Wearable Computers in Education: The Lab of Tomorrow Project

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 1

Wearable Computers in Education: The Lab of Tomorrow Project

Theodoros N. Arvanitis, RT, DPhil, CEng, MIEE, MIEEE, FSIM

Senior Lecturer in Distributed and Complex Adaptive Systems

Distributed & Complex Systems Lab

Human Interface Technologies & Educational Technology

Research Groups

Department of Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering,

School of Engineering, The University of Birmingham,

Edgbaston, Birmingham,

B15 2TT, United Kingdom

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 2

Wearable Computing in Education:

The Challenge Bridging the gap between pedagogy and front-end technology

Introducing innovation in learning and computational toolsThe Lab of Tomorrow project is a European project primarily concerned with capturing sensor data from the local environment, for transmission to some control computer or computers. This is then be used for analysis during science school classes (e.g. high-school physics)

Introducing the concept of wearable computational and on-body sensing devices

Combining the use of “toys” for activity-based learningAn elaborate system of distributed computation, embedded-sensing devices, positioning calculation, and data analysis.

www.laboftomorrow.org

IST-2000-25076

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 3

Lab of Tomorrow: The Vision

To contribute towards the connection of science with everyday life activities

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 4

Lab of Tomorrow: The partnership

ICCS/NTUA (Greece) – Co-ordinatorUniversity of Birmingham (UK) - SensVestNational Technical University of Athens (Greece) - Axion Ball and LPS ANCO (Greece) - Radio Network and SensBeltUniversity of Dortmund (Germany) - Pedagogical Framework COREP (Italy) – Interface softwareEllinogermaniki Agogi (Greece) – Coordination of implementation and dissemination 5 European Schools

Ellinogermaniki Agogi (Greece)Pininfarina School (Italy)Helene Lange School (Germany)Phoenix Gymnasium (Germany)

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 5

Wearable Computing: Our Perspective

A new form of an embedded-computing:

Computing paradigm in contrast to the desktop model Integrating computers into our everyday activities

Wearable (a definition):Portable while operationalOn-body, embedded in clothes, hands-freeSensing the environmentSupporting activity in a ubiquitous mannerAlways-on (…depending on energy capacity)

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 6

Wearable Computing: Distributed Embedded Systems

Baber, et al., IBM Systems Journal, Vol 38, No 4, 1999

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 7

Activity-Based Computing

In the past 5 years we have questioned whether the contemporary approach to the design of computer applications can be sustained for future technologies.

Norman proposes that future computers will offer restricted function sets (activity-related), and that people will select the function set most appropriate to their defined requirements.

LoT: Activity-based, user-centred approach in design

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 8

Design process

Prototype

TechnicalEvaluation

WearerEvaluation

UsabilityEvaluation

Refinement

Pedagogical requirement and technology constraints

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 9

SensVest Design Objectives

Develop a wearable system that will measure aspects of real world human performance that can be used to form the basis of a physics lesson

Specifically, measure aspects of energy expenditure and movement

What would be interesting to measure?

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 10

Types of Activity Measures

Heart rateCommonly used measure of assessing energy expenditure.linear relationship between oxygen uptake and heart rate at moderate to high intensities of exercise (Astrand & Rodahl, 1986).

Temperature>75% of the energy utilised during physical work is converted into heat (Astrand & Rodahl, 1986).Core body temperature increases linearly with oxygen uptake in exercise with the arms and the legs (Nielsen, 1938).

AccelerometryCan measure the accelerations of body segments (e.g. arms and legs individually).Can also be used to give a measure of energy expenditure.

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 11

Ergonomics

Be easily mounted in a shirt

Safe to wear

Cause minimal disruption to movement

Simple to set-up

Reliable and produce consistent output

Comfortable

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 12

Fitting Technology to the Body

Heart rate measured with pulse meter (microphone, pressure)

Temperature sensor

Accelerometers (body, arm, leg)

Processor

Display

Radio module

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 13

SensVest evolution

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 14

Electronics

LCD displaySelect sensors & sampling frequencyShows heart rate and temperatureCalibrate accelerometers

Embedded-systemMitsubishi M16C microprocessor 5V power supply – rechargeableBattery life >16hoursRS232 serial comms

Sensors

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 15

Trials

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 16

Abseiling

Body acceleration recorded when abseiling

Accelerometer trace used to tell a story of physical activity

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 17

Abseiling

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 18

SensBelt

ANCO

Smaller

Wireless

Belt

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 19

WearabilityEmotion

Low High

Attachment

Low High

Harm

Low High

Perceived change

Low High

Movement

Low High

Anxiety

Low High

Title Endpoints Description

Emotion Low/High I am worried about how I look when I wear this device. I feel tense or on edge because I am wearing the device.

Attachment Low/High I can feel the device on my body. I can feel the device moving.

Harm Low/High The device is causing me some harm. The device is painful to wear.

Perceived change Low/High Wearing the device makes me feel physically different. I feel strange wearing the device.

Movement Low/High The device affects the way I move. The device inhibits or restricts my movement.

Anxiety Low/High I do not feel secure wearing the device.

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 20

Usability

Comfort rating

Failure Modes Effects & Criticality Analysis

Standard engineering approach to define potential for failureAdapted to human error

Novel application to usability evaluation

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 21

Social Acceptance: Current Issues

Will the use of wearable computers become a symbol of elitism or will they become accepted as part of the daily routine?

Is the integration of computer equipment into the body more acceptable than a wearable computer module?

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 22

Conclusions

Wearable technology used to study human performance and physical laws

Integrated within the curriculum of test school sites

Development approach bridged the gap between technology and pedagogy

Socially accepted: Teachers and students adopted the final design and created new scenarios of use

Further dissemination was encouraged

14 Nov 2004 International Symposium on Advanced Technologies in Education, 13-14 November 2004, Athens,Greece 23

Thank you