Development of a networked study desk for tele-communication

2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 16300261
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Educational technology
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: KUZUOKA Hideaki University of Tsukuba, Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, Professor, 大学院システム情報工学研究科, 助教授 (10241796)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YAMAZAKI Keiichi Saitama University, Department of Liberal Arts, Professor, 教養学部, 教授 (80191261) ; KATO Hiroshi National Institute of Multimedia Education, Research and Development Department, Professor, 研究開発部, 教授 (80332146) ; SUZUKI Hideyuki Ibaraki University, The College of Humanities, Professor, 人文学部, 教授 (20323199) ; YAMAZAKI Akiko Future University Hakodate, School of Systems Information Science, Associate Professor, システム情報科学部, 助教授 (00325896) ; YAMASHITA Jun University of Tsukuba, Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, Assistant Professor, 大学院システム情報工学研究科, 講師 (80345157)
• Project Period (FY): 2004 – 2006
• Keywords: collaborative learning / tele-conference / CSCW / CSCL / awareness / RFID / tele-communication

Research Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop a collaborative learning system for home use by interconnecting geographically distributed study desks via broadband network. For instance, the system 1) supports awareness of remote friends, 2) enable participants to share a physical material, 3) and later allow a participant to review previously undertaken sessions.
In order to realize the first function, we proposed the method to detect a user's work rhythm and express the rhythm by verbal expressions. Furthermore, using the RFID technology, we proposed to estimate subjects that a user studied by detecting textbooks on a desk. We expect that such information can be used as a trigger to start studying together.
In order to realize the second function, we developed a document camera that enables remote pointing with a remote controlled spotlight. Based on the experiments with the system, we further developed a document camera which consists of a LED projector and high resolution CCD camera. The system not only enabled to share the image of a document but also allowed a remote participant to draw lines on the document using the tablet PC and then project such lines directly on to the document.
In order to realize the third function, we first proposed to detect conversational features and calculate the candidate times for replaying the video. Also, by printing a unique 2D marker on each document, a remote user's drawings are related to the marker. Thus the drawings can be recalled later just by placing the document on the document camera.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] 言葉を使用したワークリズム提示手法の提案 (2005)
  • Author(s): 山越 恭子
  • Journal Title: ヒューマンインタフェース学会論文誌 7・1 Pages: 121-130
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Journal Article] Proposal of a Method to Share the Work Rhythms by Word (2005)
  • Author(s): Yamagoe, K., Kuzuoka, H.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Human Interface Society 7-1 Pages: 121-130
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Journal Article] タンジブルアバタを利用したVR空間ナビゲーションインタフェースの評価 (2004)
  • Author(s): 藤門 千明
  • Journal Title: 日本バーチャルリアリティ学会論文誌 9・2 Pages: 123-130
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Journal Article] Evaluation of Tangible Avatar Interface for VR Space Navigation (2004)
  • Author(s): Fujimon, C., Makoto, A., Jun, Y., Kazuhiro, Y., Kuzuoka, H., Hirose, M.
  • Journal Title: Transactions of the Virtual Reality Society of Japan 9-2 Pages: 123-130
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より