Search results for "Virtual"

A multi-sensor multi-rate algorithm for motor rehabilitation with Augmented Reality devices

2016

Using Augmented Reality (AR) could offer stimuli to rehabilitation from neuro-motor disorders, since the patient can be aided in a better known reality than Virtual Reality (VR). The main goal for an AR system is to achieve a good quality of tracking the real object to align with virtual contents. Often a single sensor could not provide enough information to that end due to a low updating rate; therefore joining an other high updating rate sensor could be indispensable, but how to combine data from different sensors especially when they work all at different rates? In this paper an approach based on recursive parameter estimation, focusing on multi-rate tracking in AR devices is suggested. …

Structure and performance assessment in traditional face-to-face and blended learning statistics courses

2014

Abstract In recent years the number of higher education institutions offering blended learning courses has increased notably. Blended learning is understood as the combination of traditional face-to-face teaching with online and distance learning. During the 2012- 13 academic year, for the first time, the Information and Documentation degree course at the University of Barcelona included a blended learning format in its course in statistics. The blended learning course combined biweekly face-to-face classes and online work between sessions. This study describes the organization of the blended course in comparison with the traditional face-to- face course and presents preliminary data on stu…

From technology engineering to social engineering

2007

Virtual worlds have a long history, and it also includes various technologies. Yet research interest towards them has diverged over the years. It seems that nowadays they are on focus again with the evolution of socially oriented and community-supporting virtual worlds. Instead of technical factors, human factors and the motivation behind the use are highlighted. In this paper, we will briefly review the research efforts made in the 90's, and derive a set of themes that were of interest back then. Next, we will expand the set by arguing for newer themes, identified in the latest information systems literature. These two sets of themes form a basis of a research agenda for studying virtual w…

Human-centred Assembly: A Case Study for an Anthropocentric Cyber-physical System

2014

Abstract To engineer the factory of the future the paper argues for an anthropocentric cyber-physical reference model that assimilate in an integrated, dynamic, structural and functional way all the required components (i.e. physical, computational and human) of a synthetic hybrid system. This is due to the real need to design large-scale complex systems that accommodate the latest achievements in factory automation where the human is not merely playing a simple and clear role inside the control-loop, but is becoming a composite factor in a highly automated system (“man-in-the-mesh”). The concept is demonstrated by instantiating our anthropocentric cyber-physical reference model in a concre…

Uncertainty Management in the measurements performed by means of virtual instruments

2008

The uncertainty management is the discipline of optimising the cost of a measurement versus the uncertainty target. In particular, the paper deals with the measurements performed by using a generic virtual instrument. The task is achieved by using the PUMA (procedure for uncertainty management) method that is an iterative technique originally conceived for geometrical and mechanical measurements. The approach is completely based on the "guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement" rules, but provides a more engineering methodology, since it allows to optimize the cost of the measurements versus the uncertainty target, avoiding the use of inadequate or, on the contrary, too expensi…

Can the effective number of bits be useful to assess the measurement uncertainty?

2003

The effective number of bits (ENOB) is a well know parameter, employed to characterize the overall behavior of an A/D converter. In order to verify if the ENOB can be also used to assess the measurement uncertainty of the A/D conversion based instruments, we use a developed software tool. The results show that using the ENOB can lead to an underestimate of the uncertainties.

VirDe: A new virtual reality design approach

2008

Virtual reality (VR), even if it does not represent any more a novel technology, is one of the most powerful tool to help designers during the development of new projects. This is proved by very numerous research activities related to this field. In this research, we have studied a new way to approach the development of a product. We present the ongoing development of a system, called VirDe, acronym of virtual design, which can allow the designers to perform the whole design process, from the modelling phase to the finite element method (FEM) simulation analysis, in a virtual reality environment. This new method allows remarkable time and money saving in the overall product design process, …

MARL-Ped: A multi-agent reinforcement learning based framework to simulate pedestrian groups

2014

Abstract Pedestrian simulation is complex because there are different levels of behavior modeling. At the lowest level, local interactions between agents occur; at the middle level, strategic and tactical behaviors appear like overtakings or route choices; and at the highest level path-planning is necessary. The agent-based pedestrian simulators either focus on a specific level (mainly in the lower one) or define strategies like the layered architectures to independently manage the different behavioral levels. In our Multi-Agent Reinforcement-Learning-based Pedestrian simulation framework (MARL-Ped) the situation is addressed as a whole. Each embodied agent uses a model-free Reinforcement L…

eCity: Virtual City Environment for Engineering Problem Based Learning

2015

The main objective of the eCITY project is to design, develop and validate a pedagogical methodology, supported by an online, collaborative, city-development simulation engine (Simcity like) that stimulates the integration and continuous exploitation of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in engineering and science schools but, at the same time, fostering the interest for these orientations in secondary school students. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/HEAd15.2015.447

2019

This article analyses the design, implementation, and evaluation of a nation-wide project to create a common digital solution for university teaching staff’s pedagogical training in Finland. During three years, eight universities collaborated in developing an online learning platform called UNIPS, the University Pedagogical Support system. The areas to develop were A) a learning platform based on technical design principles, B) pedagogical principles, and C) broadening the scope of offered studies. The results have been promising. With a carefully planned timetable, all participating universities were able to produce, test, and offer UNIPS modules in collaboration with other universities …