Eye-tracking for avatar eye-gaze and interactional analysis in immersive collaborative virtual environments

Participants' eye-gaze is generally not captured or represented in immersive collaborative virtual environment (ICVE) systems. We present EyeCVE. which uses mobile eye-trackers to drive the gaze of each participant's virtual avatar, thus supporting remote mutual eye-contact and awareness of others' gaze in a perceptually unfragmented shared virtual workspace. We detail trials in which participants took part in three-way conferences between remote CAVE (TM) systems linked via EyeCVE. Eye-tracking data was recorded and used to evaluate interaction, confirming; the system's support for the use of gaze as a communicational and management resource in multiparty conversational scenarios. We point toward subsequent investigation of eye-tracking in ICVEs for enhanced remote social-interaction and analysis.

Model-based groupware solution for distributed real-time collaborative 4D planning via teamwork

Construction planning plays a fundamental role in construction project management that requires team working among planners from a diverse range of disciplines and in geographically dispersed working situations. Model-based four-dimensional (4D) computer-aided design (CAD) groupware, though considered a possible approach to supporting collaborative planning, is still short of effective collaborative mechanisms for teamwork due to methodological, technological and social challenges. Targeting this problem, this paper proposes a model-based groupware solution to enable a group of multidisciplinary planners to perform real-time collaborative 4D planning across the Internet. In the light of the interactive definition method, and its computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW) design analysis, the paper discusses the realization of interactive collaborative mechanisms from software architecture, application mode, and data exchange protocol. These mechanisms have been integrated into a groupware solution, which was validated by a planning team in a truly geographically dispersed condition. Analysis of the validation results revealed that the proposed solution is feasible for real-time collaborative 4D planning to gain a robust construction plan through collaborative teamwork. The realization of this solution triggers further considerations about its enhancement for wider groupware applications.

Scalable distributed virtual environments using multicast application level

Most of architectures proposed for developing Distributed Virtual Environment (DVE) allow limited number of users. To support the development of applications using the internet infrastructure, with hundred or, perhaps, thousands users logged simultaneously on DVE, several techniques for managing resources, such as bandwidth and capability of processing, must be implemented. The strategy presented in this paper combines methods to attain the scalability required, In special the multicast protocol at application level.

The 3C cooperation model applied to the classical requirement analysis

Aspects related to the users' cooperative work are not considered in the traditional approach of software engineering, since the user is viewed independently of his/her workplace environment or group, with the individual model generalized to the study of collective behavior of all users. This work proposes a process for software requirements to address issues involving cooperative work in information systems that provide distributed coordination in the users' actions and the communication among them occurs indirectly through the data entered while using the software. To achieve this goal, this research uses ergonomics, the 3C cooperation model, awareness and software engineering concepts. Action-research is used as a research methodology applied in three cycles during the development of a corporate workflow system in a technological research company. This article discusses the third cycle, which corresponds to the process that deals with the refinement of the cooperative work requirements with the software in actual use in the workplace, where the inclusion of a computer system changes the users' workplace, from the face to face interaction to the interaction mediated by the software. The results showed that the highest degree of users' awareness about their activities and other system users contribute to a decrease in their errors and in the inappropriate use of the system.

Influence apart from Adoption: How Interaction between Programming and Scientific Practices Shapes Modes of Inquiry in Four Oceanography Teams

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Blogueros latinoamericanos, los creativos culturales de inicios del siglo XXI

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo explorar la producción textual, la identidad blog y las prácticas sociales a partir de la sistematización de relatos escritos por bloggers latinoamericanos desde una perspectiva de la fenomenología tecnológica. Planteamos una discusión sobre la comprensión de prácticas sociotécnicas y significados de las experiencias humanas que bloggers latinoamericanos debaten a partir de sus posicionamientos políticos, económicos, éticos, sociales y culturales. Son “Creativos Culturales” del siglo XXI, debido a que escriben desde sus contextos, reflexionan las experiencias y cotidianidades de sus sociedades desde la red como ejercicio para la comprender el presente de Latinoamericana y su lugar en el mundo global. 

Primary students' group metacognitive processes in a computer supported collaborative learning environment

The current understanding of students’ group metacognition is limited. The research on metacognition has focused mainly on the individual student. The aim of this study was to address the void by developing a conceptual model to inform the use of scaffolds to facilitate group metacognition during mathematical problem solving in computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments. An initial conceptual framework based on the literature from metacognition, cooperative learning, cooperative group metacognition, and computer supported collaborative learning was used to inform the study. In order to achieve the study aim, a design research methodology incorporating two cycles was used. The first cycle focused on the within-group metacognition for sixteen groups of primary school students working together around the computer; the second cycle included between-group metacognition for six groups of primary school students working together on the Knowledge Forum® CSCL environment. The study found that providing groups with group metacognitive scaffolds resulted in groups planning, monitoring, and evaluating the task and team aspects of their group work. The metacognitive scaffolds allowed students to focus on how their group was completing the problem-solving task and working together as a team. From these findings, a revised conceptual model to inform the use of scaffolds to facilitate group metacognition during mathematical problem solving in computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments was generated.

An experiment in group learning technology: evaluating critical thinking in face-to-face and computer-supported seminars

Can learning quality be maintained in the face of increasing class size by the use of Computer Supported Co-operative Learning (CSCL) technologies? In particular, can Computer-Mediated Communication promote critical thinking in addition to surface information transfer? We compared face-to-face seminars with asynchronous computer conferencing in the same Information Management class. From Garrison's theory of critical thinking and Henri's critical reasoning skills, we developed two ways of evaluating critical thinking: a student questionnaire and a content analysis technique. We found evidence for critical thinking in both situations, with some subtle differences in learning style. This paper provides an overview of this work.

The Role of Teacher Presence during Computer Supported Online Collaborative Sessions in an Adult Education Course.

The convenience sample for this study was taken from an A.E.C. (Attestation of Collegial Studies) Communication course of the Continuing Education Technical Support Program. A key component of this course competency is for students to develop the skill to write business letters for various purposes and to apply the three-step writing process during the crafting of the correspondence. This is achieved with a number of writing assignments which are carried out by students working in teams and completing the writing assignments out-of-class. the out-of-class work was convened using the PrimaryPad program to complete two of the writing assignments, which formed the basis of the research. This research uses a case study design that employed a repeated measures method with two conditions (teacher scaffolding vs. no teacher scaffolding). The possibility of an order effect was controlled for by using a counterbalancing of treatment design. A post-treatment questionnaire was used to gather descriptive statistics.

Sistema CSCW para la ense??anza de composici??n escrita basado en una interfaz de l??piz electr??nico

Estudiar la aplicabilidad de t??cnicas CSCW (Computer Supported Collaborative Work) en el trabajo diario, tanto en un aula, como en educaci??n a distancia. Analizar la idoneidad de las distintas plataformas de redes subyacentes, sistemas operativos, etc., as?? como estudiar otros aspectos de CSCW, como seguridad y registro de usuarios, ergonom??a... Dise??ar y desarrollar el prototipo ya que es necesario tener una aplicaci??n software que pudiera implantarse cuanto antes y con el m??ximo nivel de funcionalidad. Comparar el rendimiento de ordenadores basados en l??piz, con los ordenadores tradicionales port??tiles o de sobremesa ya que deben probarse nuevos m??todos de interacci??n con los ordenadores. Se pretende estudiar los problemas de CSCW (concurrencias, coordinaci??n, derechos,...) asociados al car??cter recursivo de la escritura y la interacci??n entre un grupo peque??o de estudiantes y el profesor, creando as?? una clase electr??nica. Se decide crear un sistema que pueda servir de apoyo a los alumnos de la asignatura 'T??cnica de escritura' impartido en la Facultad de Educaci??n. Se estudia la aplicaci??n de los ordenadores y las redes como elementos de apoyo a la ense??anza, especialmente al aprendizaje de la composici??n escrita, tanto de forma individual, como de forma cooperativa, incluyendo los m??todos de an??lisis de los textos generados por los alumnos. Se hace una rese??a hist??rica del Trabajo Coperativo Soportado por Ordenador (CSCW) present??ndose las distintas clasificaciones y arquitecturas existentes para estos sistemas, vi??ndose las caracter??sticas que las difeencian y haciendo una comparaci??n con los del sistema propuesto. Se tratan las interfaces multiusuario y sus implicaciones de dise??o, comentando los distintos problemas que surgen cuando hay que implementar un sistema CSCW y describi??ndose las soluciones adoptadas. Durante los dos a??os de utilizaci??n del sistema como apoyo a la signatura 'T??cnicas de escritura' han ido surgiendo distintos problemas tanto del tipo funcional, como inform??tico y-o telem??tico, cuyas soluciones m??s importantes han sido: consciencia del espacio de trabajo compartido, implementaci??n de roles y organizaci??n del trabajo en las fases cooperativas, soporte adecuado para la comunicaci??n, almacenamiento de la informaci??n generada por la interfaz basada en l??piz electr??nico, almacenamiento y recupaeraci??n del trabajo de sesiones anteriores y tama??o de cada ventana de trabajo. En la presente tesis se ha dise??ado e implantado un nuevo sistema CSCW basado en una interfaz de l??piz electr??nico para la ense??anza y aprendizaje de la composici??n de textos. El sistema, llamado PENCACOLAS (PEN Computer Aided Composing COLlAborative System) permite la interacci??n entre alumnos (grupos de 2 ?? 3) y la supervisi??n e interacci??n con el profesor, posibilita el paso del alumno por las distintas fases que subyacen en el proceso de composici??n de un documento, dota tanto al profesor como a los alumnos de una interfaz que les permite visualizar el trabajo de los dem??s e intervenir en ciertas circunstancias, permite la creaci??n de las llamadas aulas virtuales.

A content analysis method to measure critical thinking in face-to-face and computer supported group learning

This paper gives a detailed account of the content analysis method developed at Queen's University Belfast to measure critical thinking during group learning, as used in our controlled comparisons between learning in face-to-face and computer conference seminars. From Garrison's 5 stages of critical thinking, and Henri's cognitive skills needed in CMC, we have developed two research instruments: a student questionnaire and this content analysis method. The content analysis relies on identifying, within transcripts, examples of indicators of obviously critical and obviously uncritical thinking, from which several critical thinking ratios can be calculated.