Τι είδους συσκευές απτικής ανάδρασης και εφαρμογές χρειαζόμαστε στην εκπαίδευση; Οι απαιτήσεις, οι προδιαγραφές και η εμπειρία που αποκομίσθηκε από ένα IST πρόγραμμα

Abstract

In this paper the question whether Haptics technology (virtually touching objects and feeling forces), could be effectively implemented in the teaching procedure is studied, as well as if this technology can be used in improving the understanding of certain scientific concepts. Under the framework of an IST European program called MUVII, a new haptic device was designed especially for educational purposes and a prototype was implemented. This device was designed after thorough consideration of the educational needs. During this process, the most important parameters of the end user requirements were drawn up, and the functionality of the end product was discussed with a team of educational experts (the team also included teachers). These requirements were converted into specifications for a large scale system, called the Interactive Kiosk Demonstrator (IKD). ΙKD’s objective was to demonstrate new interactive paradigms forming a novel integration of the following modalities: 3D-vision, 3D-audio and haptic (force, torque, and tactile) feedback. For the application software design (focusing especially on the context of science education) the educational needs of the end users were thoroughly analyzed and evaluated and, subsequently, some applications were designed and developed. These applications have been used and tested by students of different ages, and their teachers, for a period of over three months in order to divulge the benefits and the drawbacks of the haptic device as well as the applications. Some remarkable results were derived from the users’ feedback, which support the view that haptic interfaces can be significantly beneficial to the students’ education.