Wearable learning tools

In life people must learn whenever and wherever they experience something new. Until recently computing technology could not support such a notion, the constraints of size, power and cost kept computers under the classroom table, in the office or in the home. Recent advances in miniaturization have led to a growing field of research in ‘wearable’ computing. This paper looks at how such technologies can enhance computer‐mediated communications, with a focus upon collaborative working for learning. An experimental system, MetaPark, is discussed, which explores communications, data retrieval and recording, and navigation techniques within and across real and virtual environments. In order to realize the MetaPark concept, an underlying network architecture is described that supports the required communication model between static and mobile users. This infrastructure, the MUON framework, is offered as a solution to provide a seamless service that tracks user location, interfaces to contextual awareness agents, and provides transparent network service switching

World Association for Online Education (WAOE) Panel: Building a Free Worldwide Community and Support Structure for Faculty Involved in Online Education

Presentations in this file, with roles and affiliations at the time: 1) WAOE President Steve McCarty, Osaka Jogakuin College, Japan, "Meeting a Worldwide Need for Community and Faculty Support for Online Education," 2) WAOE Cyber-Parliamentarian Michael Warner, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, "Building Communication and Support Avenues through Technologies," 3) WAOE Chair for Mentoring Initiative Nicholas Bowskill, University of Sheffield, UK, "A Worldwide Faculty Mentoring Project for Creating Online Curriculum," and 4) WAOE Chief Technical Officer Maggie McVay Lynch, Portland State University, "The Realities of Technical Implementation and Support for a Worldwide Online Community of Faculty.

Wearable learning tools

The world of telecommunications is being rapidly redefined by the Internet. Longer-term trends show that mobile, networked computers will form the basis of the future of personal communications. Not only is the telephone handset becoming mobile, by defauit, but the boundary between phone and computer is set to disappear. Networks for mobile devices are also changing fast, within the next five years the global mobile network will support megabit rather than the current kilobit connections. In summary most phones are becoming mobile, phones are becoming computers and the underlying network is becoming a fast global TCP/IP network

An Evaluation of Wearable Information Spaces

Two dimensional windows based interfaces may not be appropriate for wearable computers. In this paper we draw on established virtual reality techniques to design and evaluate several alternate methods for information presentation in a wearable environment. We find simple body-spatialised displays provide benefits over traditional head-stabilised displays. Users found the body-stabilised displays easier to use, more enjoyable and more intuitive, and were able to perform significantly better on a search task. Spatial audio and visual cues further enhanced performance

Understanding patients' adherence-related beliefs about medicines prescribed for long-term conditions: A meta-analytic review of the Necessity-Concerns Framework

Patients' beliefs about treatment influence treatment engagement and adherence. The Necessity-Concerns Framework postulates that adherence is influenced by implicit judgements of personal need for the treatment (necessity beliefs) and concerns about the potential adverse consequences of taking it