Authors:
Costa, Paulo José and Moreira, Nuno and Campos, Daniel and Gonçalves, José and Lima, José and Costa, Pedro Luís
Abstract:
The Robot@Factory competition was recently included in Robotica, the main Portuguese Robotics Competition. This robot competition takes place in an emulated factory plant, where automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) must cooperate to perform tasks. To accomplish their goals, the AGVs must deal with localization, navigation, scheduling, and cooperation problems that must be solved autonomously. This robot competition can play an important role in education due to its inherent multidisciplinary approach, which can motivate students to bridge different technological areas. It can also play an important role in research and development, because it is expected that its outcomes will later be transferred to real-world problems in manufacturing or service robots. By presenting a scaled-down factory shop floor, this competition creates a benchmark that can be used to compare different approaches to the challenges that arise in this kind of environment. The ability to alter the environment, in some restricted areas, can usually promote the test and evaluation of different localization mechanisms, which is not possible in other competitions. This paper presents one of the possible approaches to build a robot capable of entering this competition. It can be used as a reference to current and new teams.
+ Info
Authors:
González, Carina Soledad González and Ordóñez, César Alberto Collazos
Abstract:
This invited editorial introduces a special section of the IEEE-RITA journal devoted to the INTERACCIÓN’2014, the 15th International Conference on Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) held in Tenerife, Spain, in September 2014. This section includes the revised and extended version of three papers selected in the last edition of this conference. This editorial summarizes the subjects and interest topics about HCI and introduces the selected works.
+ Info
Authors:
Cano, Sandra and Alvarez, Gloria Inés and Collazos, César A. and Arteaga, Jaime Muñoz
Abstract:
The process of learning correct pronunciation can greatly benefit from the twin disciplines of information visualization (InfoVis) and human-computer interaction (HCI). HCI concerns with design, evaluation, and implementation for the ease of use of users, while InfoVis is responsible for representing multidimensional data in a specific information context. The two disciplines can, therefore, complement each other with the purpose of providing a visualization model in the information context of pronunciation. Such a model could provide an aid to pronunciation learning for different types of users. The proposed model integrates graphic aspects to be able to represent information in such a way that the user can visually capture a greater quantity of diverse voice characteristics and instantly recognize the pronunciation quality.
+ Info
Authors:
Aciar, Silvana V. and Aciar, Gabriela I. and Collazos, Cesar Alberto and González, Carina Soledad
Abstract:
In this paper, a recommender system is described, where the user recommendations are made considering the degree of knowledge and user availability to answer questions from other users. A new approach to make the recommendations is added to the system: the reputation of the candidate users in the community. The reputation is calculated on the basis of past interactions, more precisely the satisfaction of the user who made the question. Results show that the recommendations based on reputation, knowledge, and availability of users are more accurate.
+ Info
Authors:
Muñoz Arteaga, Jaime and Reyes, Héctor Cardona and Collazos Ordóñez, César A. and González-Calleros, Juan Manuel
Abstract:
This paper proposes a producer–consumer model in order to develop in a collaborative manner a human–computer interaction (HCI) textbook with professionals in Latin America. The model is composed of services to support the collaborative production of and access to an HCI textbook. The model is presented as an alternative solution to mitigate the current problem of lack of academic contents in the domain of HCI in Latin America. A case study presents the result of the use of an HCI e-book according to the proposed model. The book was used as an open textbook by several teachers and researchers from different Latin American Universities.
+ Info
Authors:
García-Peñalvo, Francisco José
Abstract:
The challenges and issues of the knowledge society require complex technological systems that may evolve and interoperate with each other. This complexity means to reorganize these systems as a set of components that may offer services, interact, and evolve in very different ways, including capabilities such as adaptation and intelligent behaviors. In addition, the users should be considered an important component of these so-called technological ecosystems. The Technological Ecosystems for Enhancing Multiculturality (TEEM) Conference is an event that studies the most significant advances in this research area, in which the engineering approach is always a key factor. From the last edition of this event, TEEM 2014, that was held in the University of Salamanca in October 1-3, 2014, seven papers were selected, which have been extended and reviewed again. Three of these papers were finally accepted for publication in the VAEP-RITA/IEEE RITA journal.
+ Info
Authors:
Navarro, Christian X. and Molina, Ana I. and Redondo, Miguel A. and Juárez-Ramírez, Reyes
Abstract:
This paper presents the analysis of recent research on mobile learning and usability areas, applying a systematic mapping study. The aim is to understand the tendencies and needs in the m-learning field. The results demonstrate that research in the area has grown significantly since 2013, and we identify a necessity when we see that not all the m-learning applications have used usability tests; we also did not find guidelines or frameworks to evaluate them. With these results and tendencies, we propose an evaluation framework for m-learning applications, considering pedagogical usability and user interface usability, to improve the quality of m-learning applications.
+ Info
Authors:
Nagata, Jorge Joo and García-Bermejo Giner, José Rafael and Martínez Abad, Fernando
Abstract:
This paper intends to establish the relationship between the heritage content of mobile pedestrian navigation system-augmented reality application and learning processes through mobile devices. In this context, a teaching-learning process will be developed that is linked to urban heritage, determining the educational effectiveness with these tools. The methodological research focuses on two dimensions: 1) technological design of a mobile learning platform and 2) determining educational modes of understanding of the program. A patrimonial thematic unit will result from this design whose significance in mLearning-uLearning processes will be determined, considering the elements of identity and local culture.
+ Info
Authors:
García-Peñalvo, Francisco José and Cruz-Benito, Juan and Griffiths, David and Achilleos, Achilleas
Abstract:
This paper explains the Virtual Alliances for Learning Society European Project technological approach to support a virtual placements management process. Also, this paper shows the first results of the practical part of the project, the Semester of Code, explaining the detected problems, the issues, the challenges, and some actions to improve the development of these kinds of virtual placements programs. In order to allow the readers to better comprehend the approach and its results, this paper also describes three of the main virtual placements programs around the world, regarding both their organization and technological approach.
+ Info