SmartDesk

SmartDesk(Applet Interface)

SmartDesk is another specialized interface. SmartDesk is what we are calling an "instrumented learning environment." This means that the SmartDesk interface is embedded with an array of monitoring systems which keep track of how a user performs in a specific content area. SmartDesk was originally designed for a young girl with an extreme form of mental retardation. Added to this, her sensori-motor abilities were very impaired. She has problems with cognition, attention, speech, recall, movements and a host of others. Normal computer interface methods were useless to her. We figured her case would allow us to do a couple of things.

  • build a physical interface which she could actually use [images of smart desk]
  • build special performance tracking features into the software so we could keep a close watch on how she was doing with respect to specific learning goals.

Concerning goal #1, the first thing we did was to implement a touch screen. Simply allowing her to interact directly with the elements on the screen was a big step. The implication of this step was that any interface method (e.g., joystick, pressure sensors, etc) used by any user to get around and to express information could be plugged into the system and be beneficial because of the software, goal #2.

Goal #2 is the second and very crucial aspect of SmartDesk. Tracking a user's navigation through content, from an educational perspective, is a wonderful tool. In the case of the retarded student, her teachers and aids could put together content tailored to her impaired cognitive abilities. Specific tasks could be programmed for the student to perform at the promptings of the system. As the student interacts, now using the specialized input methods, the system records parameters such as

  • correct & incorrect answers
  • time elapsed between answers
  • areas in the content showing strenght & areas showing weakness
  • performance over weeks and months

Data generated by the system is of immense value to the educator, right? Knowing what is and is not getting assimilated helps one to deliberately focus and engineer methods to build up the weak muscles, as it were.

As things turned out, we learned that the concept of the SmartDesk was just too good to not be generalized. Working to make the system generic, we came up with a universal learning tool. Anticipated areas for the use of a generic learning environment like SmartDesk.

  • science and math education
  • foreign language aquisition
  • law
  • medicine
  • any other area where one needs to master knowledge based skills

 Since deciding to make SmartDesk into a generic learning interface it is advancing steadily towards use over the World Wide Web as either a stand alone or a real time collaborative application.