Liberated Learning Partners in Europe:
The University of Ulm , Germany
Overview:
The University of Ulm was founded as a university of medicine and natural sciences in 1967. It is the newest university in Baden-Wuerttemberg and an important link to the research-oriented Science City of Ulm. There are currently around 7.200 students at the University, spread out over four faculties.
The Institute of Distributed Systems is engaged in research and teaching of the different facets of distributed systems and operating systems - ranging from the physical transmission between two computers to interactive 3D-worlds. The main focus lies in the development of lean systems, distributed operating systems, middleware and platforms for virtual presence helping to convey content of teaching.
Virtual worlds in the style of "Snow Crash" (Stephenson) or "Second Life" are currently emerging on the Internet creating the social challenge to offer rich interpersonal encounters in virtuality. The aim is to put into practice the exchange of virtual objects, avatars and a natural communictaion between separate 3D worlds. Access to these worlds is not only desirable from desktop PCs but also from mobile devices with different characteristics and abilities. Platforms for virtual presence make use of latest hard- and software, but need to be complemented by social regulations, an appropriate dramaturgy and cognitive studies in the virtual world.
The "Wissenheim" project is an interactive 3D world intended to provide a learning and leisure environment. The representation of the participants by avatars suggest a direct form of "virtual present" facilitating encounters in the virtual world. There are approx. 30 topics, interactive animations and social scenarios which have already been implemented in context of internships and courses. By participating in the Net4Voice project, the institute of distributed systems has become a new member of the Liberated Learning consortium. Therefore, we have the opportunity to integerate speech recognition technologies to improve accessibility of lecture material. Beside the graphics aspects of the "Wissenheim" project, we hope that these concepts will enhance our teaching furthermore.
Therefore, our institute will apply, test and evaluate the methodologies developed so far by the universities of Bologna and Southampton in its courses and contribute to the respective knowledge body. A close cooperation with the Volkshochschule Ulm, an adult education institution, will help to evaluate the application of the given methodologies and concepts to different educational settings.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Peter Schulthess
Institut für Verteilte Systeme
Universität Ulm, O-27/350
James-Franck-Ring 1
89069 Ulm, Deutschland
Email: peter.schulthess@uni-ulm.de
Scientific Staff:
Alexander Weggerle
Email: Alexander.Weggerle@uni-ulm.de
Patrick Schmidt
Email: patrick.Schmidt@uni-ulm.de
Universität Ulm Website: http://www.uni-ulm.de/
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