User-centred Immersive Learning Spaces

High Definition (HD) devices, together with Ultra HD devices, are quickly gaining consensus in a large number of fields and applications, in particular in the entertainment field, making the user experience more immersive and enjoyable. In spite of the large potentials that such immersive user experience could have in the world of ICT based learning, its adoption has not yet been exploited in this sector. In addition, the existing e-learning and digital platforms show a number of limitations for the user interface, context of use, teaching and learning model as well as limitations on the content creation and distribution features. In particular, in traditional eLearning systems there is a distinct separation of roles between the domain experts (i.e. the teachers), the developers of multimedia educational content (i.e. the multimedia editors) and the learners, which results in a waterfall type of information transfer from the teachers to the learner. Due to the heavy involvement of multimedia editors in several steps of the eLearning production chain, this separation of roles makes the current production and updating of the courses often time-consuming and expensive. Being User centered, hence the name “U”, Project U has the objectives of supporting new teaching/learning methodologies for enhanced learning experiences by means of a technological platform that fills the above mentioned gaps and facilitates content distribution and user interaction. Its main pillars are touch interfaces, blended context and adaptability supporting the students in the classrooms, at home and on the move, and easiness of content creation and smart distribution/sharing features. The U project will be a platform that becomes a new channel for academic and private content providers to market and monetise their know-how.