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The demographic revolution, rapid aging in Europe has raised the creation of innovation market as one of the most important elements in the European strategy. During 2006 VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland carried out a campaign called the Idea Movement of Aging Citizens, where mobile service ideas were collected from aging citizens for open use. The ground for the campaign was the fact that the aging persons are the best experts of their own needs and should thus have more say in the development of new mobile services. Around 4300 ideas were collected in 13 innovation workshops in Finland. About 750 aging citizens participated in these workshops. This paper presents experiences and lessons-learnt of using innovation workshops as a method for activating aging people to work as idea generators for mobile services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personalized services that provide users with adaptive information filtered from heterogeneous and numerous information makes human-computer interaction efficient. Although personalized services have been researched in the various, heterogeneous information and users have raised the problem of defining a generic user model that would be used as a basis for recommending personalized information. Moreover, it is difficult to share the users' information. In this paper, we propose ontology-based user preference model as one of the solution to resolve the problems. In our model, user preference is described in User Preference Description Language (UPDL) with various domain ontologies. UPDL is a simple and OWL-based description language that allows users to describe their preference over domain ontologies. It provides not only rich expressiveness, reusability and flexibility but also the novel personalized services that can access and utilize not only user preferences in the own service but also in other services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we describe the current threats and possibilities in the online environment from a user's perspective on basis of literary analysis and a set of user studies concentrating on online trust formation and expression. The work includes a review on the current level of understanding about online trust, what kind of research has been done and what the basic ingredients of trust might be in the future. By comparing the new results with results gained in 1999, we can see how the situation has been changing. The analysis is based on research conducted on trust between 1999 and 2007, utilising user studies, ethnography, cultural studies, aesthetics, and basic usability engineering as methods. We also include some discussion on the appropriateness of various methods available for studying online trust, and propose directions for new trust research as a field inside human-computer interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive technologies have widened access to the Web, by providing a non-visual representation of page content for blind individuals. However, restrictions imposed by screen readers and Braille output devices have led to the development of mental representations of a web page, which differ considerably from the visual layout. As a result, both blind and sighted users find it difficult to perform joint web-based tasks. In this paper, we have applied a structured participatory-based approach to develop haptic sensations to assist the collaborative process. Preliminary results are reported and on-going development is discussed. It is anticipated that findings from the study will inform a haptic framework, which will assist developers when designing an accessible collaborative interface, using the benefits which the sense of touch can offer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A validated questionnaire evaluating the attitude of Chinese people toward wireless applications in healthcare industry was administered to around 1,000 people from Oct. 2006 to Jan. 2007. Investigated subjects include people with different occupations and in different age levels. Investigated content covers preferred service types of wireless applications in healthcare, people's concerns towards the wireless services, etc. Investigated methods include interviewing and dispatching questionnaires. The objective of the survey is to assess people's acceptability and requirement toward wireless applications in healthcare industry, called Wireless e-Health or "WEHealth" for short. Result reveals that people's attitude toward WEHealth in China is positive basically; An overall analysis of questionnaires reveals some interesting results and some problems we should be pay more attention to in the future industrialization process of WEHealth systems and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even with the introduction of computer technology, paper-based artifacts remain ubiquitous in hospital settings. The need to manually transfer and update information from the physical to the digital realm is a common practice among hospital staff, which, although usually well managed, at times becomes a source for errors and inconsistencies. This paper presents an augmented patient chart system that preserves the use of paper and allows capturing information directly to the system through the use of a digital pen. An evaluation of the system with 22 volunteers indicates a significant reduction in the number of errors while reading information, a significant increment on the accuracy while annotating data, as well as a trend towards less time spent while annotating data on the digital paper. Based on our results, we argue that the design preserves the advantages associated with paper while increasing the availability of information and its trustworthiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, Google Website was taken as a Web prototype to get modified. Specialized Search Engine for the Blind (SSEB) was constructed with an accessible interface and some improved functions (i.e., searching assistance functions, user-centered functions, and specialized design for the blind). An experiment was conducted to verify the effect of SSEB. From experimental results, it's significant that users attained better performance in SSEB than in Google. Users also showed higher satisfaction with SSEB.This research proves that the consideration for designing an accessible website for the blind users is very important. It is expected that the users group of SSEB can be expanded to all visual-impaired people in the future. So that all people can keep pace with the changing World Wide Web, and make good use of all the Internet resources without disabilities and limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service business was classified into three categories. A design framework of user interface, especially screen design for the three categories of service was constructed roughly from viewpoint of theory of regulatory focus, transactional analysis (TA) and psychological impression. According to the three categories, three examples of screen design were designed roughly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical readiness has become a critical concern world wide. Threats across diverse operation environments, coupled with critical voids in both medical management and medical skills has made the development of new training and management tools and operational assessment methods for first-responders a high priority across global communities. That first response role incorporates a broad array of individuals providing field-based emergency medical services. As recently observed during and after the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina disaster in the United States, critical technological tools and training resources were not available to ensure that the involved first responders had pertinent information available to them to properly do their jobs. The deficiencies must be rectified in order to insure rapid response to natural and man made disasters. Tools that distribute knowledge to aid a range of first responders in evaluating a medical situation, guide them in the uniform collection and reporting of critical information and provide telemedicine clinical reach back to medical experts are essential components of today's medical preparedness. The Distributive Medical Curricula Architecture (DMCA) is designed to provide access to "just-in-time" training and streamline assessment and management of remote medical situations across military and civilian environments nationally and internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"In-Situ Ergonomics" which extended the direct observation method was discussed. It is the method of using a sensor for data collection. By observing all the situations in which a user works for a long period of time, this method can be used in order to improve service. As an example, the use situation of the electric pot with a communication function was analyzed. Various users' use situation over one electric pot was clarified. And the improvement proposal of service was shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce VoiceBlog, a blog reading browser based on the concept of universal design. Existing screen reading software used by blind people for PC access fails to support rapid understanding of the original blog structure and contents. VoiceBlog has a cascading user interface, hierarchically structured, and can well parse strictly-structured Web content such as blogs. It uses an audio user interface rule, which simplifies the comprehension of contents and menus (arrangement of contents based on construction, simplification, and navigation) to allow blind and weak-eyed people to comfortably access blogs. Blind people can use the keyboard to access all functions. The arrangement and design of icons, colors and correspondence to hi-contrast functions can be customized for the weak-eyed and color blind. Four blind and four weak-eyed people participated in trials of VoiceBlog. The results showed that it allows the blind to access blog contents easily because keyboard manipulations are similar to usual reading browsers and screen readers. The shapes and color of the icons are easy to recognize for weak-eyed people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Original methodology of service science, that combines three methods (obtaining service data using ergonomics methods, analyzing service data using statistical methods, improving service using information technology) was constructed. Service science approach was implemented for interactions with customers such as daily life observation, shopping behavior observation, and talk analysis, and for employee's nonroutine tasks, such as gas pipe construction work observation. The service science methodology improves customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction by improving productivity and safety of the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays online conference management systems are an essential tool for the organization of a conference. However, most such systems do not provide support for accessibility by disabled users. This paper discusses the design and development of a platform supporting the development of accessible conference management systems, focusing on accessibility integration through the use of an iterative approach. Accessibility issues as they ere raised during the evaluation procedure are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to e-Government services, such as welfare, housing and financial assistance is typically achieved through accessing, completing and submitting paper-based forms. Current UK e-Government strategies indicate that such service access forms will be made available online. With the aging population considered as a primary user of these services this paper promotes the need to establish older adults' online form design requirements. Building on previous research [see 8], the current investigation validates and extends previous online form design requirements for an aging user group. The paper opens with an overview of current UK e-Government initiatives and promotes the investigation of older adults' online form design requirements, not only to assist this vulnerable user group with independent living but also to support social inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there have been growing interest and activities of introducing wireless technologies into healthcare industry. Successful development and deployment of wireless e-Health (WEHealth) systems is geographically dependent in respect of national regulations, regional economic development, and available medial infrastructures and resources, etc. In this paper, the applications of wireless technologies into healthcare industry are investigated in China and UK respectively. Based on the case study of wireless healthcare in China and UK, this paper will analyze the impact of above mentioned factors on the integration of wireless technologies and healthcare applications, and propose possible solutions based on the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The video games are often inaccessible to disabled motor people of the upper limbs. The specialized games are limited choice of the set of accessible games. We present a new accessible technique of interaction: the Virtual Paddle. We designed it with a user-centered method. It is composed of three steps: questionnaire, brainstorming and paper prototypes. Next, we present the experiment to choose the optimized paddle. Finally we discuss the results and our perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is becoming a global epidemic. Obesity education, especially childhood obesity education, has become an issue for the public health community agenda in a lot of countries. In this paper we will report on an interactive educational toy we designed and prototyped for obesity education. We propose design refinements and marketing strategies to make the toy available to educate children more widely and effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the aging populations are increasing, there is a need to support non-visual interaction for them in surfing the World Wide Web. This paper discusses the efficacy for the design of Voice-Driven Browser, a voice-controlled, HTML document reader/browser for the WWW. Voice-Driven Browser comprises three significant components: voice recognition, voice generation and hypertext navigation. The purpose of the integrated voice-driven browser with 2D screen reader design is to provide aging people with convenience and efficiency that will bring the WWW to those with impaired vision problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes findings and design implications from user research intended to support software to address the Mute English phenomenon. This term refers to the many students in China whose English speaking ability lags far behind that of their reading and listening. Software designs for games are presented as a scalable solution to the problem. Games are a unique way to elicit speech input from children in a personalized educational setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hellenic American Union (HAU), in Greece, in collaboration with the Academy of Electronic Media at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in the USA, has developed Hellas Alive!©, an online language and culture learning platform for teaching Greek as a Foreign Language with emphasis on interactivity for language learning, cultural awareness, and communication. The platform comprises the Virtual School component, the Virtual City component and the cultural Playspaces component. Language learning takes place in the Virtual School which supports autonomous exploration, simulation, representation and collaboration, with rich multimedia content and synchronous and asynchronous learning tools. Its interface includes an expandable playlist that provides users with all the tools necessary for effective language learning. Such tools include unlimited options to read text, to listen to audio, to watch video or to see images, to record, to submit audio and text, to perform 23 different types of exercises with instant automated error feedback, to chat with other users, and to share material with other users. The platform also includes a variety of interfaces with additional information on language and vocabulary. Users can activate them every time they encounter the corresponding grammatical item or word. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to compare two types of group composition and their effects on collaborative learning of EFL writing in PBL lessons. Participants in the experiments were 60 students taking the researcher's basic writing classes in the fall semester, from September 2003 to January 2004. Outcomes of bimonthly automatic online writing assessments using My Access showed that group composition did affect writing learning outcomes. Small groups of learners with even distribution of levels of writing proficiency did outperform the groups with randomly mixed learners of varied levels of English writing proficiency. This finding indicated that when less capable learners collaborated with more capable learners in small group learning activities, the learning outcomes could be greatly enhanced. This implies that when taking the PBL approach in learning to write, groups composed of learners with evenly distributed levels of writing proficiency may achieve much better learning outcomes than randomly formed groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today e-Learning is an important educational tool with multiple benefits. However, to be suitable for a large audience the learning objects, courses, and other forms of e-Learning content should be easy to use for all students, regardless of disability. This paper describes problems often encountered by a blind person using screen reader and voice synthesizer when using e-Learning systems, and proposes guidelines for designers in order to develop more accessible systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E- Health is a developing area of major social, medical and economic importance especially for the elderly population and citizens of remote areas. Our objectives were to identify visualization methods for a patient-oriented system of collection, storage, and retrieval of coagulation function data, The research group included 25 elderly (72.2±5.5 years) and 25 young participants (30.4±4.9 years).The participants completed tasks based on different visualization models for data entry and follow-up of clinical information, in three experimental websites equipped with hidden tracking programs. We followed functional parameters (time, acuity), subjective parameters (preference, satisfaction) and physiological parameters (pulse, skin temperature, sweating, respiratory rate, and muscle tension).Time for task completion was significantly longer in elderly compared to younger participants in all experimental websites, without significant differences in accuracy. Yet, in specific tasks the elderly performed better than young participants. Specific suggestions for data entry and data visualization are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The report aims to answer a question how we can reduce a threat of isolation created by using a computer in free time. In the first part of the report the reasons of creating a state of isolation during work with a computer in free time were presented. Then potential results of this threat in the area of optimalisation of decisions made by participants were discussed. In the application part of the report results of research concerning a state of awareness of isolation as a threat were presented. The research was carried out on a group of students, chosen at random. A sociometric tool in a form of a questionnaire was applied in the research. The construction of the questionnaire was based on weights of attribution of emotional state, which isolation is. In the summary the authors presented the ways and methods of reducing results of the threat, which is isolation in the process of working with a computer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for knowledge has been an intricate part of the human psyche and, more often than not, we learn by sharing our experiences and combining our efforts. Collaboration is an important part of the learning experience, and when combined with the technological boom of present times, can be a platform for the future of continuous education. In this paper, we present our vision of a collaborative learning engine, which allows the users to collaborate in real time using their mobile devices, such as smart phones and/or PDAs. Our proposed collaborative learning engine will allow handheld devices to communicate among each other and share text, files, audio and video from different sources. In our initial design and development, we have addressed up to eight devices for streaming video and audio content, however other channels of collaboration can be extended for more users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented Reality (AR) applications are becoming increasingly available for everyday applications. In this paper, we concentrate on how to design and develop applications for educational purposes with the use of the ARToolkit and present an example from the area of human medicine. Since good Usability is essential, especially for non-expert end users, including both children and the elderly, we put particular emphasis on how to ensure good Usability. For both groups of end users, this technology has high potential and can be of great benefit. Within a small scale usability study amongst children, we could gain first experiences in their interaction with such applications. An essential factor is the notion of play, which could be beneficial to transport difficult learning material. On the basis of the gained insight, we provide an outlook for further work and we conclude that elderly could also benefit from this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents initial research on a new learnability assessment methodology. We propose the use of electroencephalography (EEG) to further improve usability testing. We discovered whether and to what extend there is a correlation between brainwave patterns and the learnability of the software used. Our central hypothesis is that learnability can be assessed by analyzing the rise and fall of specific frequency bands in electroencephalographic recordings. In order to collect empirical evidence for our hypothesis, we conducted an experiment with N=32 participants. We developed a test environment comprising a low-cost EEG system and developed software for analysis and testing. Based on our findings, we consider our EEG-based learnability test applicable, either as a pre-test - in order to determine whether further testing is necessary - or as an augmenting method during standard usability testing. The users' emotions, registered on the EEG, can be applied as a baseline for detecting possible usability difficulties and employed in the development of a biological rapid-usability method for accessibility assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an interface of a Mini-Go-game (Go game with a 9x9 board) on a network for the blind is studied. If the Mini-Go-game on the Internet for the blind can be realized as a web application using PC or a cellular phone, it is easy to obtain an opponent without going out. Therefore, we introduce a pen input guide which correspond to a 9x9 board, and propose a co-operative system of a Mini-Go-game with sound feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper we present the first evaluation results obtained in the framework of ALPE (Accessible Learning Platform for Europe - EC-029328) a market validation project partially funded by the European Commission through the European Community Programme "eTEN". During the first three months of the project, ALPE service is being customised to the needs of end-users in Spain, the U.K. and Greece. In addition, a small scale test of the service has already been performed by a group of visually and hearing impaired and adult learners coordinated by SIDAR Foundation. In this paper we describe i) ALPE service, including the platform and the courses offered, ii) the validation process and iii) the results from the initial end-user evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children tend to learn language conventions through processing environment stimuli. Thus, strategies for reading comprehension are commonly used for this purpose. This paper introduces AudioStoryTeller, a tool for pocketPC to support the development of reading and writing skills in learners with visual disabilities (LWVD) through storytelling, providing diverse evaluation tools to measure those skills. We implemented usability and cognitive evaluation to the AudioStoryTeller software. In the usability evaluation, the easiness of use of the proposed hardware by LWVD was established. The goal of the cognitive evaluation was to measure the development of reading skills through interactive audio narrations using a pocketPC device. Results indicate that users were able to utilize effortless the pocketPC device. AudioStoryTeller software together with cognitive tasks, can contribute to the development of cognitive skills in LWVD. This application allows LVD to have access to unlimited scope of books not available in printed Braille. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study investigates, from the perspectives of learners and teachers, how e-learning is implemented in the domain of English for Academic Purposes (EAP), particularly in the teaching of reading and writing skills in universities and colleges in Israel. The study adapts Ben Shneiderman's [1] view that learner-centered measures should be used to evaluate educational progress. The study was conducted in a natural setting, using a grounded approach and qualitative interpretation of data. Teachers who used e-learning responded to open-ended questions about their practices. Their students responded to open-ended questions which explored their perceptions of learning outcomes in academic language courses. To elicit in-depth reflection, volunteer students and teachers were interviewed. The findings may lay the groundwork for future studies exploring how e-learning affects students' learning strategies, teacher/student relationships, the very nature of the classroom, to name but a few theoretical and pedagogical issues encountered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First year students coming into university are often puzzled by the expectations of university discourse. For students in the Academic Bridging Program (ABP) directed at mature and under-prepared students this is especially manifest; these same questions are often expressed by students in traditional first year university classes. This challenge has been assisted by the use of a web-enabled software program, iWRITE which displays examples of past student work of essay assignments along with detailed comments by course instructors. The subsequent success of students in acquiring not only structures and vocabulary to help them navigate this new world of academic discourse but also a heightened sense of self-efficacy supports the concept of observational learning by the technology-mediated provision of models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of the web-enabled software iWRITE in courses across the disciplines at several Canadian universities demonstrates that implementing instructional technology can lead faculty members to reconsider and reformulate their teaching methods. iWRITE operates in course-specific sites. It supports the integration of writing into disciplinary courses by displaying examples of past student work alongside grading criteria and instructor comments. Instructors unfamiliar with learning theory that validates the use of models may initially fear student copying or distrust the adequacy of student samples as guides, but many have rethought their assignments and strengthened other methods of instruction to take advantage of this method. In co-taught courses, selecting benchmark papers and formulating grading criteria requires examination of disciplinary values and frank discussion of standards. The effort of writing clear comments on the student samples also requires explicit formulation of disciplinary assumptions about the nature of knowledge and the relationship between writing and thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

M-learning takes advantage of the use of mobile technologies (i.e. mobile phones, personal digital assistants, handheld computers) and allows students to carry out activities in a variety of settings and according to different paces. The paper discusses the main changes and challenges brought about by the use of m-technologies in school contexts with a special attention on one hand to the limitations posed, and on the other to the possibilities for enhancing students' inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is still very little research about students' attitudes about e-learning. Such information seems to be necessary for a successful implementation of e-learning. Current research indicates that main advantages of e-learning are its flexibility and the provision of online learning material. A major drawback, as perceived by the students, is the lack of personal relationships. We conducted two focus groups to clarify these issues (N=54). The study supported the results from the literature. In addition, we found a few controversial issues as, e.g., preference for lectures/textbooks and tight schedules vs. preference for online learning and few deadlines. Another controversial issue was electronic assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly established Writing Center at the Hellenic American Union and the Hellenic American University is a breakthrough in what conventional Writing Centers entail in terms of both target audience and nature. It aims to address the needs of both the Hellenic American Union and the Hellenic American University students along with the general public for the improvement of academic, professional and writing The traditional role of Writing Centers-both in the USA and in Europe- is to offer academic writing assistance to students and help them develop their writing skills, for specific purposes or across the curriculum. The Writing Center at the Hellenic American University shares the same fundamental aims but extends its mission to a wider scope of applications and audiences, addressing the needs not only of the Hellenic American University students but also of the general public. Its services go beyond the traditional face-to-face, "paper-pencil" approach since assistance is provided through innovative design, e-equipment, and original software that encourage collaboration and individualized monitoring, both on site and on line. Thus, the Writing Center at the Hellenic American University aspires to become a showcase of how collaborative writing - defined in a variety of ways - is realized in terms of the cooperation among the particular Writing Center stakeholders and the learning outcomes involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a four-phase model for evaluating multi-media learning materials that emphasizes the diversity of learners and variations in instructional needs and user characteristics. The authors begin with an overview of the model, supporting evidence for its use, and key characteristics of users supported by each of the phases. They then focus on results of a current use that emphasized stage four, real-time usability, and show how they were able to document that the models under review met the needs of diverse learners and varied instructional strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are demands for improving accessibility in existing websites by enlarging text and changing the colors. Typical solutions use technologies such as ActiveX that can only run on a specific client environment. JavaScript is supported in many Web browsers, and it can be used to add new functions for improving the accessibility of existing websites. However, Web browsers prohibit JavaScript from accessing webpages of another domain, so it is difficult to improve accessibility for related websites spanning multiple domains. This paper describes a method that solves the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews several techniques we have discovered while trying to extend the Firefox browser to support people with visual, motor, reading, and cognitive disabilities. Our goal throughout has been to find ways to make on-the-fly transformations of Web content including adjustments of text and image size, text style, line and letter spacing, text foreground color, text background color, page background removal, content linearization, and reading text aloud. In this paper, we focus primarily on the changes we make to the browser's Document Object Model (DOM) to transform Web content. We review the kinds of approaches we have used to make DOM modifications sufficiently fast and error free. We highlight the problems posed by Web pages with a mix of static and dynamic content generated by client-side scripts and by Web pages that use both fixed and relative placement of page elements, pages of the sort we expect to see in increasingly in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work introduces a new concept of supporting elderly at their homes. The whole framework is being developed under OLDES project: Older People's e-services at home. OLDES aims at developing a very low cost and easy to use entertainment and health care platform designed to ease the life of older people in their homes. The platform is based on a PC corresponding to Negroponte's paradigm of a € 100 device, giving the guarantee of an affordable system. OLDES provides: user entertainment services, through easy-to-access thematic channels and special interest forums supported by animators; and health care facilities based on established Internet and tele-care communication standards. As an example of OLDES platform implementation, two pilot projects are addressed: 100 clients pilot including 10 people with cardiological problems in Bologna, Italy and diabetes pilot in Prague, Czech Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web-based learning environments are increasingly used to support lecture and seminar activities in blended learning courses and there is growing evidence to suggest a positive relationship between peer-to-peer learning activities and academic attainment. The role of web-based learning environments that are used as a learning-support tool is considered where the blended learning system goals of social interaction and personal agency within the context of web-based discussion boards are of particular interest. Using web-based learning community discussions as a case study we illustrate the role of personal agency and social interaction and how personalisation of the learning experience may be supported by the teachers. Our results are intended to inform teachers and the design of automated instructional agents, that will need to support personal agency and social interaction, to facilitate online student collaboration within the blended learning system context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intrinsic motivation to play, and therefore to learn, that might be provided by digital educational games teases researchers and developers. However, existing educational games often fail in their attempt to compete with commercial games and to provide successful learning. Often some learning is added to digital games or some gameplay is added to educational applications. Successful educational games, however, require merging professional game design with sound pedagogical strategies, creating a new hybrid format. Moreover, a methodology is required that allows continuously balancing gaming and learning challenges and the learner's abilities and knowledge in order to retain an immersive gaming experience. In this article we introduce approaches to game design and didactic design, as well as a framework for adaptive interventions in educational games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessibility implementation efforts are generally focused towards some typical user impairments and a few interaction devices for a particular user scenario. Whereas there are numerous factors in the prevalent context which can leverage the overall accessibility to its full potential, only if those are orchestrated together. In absence of a common and unifying approach the industry has little choice in abstaining from legacy and is therefore not very successful in producing universally accessible software. Exploiting enabling technology of Semantic Web, we present an approach by developing Connecting Ontologies for these different factors. Exemplars are developed to show its correctness and practicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to advance personal learning experience it is crucial to overcome the one-size-fits-all approach in user interface design and increase the e-learning systems intelligent behavior. Recent research has confirmed that user individual characteristics must be taken into account to accomplish that goal. This paper identifies user features relevant for system's adaptation in general. Aiming to investigate affect of those features on users' learning outcomes in e-learning environment in particular, an empirical study along with obtained results is reported as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When designing an e-learning system it is important to consider not only technical and resource related aspects, but user characteristics along with pedagogical and contextual issues as well. This paper proposes an approach to universal design within the e-learning environment able to address issues related to learner-centred design paradigm, context of use approach, individualized approach, pedagogical framework and guideline framework. A refinement from methodological point of view enhanced with the exemplification of approach's appliance is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes how the Unified Design method, originally conceived as a means for developing universally accessible user interfaces, can be adapted and applied to the development of universally accessible games. The basic steps for applying the method are presented and explained through illustrative examples. Furthermore, the key differentiations between designing turn-based strategy games and action games are highlighted and the related impact to the application of the design method is explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a system based on haptics and sound, to assist in teaching plane geometry to visually impaired pupils. So far the exploration of the geometric figure was performed with an haptic device and construction commands launched with a keyboard. This way of interaction (switching from a device to another) proved to be quite inefficient. This work aims at using exclusively an haptic device to both perceive and build a figure. To do so, command gestures are introduced to construct a figure. Then two questions arise: are command gestures haptically learnable (pupil's hand being haptically guided along the gesture)? Are command gestures usable to solve a task (here a geometry exercise)? Two experiments have been carried out to answer these questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of an evaluative study of the Korean e-Government portal from the usability perspectives, using a common set of performance metrics from user participation. For fourteen civil affairs service sites, 51 participants performed usability tests and post-test interviews. The results showed that even though the e-Government services are fairly attainable, it takes too many steps and long time for users to complete the given tasks. The overall success rate to complete the tasks on e-Government was 0.69 and it took more than 4 minutes and 12 page navigations on average to complete simple transactions. A strong digital divide could be observed in the use of e-Government services in that the users with different vocations and ages resulted in difference in perceived usability and actual performance. Results suggest that not only are there wide variations in the usability for the services provided, but that significant work still needs to be undertaken in order to make the services of the e-Government more usable, particularly for the older users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital game-based learning has proven to be a useful and cost-effective alternative to the traditional classroom-based experience. However, current digital learning methods for young learners fail to engage audiences accustomed to interactive media. Moreover, most edutainment games do not offer players a situated learning experience, and those few that do, do not leverage the immensely popular online game market. This paper introduces a Belief Desire Intention (BDI) agent architecture for an online game Non-Player Character that encourages and stimulates situational learning in an online Role-Playing Game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) represent a particular kind of e-learning systems, which base their operation on the simulation of a human teacher in the learning and teaching process. With the advent of the mobile computing paradigm, m-learning systems, as the "portable and personal" fashion of e-learning, paved the way to the introduction of mobile intelligent tutoring. Mobile intelligent tutoring systems (MITSs) are targeted to fit into a mobile learner's daily routine without disrupting her/his other activities, but conversely enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of learning in the context of handheld terminals of restricted capabilities. As in the non-portable ITS counterparts, MITSs' tasks are taken over by agents, making them agent-based systems. In this paper we discuss the mobile intelligent tutoring paradigm, as well as the agent types to be used in the m-learning environment along with the presently affordable agent infrastructure enabling MITS implementation, and corroborate this with the description of a mobile intelligent tutoring model we are developing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]