ROMULUS-I; The Effects of Short-Form Media

Author:
Bresnaider, August, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia

Advisors:
DeLong, Todd, EN-Elec & Comp Engr Dept, University of Virginia
Francisco, Pedro Augusto, EN-Engineering and Society, University of Virginia

Abstract:

In our modern world, knowledge is power. In the coming decades, knowledge over our
technology and how we can manipulate it, as well as understanding how it manipulates us, will
be paramount for solving global dilemmas. My capstone project serves the former, creating a
barebones computing architecture that can be used to teach introductory or advanced computer
architecture classes. By providing as little abstraction as possible, the necessary knowledge to
design and write programs for such a computer is astonishingly little. My STS paper serves the
latter, diving into the effects of short-form content on the user, both socially, and mentally. This
is of significant importance, since, from a productivity standpoint if nothing else, short-form
content is a drain on the productivity of many, and acts akin to an addiction. While the two
endeavors are not directly connected, it is my duty as a computer engineer to educate and inform
the public of such issues, while empowering society to enact change through technology.
My capstone project was to create the simplest to understand computer which allows
users to program, implement and redesign to fit their needs. ROMULUS-I is one part computer
specification, one part physical device that has an easy-to-understand instruction set, and
capabilities to implement higher level abstractions. Additionally, to support its pedagogical use
cases, ROMULUS is equipped with leds and displays throughout, as well as debugging modes,
which allow the end user to glean the current state of the computer at a glance.
We were able to design a 16-bit computer with a Turing-Complete instruction set, along
with an assembly language that allows one to write code to run. We implemented interrupt-based
peripherals, such as a teletype machine that interfaces, an I/O peripheral, and keyboard support.
The clock speed goes up to 4MHz, allowing for up to 200,000 operations per second. Our
computer has the ability to be understood from the top down, where one writes assembly and
slowly peels back the layers as to what the computer is achieving, or bottom up, where the initial
logic is understood, and how the logic makes a computer that is Turing-Complete is later
grasped. In future works, we hope to implement graphics, sound, and perhaps allow for faster
performance or higher level features like C/C++ language support or protection rings.
In my STS paper, I discuss the effects of short-form content on the human brain and on
society. I discuss the history of mass-media and how we’ve reached this point in history, as well
as using actor-network theory (ANT) to analyze the relationships between the public, our phones,
and companies / their motivations for keeping us engaged in such content. I discuss the
phenomenon known as “doom-scrolling”, and contend with how lots of consumers feel trapped
in a vicious cycle, where their technology is vying for their attention.
In my STS research, I found that short-form content—such as TikToks, Reels, and
YouTube Shorts—exploits psychological vulnerabilities in the human brain, especially those
related to dopamine-driven reward systems. Drawing on studies from cognitive psychology and
media theory, I demonstrate how these platforms are designed to hijack attention and promote
compulsive engagement through algorithmic reinforcement. Using actor-network theory, I
analyzed the intricate relationships between users, content creators, platforms, and advertisers,
revealing how economic incentives are deeply tied to keeping users constantly engaged. The
result is a system in which users often report feelings of lost time, reduced focus, and heightened
anxiety. My conclusion argues that while short-form content offers entertainment and
connection, it demands a critical reevaluation—one that considers both its neurological impacts
and its broader influence on culture and productivity.