Freehand 3D Scanning in a Mobile Environment using Video

This work is motivated by two important trends in consumer computing: (i) the growing pervasiveness of mobile computing devices, and (ii) the users’ desire for increasingly complex but readily acquired and manipulated information content. Specifically, we develop and describe a system for 3D model creation of an object, using only a standard mobile device such as a smart phone. Our approach applies the structured light projection methodology and exploits multiple image input such as frames from a video sequence. In comparison with previous work, a significant further challenge addressed here is that of lower quality input data and limited hardware (processing power and memory, camera and projector quality). Novelties include: (i) a comparison of projection pattern detection approaches in the context of a mobile environment – a robust method combining colour detection and a phase congruency descriptor is evaluated, (ii) a model for single view reconstruction which exploits epipolar, coplanarity and topological constraints, (iii) the use of mobile device sensor data in the iterative closest point algorithm used to register multiple partial 3D reconstructions, and (iv) two heuristics for determining the order in which buffered single view based reconstructions are merged. Our experiments demonstrate that visually appealing results are obtained in a speedy manner which does not require specialist knowledge or expertise from the user.

Mobile devices supported learning for novice programmers

Mobile learning is considered to be an advanced stage of E-learning. Mobile devices supported learning provides teaching materials anytime, anywhere, and eliminates space and time constraints for learners. Mobile devices-supported learning includes all portable devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, tablet PCs, and e-books. This paper aims to investigate the issue from a different perspective. Firstly, we consider how many novice programmers have personal mobile devices and what type of mobile devices they are using (PDA, tablet PC, e-book). Secondly, we consider whether the Buraimi University College (Oman) Information Technology infrastructure supports mobile learning. Thirdly we consider students' behavior and attitude towards mobile devices supported teaching materials. For this purpose, the survey method will be used as a research tool to collect responses from 1st year students enrolled in introductory programming courses at the Information Technology department of Buraimi University College. This paper also describes a set of findings which helps instructors to take steps to promote mobile learning for novice programmers.