Remote learning and examination based on augmented reality

Remote Learning and Examination based on Augmented Reality (RELAR) is a European Erasmus+ project (2020-1-NL01-KA226-VET-083043) that aims to create a crisis-proof resilient education environment, enabling remote coaching and digital skills training based on AR. RELAR integrates seven European partners –Vocational Training Institutions and Higher Education Institutions– all linked to the maritime industry. The industry itself is also represented. With the help of a reference group, a set of learning outcomes has been defined to develop three demo scenarios to test and demonstrate the RELAR system, which is based on the RealWear HMT-1 assisted reality hands-free computer. All scenarios are scaffolded on the same framework that integrates active learning pedagogy, curriculum requirements and technological integration. This digital active learning process pedagogy incorporates two processes for instruction: a remote instruction process called ‘Expert Coaching’ that gives the students the possibility of receiving instant feedback while taking actions and decisions; and a remote assessment process named ‘Digital Workflow’ that incorporates formative assessment to consolidate learning. The curricular aspect focuses on the professional competencies students will acquire, the expected learning outcomes, the required knowledge, and the transferable skills required by students to perform professionally. Finally, technological integration describes how and when the assisted reality system should be incorporated to add value to the learning process. This paper describes the work in the learning spaces currently under development by the partnership based on the same methodological and pedagogical foundations

Designing for Ballet Classes: Identifying and Mitigating Communication Challenges Between Dancers and Teachers

Dancer-teacher communication in a ballet class can be challenging: ballet is one of the most complex forms of movements, and learning happens through multi-faceted interactions with studio tools (mirror, barre, and floor) and the teacher. We conducted an interview-based qualitative study with seven ballet teachers and six dancers followed by an open-coded analysis to explore the communication challenges that arise while teaching and learning in the ballet studio. We identified key communication issues, including adapting to multi-level dancer expertise, transmitting and realigning development goals, providing personalized corrections and feedback, maintaining the state of flow, and communicating how to properly use tools in the environment. We discuss design implications for crafting technological interventions aimed at mitigating these communication challenges

Internet of robotic things : converging sensing/actuating, hypoconnectivity, artificial intelligence and IoT Platforms

The Internet of Things (IoT) concept is evolving rapidly and influencing newdevelopments in various application domains, such as the Internet of MobileThings (IoMT), Autonomous Internet of Things (A-IoT), Autonomous Systemof Things (ASoT), Internet of Autonomous Things (IoAT), Internetof Things Clouds (IoT-C) and the Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT) etc.that are progressing/advancing by using IoT technology. The IoT influencerepresents new development and deployment challenges in different areassuch as seamless platform integration, context based cognitive network integration,new mobile sensor/actuator network paradigms, things identification(addressing, naming in IoT) and dynamic things discoverability and manyothers. The IoRT represents new convergence challenges and their need to be addressed, in one side the programmability and the communication ofmultiple heterogeneous mobile/autonomous/robotic things for cooperating,their coordination, configuration, exchange of information, security, safetyand protection. Developments in IoT heterogeneous parallel processing/communication and dynamic systems based on parallelism and concurrencyrequire new ideas for integrating the intelligent “devices”, collaborativerobots (COBOTS), into IoT applications. Dynamic maintainability, selfhealing,self-repair of resources, changing resource state, (re-) configurationand context based IoT systems for service implementation and integrationwith IoT network service composition are of paramount importance whennew “cognitive devices” are becoming active participants in IoT applications.This chapter aims to be an overview of the IoRT concept, technologies,architectures and applications and to provide a comprehensive coverage offuture challenges, developments and applications

Business Case and Technology Analysis for 5G Low Latency Applications

A large number of new consumer and industrial applications are likely to change the classic operator's business models and provide a wide range of new markets to enter. This article analyses the most relevant 5G use cases that require ultra-low latency, from both technical and business perspectives. Low latency services pose challenging requirements to the network, and to fulfill them operators need to invest in costly changes in their network. In this sense, it is not clear whether such investments are going to be amortized with these new business models. In light of this, specific applications and requirements are described and the potential market benefits for operators are analysed. Conclusions show that operators have clear opportunities to add value and position themselves strongly with the increasing number of services to be provided by 5G.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

Analysis of the sentiments of the participants in a clinical study to evaluate a balance rehabilitation intervention delivered by a Virtual Coach

Multiple studies for balance rehabilitation interventions have been accomplished aiming to demonstrate that sensory interventions and cognitive functionality are crucial for postural control and improvement of the quality of patient's daily life. However, none of the existing studies is filling the lack of expert physiotherapists availability. A pilot randomized study was conducted to assess the acceptability of the HOLOBalance telerehabilitation system. HOLOBalance is an interactive AR rehabilitation system which encompasses multi-sensory training program to enhance balance and cognitive coaching, for older adults at falls risk. In this work, we present a sentiment analysis of the patients participating in this study using the VADER methodology to evaluate and quantify their attitude towards the HOLOBalance system. Our results highlight the importance of findings positive polarity towards the AR interaction, which is based on the use of a holographic virtual physiotherapist. The compound score of 0.185 indicates the valuable positive feedback gained from the user experience

Chatbot for training and assisting operators in inspecting containers in seaports

The paper presents the chatbot applicability for the health and safety of workers in the container transportation context. Starting from a literature review of risks and hazardous activities in sea container terminals, the paper underlines the need of innovative systems to ensure the lowest level of risks for labours. An analysis of the 4.0 technologies solutions in sea container terminals shows the lack of empirical application of chatbots in such a context. Focus is given to the current chatbot applications, and on the conceptual methodology for the chatbot design, defining five models and presenting a taxonomy for the chatbot feature definition. A case study shows the possible application of the conceptual methodology and the taxonomy, introducing the Popeye chatbot, consisting of a voice service, spoken language understanding component and an image processing app, to cope with the hazards in the process of examining freight and containers in dock areas. The main application of Popeye is the training of new employees involved in container safety-critical quality inspection and controls operations