The fifth generation wireless systems are expected to rely on a large number of small cells to massively offload traffic from the cellular and even from the wireless local area networks. To enable this functionality, mm-wave (EHF) and Terahertz (THF) bands are being actively explored. These bands are characterized by unique propagation properties compared with microwave systems. As a result, the interference structure in these systems could be principally different to what we observed so far at lower frequencies. In this paper, using the tools of stochastic geometry, we study the systems operating in the EHF/THF bands by explicitly capturing three phenomena inherent for these frequencies: (1) high directivity of the transmit and receive antennas;( 2) molecular absorption; and (3) blocking of high-frequency radiation. We also define and compare two different antenna radiation pattern models. The metrics of interest are the mean interference and the signal-to-interference-plus-noise (SINR) ratio at the receiver. Our results reveal that: (1) for the same total emitted energy by a Poisson field of interferers, both the interference and SINR significantly increase when simultaneously both transmit and receive antennas are directive and (2) blocking has a profound impact on the interference and SINR creating much more favorable conditions for communications compared with no blocking case.

The fifth generation wireless systems are expected to rely on a large number of wideband small cells to offload traffic from the cellular and wireless local area networks. To create such small cells, EHF and THF bands are actively explored. These frequencies are characterized by fundamentally different propagation characteristics resulting in different interference structure at the receiver compared to, e.g., microwave systems. In this paper, we study the interference structure for systems operating in EHF/THF bands by explicitly capturing three major phenomena: (i) extreme directivity of the transmit and/or receive antennas, (ii) pass loss component caused by molecular absorption and (iii) blocking of high-frequency radiation. The metric of interest is the mean interference at the receiver. Our results reveal that (i) for the same emitted energy in a Poisson field of interferers, the interference increases with the directivity of the transmit or receive antennas, (ii) blocking has a profound impact on the interference creating much more favorable conditions for communications compared to lower frequencies and (iii) the choice of the antenna model is of crucial importance for accurate performance assessment.

In this paper we describe the design and development of a multi-touch surface and software that challenges current approaches to the production and consumption of comics. Authorship of the comics involves drawing the 'top level' of the story directly onto paper and projecting lower-level narrative elements, such as objects, characters, dialogue, descriptions and/or events onto the paper via a multi-touch interface. In terms of the impact this has upon the experience of reading and writing, the implementation of paper is intended to facilitate the creation of high-level overviews of stories, while the touch surface allows users to generate branches through the addition of artifacts in accordance with certain theories about interactive narratives. This provides the opportunity to participate in the reading and authoring of both traditional, paper-based texts and interactive, digital scenarios. Prototype comics are used to demonstrate this approach to reading and writing top-level and low-level narratives.