Lyn Pemberton

Development of a cross-platform ubiquitous language learning service via mobile phone and interactive television*

This paper describes the development processes for a cross-platform ubiquitous language learning service via interactive television (iTV) and mobile phone. Adapting a learner-centred design methodology, a number of requirements were gathered from multiple sources that were subsequently used in TAMALLE (television and mobile phone assisted language learning environment) development. A number of issues that arise in the context of cross-platform user interface design and architecture for ubiquitous language learning were tackled. Finally, we discuss a multi-method evaluation regime to gauge usability, perceived usefulness and desirability of TAMALLE system. The result broadly revealed an overall positive response from language learners. Although, there were some reported difficulties in reading text and on-screen display mainly on the iTV side of the interface, TAMALLE was perceived to be a usable, useful and desirable tool to support informal language learning and also for gaining new contextual and cultural knowledge.

Dual device user interface design for ubiquitous language learning: mobile phone and interactive television (iTV)

In this paper we describe the design and development of a system that facilitates language learning from a combination of two devices, interactive television (iTV) and mobile phone. We present a number of requirements for technologies to support informal language learning based on theories of language learning, theories of formal and informal learning, our own studies of adult language learners and the affordances of iTV as a medium to support learning. We describe TAMALLE (television and mobile phone assisted language learning environment), a prototype system based on these requirements and discuss some of the user interface design issues that arise in the context of cross platform dual device systems for ubiquitous learning.

A dual device scenario for informal language learning: interactive television meets the mobile phone

Researchers have investigated the possibilities for supporting language learning through a range of technologies, most recently mobile phones and interactive television (iTV). Drawing on a focus group study, we present a scenario demonstrating an approach that blends the features of these two technologies. Three areas are identified for further exploration: pedagogy, technical feasibility and interaction design issues.

Collaborative augmented reality in schools

Augmented Reality as an interactive real-time technology combining real and virtual objects in a real 3D space carries enormous educational potential. We describe a project (ARISE: Augmented Reality in School Environments) that aims to realise this potential by developing a collaborative, robust and affordable Augmented Reality learning platform for schools. The learning affordances of Augmented Reality are discussed, and an educational application is described that supports remote collaboration between students in a shared 3D workspace, where students from different countries present, discuss and manipulate virtual objects relating to their local culture. The evaluation of the application is based on a distributed summer school project involving students from two European countries. In addition to more conventional evaluation approaches, special requirements for evaluating remote collaboration in a shared Augmented Reality workspace have been met with a customised approach involving synchronised video observations in both locations with subsequent editing of the material into and a single screen giving a comprehensive overview of the collaboration from both ends. The results of the evaluation study are currently being analysed, but preliminary findings suggest that the Augmented Reality learning platform has been well received by students and teachers, and is well suited for remote collaborative learning.

Computer Support for Producing Software Documentation: Some Possible Futures

The work we describe in this paper formed the background to two large government-funded projects, GIST and DRAFTER, which aim to provide intelligent tools for the automatic generation of multilingual versions of technical documents in two domains: administrative forms and software documentation, respectively.1 In order to draft a realistic set of requirements for the generation tools we intended to create, we felt it was necessary to acknowledge that they should not be seen as stand-alone tools. Instead, if they were to be accepted by writers, they would need to be integrated as closely as possible into the technical writers’ current use of computer tools and into their wider working practices.

Factors contributing to adoption and use of information and communication technologies within research collaborations in Kenya

Use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to support research work is becoming increasingly common. This study set out to establish how ICTs are being used to support collaborative research in Kenya, and identify factors within the ICT ecosystem that contribute to their adoption and use. A mixed methods research design, involving 248 academic scientists in 4 disciplines across 4 major Kenyan universities, was employed. We find little diversity in forms of ICTs used to support collaborative research within the studied population. Several factors affect adoption and use practices, including availability and access to ICT resources, nature of the work, national and institutional ICT and research environments and the social cultural practices of researchers. We explain our findings using Venkatesh et al.’s Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model, which identifies four main constructs that affect adoption of technology such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and social influence.

Electronic Programme Guide Design for Preschool Children

The proliferation of audiovisual content available for young children brings with it the need for an appropriate Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) that meets needs and preferences of pre-schoolers. Two approaches to the design of such a service are discussed. Firstly, a range of existing guidelines on interactive television applications, personalized recommendation systems and interaction design for children are reviewed, in the context of theories of child development. Secondly, we explore the potential for childrens collaboration during the categorization process to create a user-appropriate information architecture and interface.

Motivating the Design for a Computer Assisted Environment for Writers in a Second Language

We have discussed the importance of writing to the non-native speaker of English in science, technology and engineering and have sketched the processes involved in writing in a first and second language, showing the complexities of any writing task. We have suggested that the Cooperative Software model of interaction is a promising approach to the design of software for supporting writers of structured documents, by providing context sensitive information in an easily accessible and flexible form.

What Changes Need to be Made within the LNHS for Ehealth Systems to be Successfully Implemented

This piece of work provides an assessment of the readiness levels within both urban and rural hospitals and clinics in Libya for the implementation of Ehealth systems. This then enabled the construction of a framework for Ehealth implementation in the Libyan National Health Service (LNHS). The study assessed how medications were prescribed, patients were referred, information communication technology (ICT) was utilised in recording patient records, how healthcare staff were trained to use ICT and the ways in which consultations were carried out by healthcare staff. The research was done in five rural healthcare institutions and five urban healthcare institutions and focused on the readiness levels of the technology, social attitudes, engagement levels and any other needs that were apparent (Jennett et al., 2010; Hasanain et al., 2014). Collection of the data was carried out using a mixed method approach with qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaires (Molina et al., 2010; Creswell and Plano, 2010; Mason, 2006; Cathain, 2009; Cathain et al. 2008). The study indicated that any IT equipment present was not being utilised for clinical purposes and there was no evidence of any Ehealth technologies being employed. This implies that the maturity level of the healthcare institutions studied was zero.

Offices, Balconies, Doors and Corridors: An Experimental Interface Metaphor for Integrating Collaborative Design Styles

We describe early research into the use of the metaphor of office landscape (Buro-Landschaft) in interfaces for software systems to support co-operative design teams. This work grew out of a study of the problems encountered by a team of engineering designers using a highly distributed work method. A (paper-based) metalanguage based on the office landscape metaphor was developed to ease communication between group members. We suggest that this metalanguage also has the potential to provide a transparent and familiar interface metaphor for software systems to support such work teams. Software for collaborative design would need to be highly flexible and, ideally, user-tailorable: the end users would need to be able to “rearrange the furniture” of their software environment. The office landscape metaphor offers just this facility and has the power to support a rich variety of co-operative and individual work patterns.