Números Publicados > Volumen y Número

Title- Localization and Navigation of an Omnidirectional Mobile Robot: The Robot@Factory Case Study

Abstract- The Robot@Factory competition, was recently included in Robotica, the main Robotics Portuguese 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. The presented robot competition can play an important role in education due to the inherent multi-disciplinary concepts that are involved, motivating students to technological areas. It also plays an important role in research and development, because it is expected that the outcomes that will emerge here, will later be transfered to other application areas, such as service robots and manufacturing. By presenting a scaled down factory shop floor, this competition creates a benchmark that can be used to compare different approaches to the problems that arise on this kind of environments. Also, the ability, in some restricted areas, to alter the environment, can promote the test and evaluation of different localization mechanisms, something that is usually, more restricted in other competitions, opening this area to be explored and benchmarked. In this paper it is discussed one of the possible approaches, that can be applied to the robot competition, serving as reference to the actual and new potential participating teams.

Index Terms- Robotics, Education, Localization, Navigation, Prototyping

Title- Special Section on Human Computer Interaction and Education

Abstract- This invited editorial introduces a special section of the IEEE-RITA journal devoted to the INTERACCIÓN'2014, the XV 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 this conference. The editorial summarizes the subjects and interest topics about the HCI and introduces the selected works.

Index Terms- Human computer interaction, User Interfaces

Title- A proposal from visualization and Human-Computer Interaction in the context of information of the Pronunciation

Abstract- This article involves two areas: information visualization (InfoVis) and Human Computer Interaction (HCI). In HCI area is concerned with design, evaluation and implementation to the use of users. By another side, information visualization area represents multimentional data in a context of specific information. Therefore, these two disciplines could be complemented with the purpose to offer a visualization model in the information context of the pronunciation, which can serve as support to the pronunciation learning for different user types. The proposed model integrated graphic aspects to represent information, so that user can visually capture greater quantity of voice aspects and to recognize quality of pronunciation.

Index Terms- Information Visualization, Multiple Views, Voice Visualization, Human Computer Interaction, Biofeedback

Title- User recommender system based on knowledge, availability and reputation from interactions in forums

Abstract- In this paper is described a recommender system where the user recommendations are made taking into account 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 candidates users in the community. The reputation is calculated based on 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.

Index Terms- Learning Management System, Recommender Systems, Information Retrieval, Interaction Tools

Title- Producer - Consumer Model of a Textbook for the Human-Computer Interaction Community in Latinamerica

Abstract- Current work proposes a producer - consumer model for a Human-Computer Interaction textbook developed in Latin America. The model is composed of services to support the collaborative production and access of a IHC textbook. The model represents an alternative to cover the lack of academic contents for the IHC in Latin America. The proposed model is applied throughout a case study conducted by teachers and researchers from different Latin American Universities in order to access and use the IHC book as an open textbook.

Index Terms- Collaborative Environments, Human- Computer Interaction, Producer-Consumer Model, Open Textbooks

Title- Technological Ecosystems

Abstract- Knowledge Society challenges and issues require of complex technological systems that may evolve and interoperate 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. Also, the users should be considered as other important components 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, were selected seven papers that have extended and reviewed again. Three of these papers were finally accepted for publication in VAEP-RITA / IEEE RITA journal.

Index Terms- TEEM; Technological Engineering; Knowledge Society

Title- Framework to Evaluate M-learning Systems: A Technological and Pedagogical Approach

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, also we 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.

Index Terms- m-learning, mapping study, evaluation

Title- Virtual Heritage of the Territory: Design and implementation of Educational Resources in Augmented Reality and Mobile Pedestrian Navigation

Abstract- In this research we intend to establish the relationships between local heritage educational content of software Pedestrian Navigation Systems Mobile-Augmented Reality and learning processes through mobile devices. In this context, we will create a process of teaching and learning linked to urban heritage, determining their educational effectiveness with these tools. Methodological research focuses on two dimensions: technological design of mobile learning platform and in determining educational modes of understanding of the program. We hope to build a patrimonial thematic unit and determine the significance in mLearning-uLearning processes, considering elements of identity and local culture.

Index Terms- Augmented reality, Computer instruction, Mobile computing, Navigation

Title- Technological support for virtual placements management process: Proposal and first results of the Semester of Code

Abstract- This paper explains the Virtual Alliances for Learning Society (VALS) 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 this kind of virtual placements programmes. In order to allow the readers to get better comprehension of the approach and its results, the manuscript also describes three of the main virtual placements programs around the world, in both ways, regarding the organization and the technological approach they have.

Index Terms- Semester of Code, Technological support for placements management, VALS project, Virtual Placements