This study scrutinized the emotional voices and behavioral patterns of CEOs and CFOs during the earnings conference calls. Our question was, can a machine learning algorithm recognize the CEO’s and CFO’s vocal emotions, which may insinuate hidden negative news associated with the firm? CEOs and CFOs have been known to hide scandals and frauds associated with the company or themselves. As a result, investment advisors, traders, company employees, and the public can be negatively impacted when the content of earnings calls is deceptive. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research on the topic of forecasting scandals through analysis of a CEO’s or CFO’s emotions during earnings conference calls. We collected the audio files from EarningsCast.com and the transcripts from SeekingAlpha.com, and cut the audio files at questions specific to the upcoming scandal. The audio clips were placed in the RAVDESS (Ryerson Audio-Visual Database of Emotional Speech and Song) and analyzed. The dataset contained 7356 files rated by 247 individuals ten times on emotional validity, intensity, and genuineness. The results showed that most CEOs and CFOs were disgusted or fearful when questioned on topics related to the future scandal. The initial results indicated the algorithm detected voice emotions commensurate with deception and deflection. The next step includes validating the results and to consider how efficiently and effectively to utilize machine learning algorithms to verify and validate the accuracy of the earnings conference calls.

Financial literacy is a topic everyone should be aware of and educated on because finances are such a complex and important part of adult life. Lack of effective education is one of the root problems affecting the financial literacy of future and current college students. I too do not have a vast education and understanding of finances and I wish to learn more. For this reason, I am interested in diving deeply into researching this topic. Currently, there are many resources available on financial literacy. There are some recurring themes present in the studies. Some conclude that there is a direct correlation between education and comprehension of finances. Those who have more education have a better understanding of terminology and thus, make better financial decisions (Quirk). There are three aspects of financial literacy that the present study will focus on: the financial stability of the United States population, education, and hardships of first-generation college students.

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality have become a new and thrilling form of technology that can have a limitless amount of possibilities for users to explore. AR and VR technology within the last decade has been mainly viewed as a fun gadgets for users to use. Nonetheless, within the last 5 years with the initial Pokemon Go app release and rise in popularity of filters has shifted how AR/VR can co-exist together with the world. However, for AR and VR technology to become a mainstay of everyday life, it will have to be designed with human factors in mind. There is often a lack of understanding of human perception and expectations and the drawback with AR in the current state is the lack of involvement from various voices and identities from communities. Collectively, the research will explore how the accessibility of AR apps and AR function differ from three locations surrounding the Los Angeles area, specifically, Little Tokyo, Hawthorne, and Downtown Los Angeles. The research hopes to grab a sense of how future designers can make AR accessible to the masses in a way that is useful rather than harmful for communities.