Learn-ciam: a model-driven approach for the development of collaborative learning tools

This paper introduces Learn-CIAM, a new model-based methodological approach for the design of flows and for the semi-automatic generation of tools in order to support collaborative learning tasks. The main objective of this work is to help professors by establishing a series of steps for the specification of their learning courses and the obtaining of collaborative tools to support certain learning activities (in particular, for in-group editing, searching and modeling). This paper presents a complete methodological framework, how it is supported conceptually and technologically, and an application example. So to guarantee the validity of the proposal, we also present some validation processes with potential designers and users from different profiles such as Education and Computer Science. The results seem to demonstrate a positive reception and acceptance, concluding that its application would facilitate the design of learning courses and the generation of collaborative learning tools for professionals of both profiles

Description des tâches avec un système interactif multiutilisateur et multimodal : Etude comparative de notations

International audienceMulti-user multimodal interactive systems involve multiple users who can use multiple interactionmodalities. Multi-user multimodal systems are becoming more prevalent, especially systems based on largeshared multi-touch surfaces or video game centers such as Wii or Xbox. In this article we address thedescription of the tasks with such interactive systems. We review existing notations for the description of taskswith a multi-user multimodal interactive system and focus particularly on tree-based notations. For elementarytasks (e.g. actions), we also consider the notations that describe multimodal interaction. The contribution isthen a comparison of existing notations based on a set of organized concepts. While some concepts are generalto any notation, other concepts are specific to human-computer interaction, or to multi-user interaction andfinally to multimodal interaction.De nombreux systèmes interactifs, professionnels ou grand public, permettent conjointementl’interaction multiutilisateur et multimodale. Un système interactif est multimodal lorsqu’un utilisateur peutinteragir avec le système par l’usage de plusieurs modalités d’interaction (en entrée ou en sortie) de façonparallèle ou non. Nous constatons que de plus en plus de systèmes multiutilisateurs ou collecticiels sontmultimodaux, comme ceux construits autour d’une surface interactive et les consoles de jeu de type Wii ouXbox. Nous traitons dans cet article de la description des tâches-utilisateur avec de tels systèmes interactifsmultiutilisateurs et multimodaux. Précisément, nous dressons un panorama des notations existantes permettantla description des tâches mono ou multi-utilisateur avec une attention particulière pour les notations à based’arbre de tâches. Nous focalisons aussi sur les tâches élémentaires ou actions mono/multi-modales del’utilisateur en considérant les notations de description de l’interaction multimodale. Pour cela, nousproposons une étude comparative d'un ensemble de notations de description selon une grille d’analyseregroupant des concepts généraux à l’interaction et des concepts propres à l’interaction multiutilisateur etmultimodale

Using Web 2.0-Based Groupware to Facilitate Collaborative Design in Engineering Education Scheme Projects

Employee collaboration is vital for manufacturing organisations wishing to be successful in an ever-changing global market place; it is commonly referred to as the joining of people and interests to meet a common goal via visual or oral interaction, information and knowledge sharing and the coordination of tasks; product development teams operating within the aerospace and defence industry rely extensively on this. To this end, the purpose of this paper is to present the results of a validation study carried out during an Engineering Education Scheme (EES) project initiated by a leading aerospace and defence manufacturing organisation, to confirm the benefits of using bespoke Web 2.0-based groupware to improve employee collaboration between dispersed teams. The results of a cross-sectional survey concluded that employees in the collaborating organisations would welcome greater usage of Web 2.0-based technologies. The study confirmed that groupware offers the potential to deliver a more effective collaborative environment with additional communication channels on offer to end users

Integrating social knowledge and collaboration tools into dispersed product development

Employee collaboration and knowledge sharing is vital for manufacturing organisations wishing to be successful in an ever-changing global market place; Product Development (PD) teams, in particular, rely heavily on these activities to generate innovative designs and enhancements to existing product ranges. To this end, the purpose of this paper is to present the results of a validation study carried out during an Engineering Education Scheme project to confirm the benefits of using bespoke Web 2.0-based groupware to improve collaboration and knowledge sharing between dispersed PD teams. The results of a cross-sectional survey concluded that employees would welcome greater usage of social computing technologies. The study confirmed that groupware offers the potential to deliver a more effective collaborative and knowledge sharing environment with additional communication channels on offer. Furthermore, a series of recommended guidelines are presented to show how PD teams, operating in globally-dispersed organisations, may use Web 2.0 tools to improve employee collaboration and knowledge sharing

InfoTech Update, Volume 5, Number 2, Winter 1996

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/aicpa_news/4955/thumbnail.jp

How do interactive tabletop systems influence collaboration?

This paper examines some aspects of the usefulness of interactive tabletop systems, if and how these impact collaboration. We chose creative problem solving such as brainstorming as an application framework to test several collaborative media: the use of pen-and-paper tools, the ‘‘around-the-table’’ form factor, the digital tabletop interface, the attractiveness of interaction styles. Eighty subjects in total (20 groups of four members) participated in the experiments. The evaluation criteria were task performance, collaboration patterns (especially equity of contributions), and users’ subjective experience. The ‘‘aroundthe-table’’ form factor, which is hypothesized to promote social comparison, increased performance and improved collaboration through an increase of equity. Moreover, the attractiveness of the tabletop device improved subjective experience and increased motivation to engage in the task. However, designing attractiveness seems a highly challenging issue, since overly attractive interfaces may distract users from the task

CSRML: Lenguaje para la Especificación de Requisitos en Sistemas Colaborativos

se realiza un análisis de las distintas técnicas de especificación de requisitos aplicadas a sistemas colaborativos. Así identificaremos cual es la técnica más adecuada para la representación de los requisitos de este tipo de sistema, de naturaleza no funcional y ligados con la colaboración, el awareness y la calidad. Tras determinar cuál es la técnica más adecuada a trajes del modelado de un caso de estudio, la expenderemos para adaptarla a las peculiaridades de los sistemas colaborativos y realizaremos un experimento con usuarios para determinar su validez

Spécification et conception d’un environnement d’aide à l’inspection des Systèmes Interactifs, basé sur la méthode Cognitive Walkthrough

This thesis is focused on the evaluation of interactive systems. It aims to contribute to the extension and equipment of the Cognitive Walkthrough method. This method is the subject of many studies and experiments worldwide. It has also undergone several modifications and extensions. Despite the interest in the method, its use poses many methodological and applicative problems. Firstly, this thesis describes the key elements related to human factors consideration in interactive system design and evaluation. Then, it proposes a state of the art on the evaluation of interactive systems based on the Cognitive Walkthrough method. Then the specification of an environment to support the inspection of interactive systems based on Cognitive Walkthrough is described. A mockup of an environment called CWE ("Cognitive Walkthrough Environment") is proposed; a first evaluation is exposed. A conclusion and perspectives end the thesis.Cette thèse s’intéresse à l’évaluation des systèmes interactifs. Elle vise à contribuer à l’extension et à l’outillage de la méthode Cognitive Walkthrough. Cette méthode a fait l’objet de nombreuses études et expérimentations au niveau international. Elle a aussi conduit à plusieurs modifications et extensions. Malgré l’intérêt que suscite la méthode, son utilisation pose de nombreux problèmes aussi bien méthodologiques qu’applicatifs. Dans un premier temps, cette thèse décrit les éléments clés liées à la prise en compte des facteurs humains dans la conception et l’évaluation des systèmes interactifs. Puis, elle propose un état de l’art sur l’évaluation des systèmes interactifs basée sur la méthode Cognitive Walkthrough. Ensuite la spécification d’un environnement d’aide à l’inspection des systèmes interactifs basé sur la méthode Cognitive Walkthrough est décrite. Une maquette de l’environnement dénommé CWE (« Cognitive Walkthrough Environment ») est proposée ; elle a fait l’objet d’une première évaluation. Une conclusion et des perspectives terminent le mémoire

An Integrated Formal Task Specification Method for Smart Environments

This thesis is concerned with the development of interactive systems for smart environments. In such scenario different interaction paradigms need to be supported and according methods and development strategies need to be applied to comprise not only explicit interaction (e.g., pressing a button to adjust the light) but also implicit interactions (e.g., walking to the speaker’s desk to give a talk) to assist the user appropriately. A task-based modeling approach is introduced allowing basing the implementing of different interaction paradigms on the same artifact