Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Grant
Graphics, Touch, and Learning
Touching scenes: intelligent haptic guidance for supporting learning with complex graphic displays
Summary
Complex visual information is a defining feature of 21st Century life because advances in graphics display technology permeate all aspects of our society. For Australian citizens to prosper in a world reliant on rich informational graphics, they must be able to use these depictions effectively and efficiently. Touch based approaches, using a haptic tablet, could facilitate processing of key visual information in challenging circumstances where displays are complex or vision is limited. Improving visually based performance and learning will benefit education and training, increase productivity and safety across the industrial, professional and service sectors, enhance security monitoring, and broaden community information access.
Funding
This project is supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Curtin University and the University Dundee (United Kingdom) under the national ARC Discovery Grant Scheme.
Location
In Australia, the project operates from the Department of Education within Curtin University. In the United Kingdom, it operates within the School of Psychology, University of Dundee.
Personnel
Professor Richard Lowe, Curtin University, Chief Investigator
Dr Madeleine Keehner, University of Dundee, Partner Investigator
Contacts
Address correspondence to:
Professor Richard Lowe, Department of Education, Curtin University of Technology
GPO Box U 1987, Perth WA 6845 Australia
or email to: R.K.Lowe@curtin.edu.au
Graphics, Learning and Dynamics
A 'smarter image' for educational multimedia: Improving learning of dynamic content with animated and static graphics
Summary
Animated images were once used largely for entertainment but are now increasingly a feature of multimedia information and education systems. However, recent research casts doubt on animation's assumed superiority over static pictures for facilitating understanding. This project investigates how animations should be designed, supported, and used in order to fulfil their vast potential for explaining and instructing. It examines in fine detail how people with different backgrounds actually use animations when trying to comprehend familiar and unfamiliar topics. Research-based guidelines will be produced on how to design effective animations and animated-static graphic blends for use in multimedia.
Funding
This project is supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Curtin University and the University of Koblenz-Landau (Germany) under the national ARC Discovery Grant Scheme.
Location
In Australia, the project operates from the Department of Education within Curtin University. In Germany, it operates within the Department of General and Educational Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau.
Personnel
Professor Richard Lowe, Curtin University, Chief Investigator
Professor Dr Wolfgang Schnotz, University of Koblenz-Landau, Partner Investigator
Contacts
Address correspondence to:
Professor Richard Lowe, School of Education, Curtin University of Technology
GPO Box U 1987, Perth WA 6845 Australia
or email to: R.K.Lowe@curtin.edu.au
