Open Access

In this paper we suggest to combine the areas of media streaming services, mobile devices, and manufacturing processes to support monitoring, controlling and supervising production processes in order to achieve high levels of efficiency and environmentally friendly production. It contains a comprehensive and detailed explanation of the proposed E-Learning streaming framework, especially the adaption of streaming services to mobile environments. The key components of our approach are 1) an XML-based streaming service specification language, 2) adaption of multimedia E-Learning services to mobile environments, and 3) a media delivery platform for searching, registration, and creation of streaming services for mobile devices.

The goal of eLearning services integration in manufacturing is, through the development of new multimedia solutions, to accelerate and enhance the ability of the manufacturing industry to capitalise on the emergence of a powerful global information infrastructure. The key components of our approach are: (1) an XML based streaming service specification language; (2) automatic configuration of distributed eLearning streaming service implementations; (3) a set of Web services for searching, registration, and creation of streaming services; (4) caching and replication policies based on timing information derived from the service specifications. We also introduce a new concept for cache management during runtime, e.g., content is distributed to cache servers located at the edge of a network close to the client.

This paper presents a streaming-based E-Learning environment where closer integration between learning and work is achieved by integrating multimedia services into manufacturing processes. It contains a comprehensive and detailed explanation of the proposed E-Learning streaming framework, especially the adaption of streaming services to mobile environments. We first analyze several scenarios where E-Learning streaming services can be integrated into manufacturing processes. To allow systematic and tailor-made integration, we develop a model and a specification language for E-Learning streaming services and apply the model using practical scenarios from real manufacturing processes. Adaption of multimedia streaming services to mobile devices is discussed based on Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL). Last, we comment on the benefits of using E-Learning streaming services as part of manufacturing processes and analyze the acceptance of the developed system. The key components of our E-Learning environment are 1) an xml based streaming service specification language, 2) adaption of multimedia E-Learning services to mobile environments, and 3) Web Services for searching, registration, and creation of E-Learning streaming services.

Most E-Learning projects tend to separate learning activities from everyday work. This paper presents an approach where closer integration between learning and work is achieved by integrating multimedia services into manufacturing processes. The goal of E-Learning services integration in manufacturing is, through the development of new multimedia solutions, to accelerate and enhance the ability of manufacturing industry to capitalise on the emergence of a powerful global information infrastructure. In this paper we suggest to combine the areas of media streaming services and manufacturing processes, by providing electronic learning offerings as collections of media streaming services. The key components of our approach are 1) an xml based streaming service specification language, 2) automated configuration of distributed E-Learning streaming applications, 3) web services for searching, registration, and creation of E-Learning streaming services.

The central purpose of this paper is to present a novel framework supporting the specification, the implementation and retrieval of media streaming services. It provides an integrated service development environment comprising of a streaming service model, a service specification language and several implementation and retrieval tools. Our approach is based on a clear separation of a streaming service specification, and its implementation by a distributed application and can be used for different streaming paradigms, e.g. push and pull services.

Ein besonderes Merkmal mobiler Dienste ist die Möglichkeit, kontextuelle Gegebenheiten, wie etwa die individuelle Benutzungssituation, bei der Diensterbringung zu berücksichtigen. Mit der Entkoppelung von Lernort und -zeit lässt sich eine Flexibilisierung des Lernprozesses und zugleich eine Integration in reale Arbeitsprozesse, wie z.B. Fertigungsprozesse, erreichen. Durch dieVerwendung mobiler Geräte sind Lernmaterialien direkt am Ort des Geschehens verfügbar. Ziel des kontextbezogenen Lernens ist es daher einen unmittelbaren Zusammenhang zwischen den angebotenen Lernmedien und der Situation, in der sich der Lernende befindet, herzustellen. Existierende Kategorie-Systeme zurKlassifizierung von Kontext genügen dieser Anforderung in der Regel nicht. In diesem Beitrag beschreiben wir Szenarien für kontextbezogenes mobile Learning am Beispiel von Fertigungsprozessen sowie Lösungsansätze für kontextbezogene mobile Dienste.

Visual programming languages (VPL) let users develop software programs by combining visual program elements, like lists of objects, loops or conditional statements rather than by specifying them textually. Humanoid robots programming is a very attractive and motivating application domain for students, especially for programming beginners. Humanoid robots are constructed in such a way that they mimic the human body by using actuators that perform like muscles. Typically, a humanoid robot consists of sensors and actuators, i.e. torso, a head, two arms, and two legs, though some humanoid robots may replicate only part of the body, for example, from the waist up. In some cases, humanoid robots are equipped with heads designed to replicate additional human facial features such as eyes. Additional sensors are needed by a robot to gather information about the conditions of the environment to allow the robot to make necessary decisions about its position or certain actions that the situation requires, e.g. an arm movement or an open/close hand action. Other examples for sensor are reflective infrared sensors used to detect objects in proximity. In this work, we introduce a use-case centered approach based on sensors and actors of a robot and a workflow model to visually describe the sequence of actions including conditional actions or concurrent actions. We provide an in-depth discussion of a new VPL based teaching method for programming humanoid robots based on VPLs. Open research challenges, limits and perspectives for further development of our teaching approach are discussed as well.

Sensors and actuators enable creation of context-aware applications in which applications can discover and take advantage of contextual information, such as user location, nearby people and objects. In this work, we use a general context definition, which can be applied to various devices, e.g., robots and mobile devices. Developing context-based software applications is considered as one of the most challenging application domains due to the sensors and actuators as part of a device. We introduce a new development approach for context-based applications by using use-case descriptions and Visual Programming Languages (VPL). The introduction of web-based VPLs, such as Scratch and Snap, has reinvigorated the usefulness of VPLs. We provide an in-depth discussion of our new VPL based method, a step by step development process to enable development of context-based applications. Two case studies illustrate how to apply our approach to different problem domains: Context-based mobile apps and context-based humanoid robot applications.

Learning programming fundamentals is considered as one of the most challenging and complex learning activities. Some authors have proposed visual programming language (VPL) approaches to address part of the inherent complexity [1]. A visual programming language lets users develop programs by combining program elements, like loops graphically rather than by specifying them textually. Visual expressions, spatial arrangements of text and graphic symbols are used either as syntax elements or secondary notation. VPLs are normally used for educational multimedia, video games, system development, and data warehousing/business analytics purposes. For example, Scratch, a platform of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is designed for kids and after school programs. Design of mobile software applications is considered as one of the most challenging application domains due to the build in sensors as part of a mobile device, like GPS, camera or Near Field Communication (NFC). Sensors enable creation of context-aware mobile applications in which applications can discover and take advantage of contextual information, such as user location, nearby people and objects, and the current user activity. As a consequence, context-aware mobile applications can sense clues about the situational environment making mobile devices more intelligent, adaptive, and personalized. Such context aware mobile applications seem to be motivating and attractive case studies, especially for programming beginners (“my own first app”). In this work, we introduce a use-case centered approach as well as clear separation of user interface design and sensor-based program development. We provide an in-depth discussion of a new VPL based teaching method, a step by step development process to enable programming beginners the creation of context aware mobile applications. Finally, we argue that addressing challenges for programming beginners by our teaching approach could make programming teaching more motivating, with an additional impact on the final software quality and scalability. The key contributions of our study are the following: - An overview of existing attempts to use VPL approaches for mobile applications - A use case centered teaching approach based on a clear separation of user interface design and sensor-based program development - A teaching case study enabling beginners a step by step creation of context-aware mobile applications based on the MIT App Inventor (a platform of Massachusetts Institute of Technology) - Open research challenges and perspectives for further development of our teaching approach References: [1] Idrees, M., Aslam, F. (2022). A Comprehensive Survey and Analysis of Diverse Visual Programming Languages, VFAST Transactions on Software Engineering, 2022, Volume 10, Number 2, pp 47-60.