Haptics-Augmented Training Software for Undergraduate Engineering Mechanics

This paper presents the development efforts for a set of software activities and tutorials to augment teaching and learning in standard required undergraduate engineering mechanics courses. Using these software activities, students can change parameters, predict answers, compare outcomes, interact with animations, and feel the results. The overall system aims to increase teaching and learning effectiveness by rendering the concepts compelling, fun, and engaging. The problem with current examples and homework problems is that they are flat, static, boring, and non-engaging, which may lead to student attrition and a less than full grasp of fundamental principles. We implement integration of haptics technology with educational products to enable improvement in undergraduate engineering mechanics education. The current system is composed of a computer (laptop or desktop), a haptic device and a set of haptic modules. Currently, two modules, Interactive Free-Body Diagram (Box Motion) and Rigid Body Dynamics (Box Motion), were developed and several others are under development

Learning differences & digital equity in the classroom

This chapter addresses digital equity in the classroom for students with learning differences, as well as the role of technology in the provision of equitable education for the full diversity of students. The chapter discusses the evolving opportunities and challenges that information technology in the classroom presents to students with learning differences and their teachers. To meaningfully understand this topic requires an understanding of the complex context, the forces at play, and their relation to students with learning differences. Among the forces at play are policies, regulations, the accessibility movement, technical trends, instructional design strategies, educational publishing, open educational resources, pedagogical trends, quality control approaches in education, and governance of formal education. The chapter highlights the benefits to all students of designing the classroom experience for students with learning differences

A multi-modal interface for road planning tasks using vision, haptics and sound

The planning of transportation infrastructure requires analyzing many different types of geo-spatial information in the form of maps. Displaying too many of these maps at the same time can lead to visual clutter or information overload, which results in sub-optimal effectiveness. Multimodal interfaces (MMIs) try to address this visual overload and improve the user\u27s interaction with large amounts of data by combining several sensory modalities. Previous research into MMIs seems to indicate that using multiple sensory modalities leads to more efficient human-computer interactions when used properly. The motivation from this previous work has lead to the creation of this thesis, which describes a novel GIS system for road planning using vision, haptics and sound. The implementation of this virtual environment is discussed, including some of the design decisions used when trying to ascertain how we map visual data to our other senses. A user study was performed to see how this type of system could be utilized, and the results of the study are presented

Building a Methodological Framework for Establishing a Socio-Economic Business Case for Inclusion: The Curb Cut Effect of Accessibility Accommodations as a Confounding Variable and a Criterion Variable

Establishing a business case for accessibility based on field research has not been attempted so far. This report presents the outcomes, and lessons learned, from an exploratory study on the topic. The most significant finding is that the invariable curb-cut advantage accruing to businesses from accessibility accommodations might prove to be a confounding variable in assessing the economic benefits arising exclusively from the disability market. However, this also implies that there is more benefit to businesses through accessibility accommodations than intended, thus establishing the curb-cut effect as a criterion variable in future research. Ethical and social benefits, which are not easily monetizable, are also found to be important outcomes. An Accessibility Benefits-to-Cost (ABC) matrix is proposed as a business decision support tool for Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs). A Methodological Framework is developed for future researchers to expand this new academic niche. The findings suggest overall that shifting the focus of disability from personal impairments of clients to a mismatch between client needs and design of the business offerings might help make a good business case by positioning accessibility accommodation as an absolute strategy for business enhancement

Sistema adaptivo de apoyo a los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje orientados a estudiantes con o sin discapacidad

Las herramientas tecnológicas son hoy en día un apoyo didáctico y fortalece el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje en las aulas de clase. Las políticas de inclusión social, permiten hoy en día en una misma aula de clase, estudiantes con o sin discapacidades y/o dificulta- des, siendo necesaria la implementación de estrategias metodológicas ajustadas a las características y patologías que pueden presentar los estudiantes. La variedad y cantidad de parámetros encontrados en los sistemas de información que apoyan procesos de aprendizaje, re- quieren de técnicas avanzadas para la toma de decisiones, con el fin de ajustar el contenido y el despliegue de la información a las características y necesidades de los estudiantes y al contexto en el que se desarrolla su proceso de aprendizaje. El presente documento de tesis de doctorado, muestra el desarrollo y la implementación de una plataforma que permite la adaptación del contenido y del despliegue provista a través de servicios educativos a estudiantes teniendo en cuenta la discapacidad y/o dificultades en su proceso de aprendizaje, sus preferencias, su estilo de aprendizaje.Technological tools, such as virtual learning environments can be an important help to improve the teaching and learning process in the classroom. One of the challenges to effectively incorporate this technology in the classroom derives from social inclusion. Social inclusion policies often require that students share the same class- room, regardless of their disabilities or learning difficulties. Therefore, teaching strategies must adapt to different kinds of students. Virtual learning environments have to address several different variables and parameters to effectively convey the information to different students. Specifically, advanced decision making strategies are required to properly adapt content and information display to an heterogeneous student population. This final document show the development and implementation of a platform that allow content and display adaptation to students, taking into account their disabilities, preferences, learning styles and learning difficulties.Doctor en IngenieríaDoctorad