Six years ago I found it difficult to believe that I would ever reach the point that I am at today. Working towards a doctorate is process that is both intellectually and personally challenging. Although it has come with its share of frustrations, doubts and regrets, the process has been rich with rewards. The discoveries I have encountered---both within my topics of study, and within myself have been invaluable to me as a person and will enrich both my career and my personal life. Although completion of the Ph.D. is a personal achievement that I am proud of, I did not get here on my own. Hence, it is important to recognize and thank the very special people---family, friends and colleagues, who have helped to make this achievement possible. This work is dedicated to them.
First and foremost I want to thank my wife Laurie McDonald. Without her love, support and encouragement this process would never even have started, let alone been completed. Thanks Laurie---and of course thank you to my son Justin Philip McDonald for ensuring that my time at home was as great a learning experience as my time at work. For always believing in me and for showing me how to believe in myself a very special thank you goes out to Sandra Kryder---a special person who knows alot about this process and my journey through it. Thanks for everything Sandra---I shall miss you tremendously! To Mark Stover, thank you for patiently listening to me endlessly ramble on about my research ideas---good and bad---and for always being there for me and for my family. For inspiring me with his passion in his work, his knowledge and his zeal for teaching, I want to thank my academic advisor Dr. Taieb Znati. Through his encouragement and example Dr. Znati has been the most instrumental person in seeing my through this process. We have become colleagues and great friends---I look forward to many more years of working together! For giving me the opportunity to obtain a unique new perspective on my work and technology I want to thank Dr. Robert J. Sclabassi of the Departments of Neurosurgery and Electrical Engineering. His support has been invaluable and it was a honor to have worked in his group. Thanks also go to Sambasiva R. Kanakamedala for his tireless efforts and long discussions about group mobility. The past several months of working together have been very rewarding---best of luck in all your endeavors. I also want to recognize and thank Dr. Gopal Meempat, Dr. David Tipper and Dr. Martin Weiss for their work as members of my Dissertation Committee and in the many other ways we have worked together over the years. Finally, I want to thank my colleague Ray Lofink from the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh for his systems expertise and all the fun we had breaking networks and tracking down duplicate IP addresses!