: Implications for Public Policy(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-06-02)The COVID-19 pandemic has paralyzed the global community, but its impacts around the world have not been homogeneous.Item Migrant Care Labour and the COVID-19 Long-term Care Crisis: How Did We Get Here?(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-06-23)A historic lack of investment in care, especially in areas of elder care, has resulted in long-term care (LTC) facilities being the epicentre of the pandemic in various nations.Item An Arctic Focus on Canada's Post-COVID Multilaterialist Posture(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-06-23)A renewed commitment to the Arctic Council should serve as a defining feature of Canada’s multilateral positioning moving forward.Item The Long-Term Care Pandemic: International Perspectives on COVID-19 and the Future of Nursing Homes(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-07-15)Five major changes to long-term care can protect the elderly from the ravages of infectious disease and provide a greater quality of care and quality of life.Item Canada's Responses to COVID-19: Impacts on Vulnerable Populations Experiencing Housing Insecurity(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-07-21)Canada needs a long-term solution to homelessness.Item SPECIAL COMMENTARY: Fostering a sustainable recovery in spite of 'preconditions': Five questions that need answering(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-09-16)How will the global economy recover from the Covid-19 shock? Most observers wish for a rapid and sustained recovery and expansion. However, this wish is unlikely to be granted.Item Steering Countries through Crisis: Evaluating Approaches to Political Leadership During Pandemic Times(Balsille School of International Affairs, 2020-09-29)As nations around the world seek to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become apparent that the toolbox of modalities employed is greatly dependent on the political leadership in question.Item National Security in a Rapidly Changing World(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-10-14)The difficulties many states are having in dealing with both the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate emergency suggests that contemporary security institutions have not been adequately prepared to deal with the novel circumstances of the twenty first century.Item Shadows of Empire: Hard Brexit, Commonwealth Revival, and UK-Canada Relations(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-11-10)Even though a harder Brexit is being undertaken in the name of improved relations with the Commonwealth and Anglosphere, the risks of Brexit for Ottawa far outweigh the potential advantages.Item The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Three Levels of Arctic Geopolitics(Balsillie School of International Affairs, 2020-12-14)The notion of geopolitical conflict in the Arctic continues to make media headlines. Today, this focus has shifted to concerns about the strategic positioning of, and increased tension between, NATO countries and Russia, with a dash of Chinese interests on top.