Nevaan M. Perera

Have Faith, Be Humble, and Never Give Up

ABOUT

 Coder   Foodie   Athlete   Advocate

Nevaan is a double major at St. Lawrence University focusing on Computer Science and Psychology; he is also pursuing a minor in Statistics. His interest is the nexus between Computer Science and Psychology, which stems from a desire to utilize technologies to understand human behavior and thinking patterns, as well as to leverage technologies to empower, understand and help people (particularly underprivileged families and children). He has a vested interest in using technology for social good. He is also particularly interested in making the world a kinder place through smartphones, leveraging the ready-made connectivity between communities. He spends his spare time playing sports (Rugby, Squash and Soccer), video gaming, reading and learning how to build mobile/web applications from MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) websites. He dreams of owning his own 'Ramen, Coffee and Ice-Cream' restaurant; although the combination of the three food categories seem unnatural, he thinks they were always meant to be.


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1994: Born Colombo, Sri Lanka

2004 - 2013: Rugby, Rugby, Rugby

2013: Graduated Royal College, Colombo 7

2014: Life Changing Volunteer Work With Zoa and World Vision

2015: Started College at St. Lawrence University

2016: Passion for Computer Science Sparks

2017: Interest In Web/Mobile App Development Sparks

PROJECTS

Conducting research with Asst. Prof. Choong Soo Lee
The project used a motion-sensing device, called the Xbox Kinect, to transform a regular classroom projector screen into a touch-screen smart-board.
Xbox Kinect Based Touch-Screen Smart-Board
Computer Science: Summer Research
Summer 2017
Smartboards add numerous benefits to the classroom experience such as easy writing and highlighting, surfing the web and controlling computer applications. These features significantly facilitate learning and teaching in the classroom; however, smartboards are with many shortcomings. Some of these shortcomings include cost, requirement of electronic pens and limitation of instructor participation. The proposed project intends to transform a typical projector screen (on a whiteboard) into a smartboard; it intends to do this by using an Xbox Kinect (also known, simply, as ‘Kinect’), which is a highly-advanced camera that detects human body movements and gestures. The Kinect will be placed in front of the instructor to detect their body movements or gestures, and will be programmed in a manner to execute certain applications, on the projector screen, when those body movements are performed. For example, the Xbox Kinect will detect hand-waving (gesture) over a text, and as a result will signal the computer to highlight (application) the relevant text on the projector screen. In addition to reaping all the benefits of a smartboard, the Kinect based whiteboard will also be more affordable, improve instructor participation with audience, and be able to function with no extra equipment such as electronic pens. Furthermore, the only means required to interact with the Kinect based whiteboard is the instructor them-self. The long-term goal of the proposed project is to move one step closer towards helping humans interact easily with computers.


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The project investigated if males and females differ in remembering objects dispered in a large scale environment.
Sex Differences in Object Location Memory in Large Scale Environments
Psychology: Honors Project
Spring 2017 - Fall 2017
Sex differences in spatial behavior are manifold. Previous literature has demonstrated that men outperform women at computer/real world navigation, mental rotation, and distance perception. Given this variability in sex differences, researchers have found many reasons why they exist. One theory is the fact that men and women encode spatial information in very different ways. Men typically use an allocentric enconding strategy: which is representing objects in terms of other objects; while, women typically use an egocentric encoding strategy: which is representing objects in terms of oneself.
Most spatial task studies have always worded the tasks in a manner that encourages allocentric encoding; however, Tarampi, Heydari, and Hegarty (2016) found that sex differences in 'perspective taking' (a spatial ability) drastically reduced when participants were encouraged to use an egocentric encoding strategy, because the task was framed differently; this provides us rationale to investigate if using egocentric strategies works for other domains of spatial cognition (such as object memory location). Therefore, the current study will investigate if sex differences in object location memory in large scale environments depend of task framing.


OTHER

Personal Website

JavaScript Games

Server-Client Java Application

Self Implemented Artificial Neural Network in Python

PHOTOS

Seeing is Believing

CONTACT

Canton, NY

Phone: (617)-710-3804

Email: nevaan9@gmail.com



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