Dogan Ibrahim

m-Learning: An experiment in using SMS to support learning new English language words

There is an increase use of wireless technologies in education all over the world. In fact, wireless technologies such as laptop computers, palmtop computers and mobile phones are revolutionising education and transforming the traditional classroom-based learning and teaching into anytime and anywhere education.Thispaperinvestigatestheuseof wirelesstechnologiesineducation with particular reference to the potential of learning new technical English language words using Short Message Service (SMS) text messaging. The system,developedbytheauthors,calledmobilelearningtool(MOLT),hasbeen tested with 45 1st-year undergraduate students. The knowledge of students before and after the experiment has been measured. Our results show that students enjoyed and learned new words with the help of their mobile phones. We believe that using the MOLT system as an educational tool will contribute to the success of students.

Assessing the Success Rate of Students Using a Learning Management System Together with a Collaborative Tool in Web-Based Teaching of Programming Languages.

The development of collaborative studies in learning has led to a renewed interest in the field of Web-based education. In this experimental study a highly interactive and collaborative virtual teaching environment has been created by supporting Moodle LMS with collaborative learning tool GREWPtool. The aim of this experimental study has been to find out the success rate of students when using an advanced and a standard collaborative tool in teaching programming languages over the Internet. The system has been tested with a total of 58 students whose aim was to learn the programming language Java. Success rate of students have been measured using two different assessments. Our results show a higher success rate when an LMS system is combined with an advanced collaborative tool during the teaching of programming languages in a Web-based environment.

Optimum tilt angle for solar collectors used in Cyprus

Flat-plate solar collectors are widely used in Cyprus for water heating purposes. The roofs of nearly all the residential premises on the island are fitted with such collectors. This article examines the theoretical aspects of choosing a tilt angle for the solar flat-plate collectors used in Cyprus and makes recommendations on how the collected energy can be increased by varying the tilt angle. In this paper, the collector surface is assumed to be facing South and the calculations are based upon the measured values of daily global solar radiation on a horizontal surface on the island. The beam and diffuse components of the horizontal global radiation are then estimated and the solar radiation on a tilted surface is calculated as the angle of tilt is varied from 0° to 90°. It is shown that very nearly optimal energy can be collected if the angle of tilt is varied seasonally, four times a year.

Navigation of mobile robots in the presence of obstacles

Robot navigation is one of the basic problems in robotics. In general, the robot navigation algorithms are classified as global or local, depending on surrounding environment. In global navigation, the environment surrounding the robot is known and the path which avoids the obstacle is selected. In local navigation, the environment surrounding the robot is unknown, and sensors are used to detect the obstacles and avoid collision. In the past, a number of algorithms have been designed by many researchers for robot navigation problems. This paper presents software simulation of navigation problems of a mobile robot avoiding obstacles in a static environment using both classical and fuzzy based algorithms. The simulation environment is a menu-driven one where one can draw obstacles of standard shapes and sizes and assign the starting and ending points of the mobile robot. The robot will then navigate among these obstacles without hitting them and reach the specified goal point.

Engineering simulation with MATLAB: improving teaching and learning effectiveness

Abstract Laboratories are the integral part of any engineering course. They provide students with exposure to real engineering instruments and devices. They can also provide opportunities for students to learn to work together in groups. This paper describes the various simulation tools that can be used in virtual engineering laboratories. The type of simulation environments and their advantages and disadvantages are described briefly together with examples of some commercially available simulator programs. In addition, the use of the MATLAB simulation package in engineering education is shown by an important experiment taken from the field of electrical and electronic engineering.

Real-time GPS based outdoor WiFi localization system with map display

There are many applications such as security, medical and rescue operations, sports events, and so on where one may need to find out the exact location of a transmitting wireless local area network (WiFi or WLAN) access point. In this paper, we look at the design of an outdoor WiFi localization system based on a GPS. This system utilizes a rotating unidirectional multi-element Yagi type unidirectional antenna to determine in real-time the direction of the maximum signal strength from a WiFi access point. This information is combined with the GPS co-ordinates of the measurement points to triangulate and find the exact co-ordinates of the access point. These co-ordinates are then transferred to the Google Earth application to automatically pin-point the access point on a world map. This is a novel application where once the user has issued the relevant command, the software will perform all necessary steps without interaction. This includes controlling the hardware, obtaining readings, performing calculations, and showing the location determined on a map. We present the theory and experimental results to illustrate the performance and accuracy of our outdoor localization system.

An undergraduate fuzzy logic control lab using a line following robot

Fuzzy logic controllers have gained popularity in the past few decades with highly successful implementation in many fields. Fuzzy logic enables designers to control complex systems more effectively than traditional methods. Teaching students fuzzy logic in a laboratory can be a time‐consuming and an expensive task. This paper presents a low‐cost educational microcontroller‐based tool for fuzzy logic controlled line following mobile robot. The robot is used in the second year of undergraduate teaching in an elective course in the department of computer engineering of the Near East University. Hardware details of the robot and the software implementing the fuzzy logic control algorithm are given in the paper.

Teaching Digital Control Using a Low-Cost Microcontroller-Based Temperature Control Kit

The design of a low-cost digital temperature control kit is described. The system enables the students to implement various control strategies using a microcontroller. The kit is intended to be helpful in a control laboratory as a complement to the digital control system theory taught to undergraduate students.

Design of a GPS data logger device with street-level map interface

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has now become a widely used aid to navigation and it is commonly used in many navigational applications such as land surveying, shipping, piloting, route guidance, map making, study of earthquakes, precise time reference, and hobbies and games such as geocaching. One of the problems with the early GPS system was its low accuracy which prevented it to be used in applications requiring high accuracy, such as piloting and street-level route guidance. With the recent introduction of the sophisticated error correction techniques such as the WAAS/EGNOS, the horizontal accuracy of a GPS system is nowadays around 10m. This study describes the design of a microcontroller based GPS data logger device with Secure Data (SD) card storage and Google Map mapping interface. The device collects the user co-ordinates in a file on an SD card, and then the Google Map software is used to draw the track of the user on a street-level map.

On the design and assessment of control schemes for balling-drum circuits used in pelletising

Abstract The surging behaviour of the balling-drum circuits used in pelletising is identified as a limit-cycle oscillation by a control-theory analysis. The principles resulting from this analysis are then used to devise and assess a range of possible schemes to control the surging behaviour. Two basic approaches to the problem are identified: 1. (1) conventional control (in balling-circuit terms), where the moisture content is used to modulate the surge level of the circuit; and 2. (2) circuit modification to design out the surge which corresponds to the classical control-system technique of feedback compensation. The various schemes are tested and their effectiveness assessed using a digital simulation of the balling-drum circuit, which is based upon the fundamental kinetics of balling. The circuit-redesign approach is shown to be a robust technique with both good practical properties and a sensible interpretation in terms of feedback control theory. Conventional control strategies, however, require a significant pay-off between surge level and product quality to be effective.