This document discusses location-aware applications for learning. It describes location-based guides, games, and information that can enhance learning in specific locations. It also discusses how augmented reality and mobile apps can help students learn about locations by identifying landmarks and providing contextual information about the landscape directly in their view. New research is exploring how to capture and display media for distant landmarks using a 3D terrain map and computing the line of sight to identify salient features and provide information about what a student is looking at in the field.

1. Location aware applications for
learning
Mike Sharples
IET
With thanks to Liz FitzGerald, Tommy
Sweeney, Gary Priestnall and Sam Meek

2. • Learning in locations:
– Location-based guides
– Location-based information
– Location-aware games
• Learning about locations
– Augmented reality
– Field trip learning

3. Location-based guides
QR codes
© 2011 victuallers2
Derby Museum
London Zoo

4. Context-sensitive guide - CAGE
• Location-based content and
services
• Ultrasound tracking system
• Context awareness:
– which painting?
– how long?
– have I been there before?
Rudman P.D., Sharples M., Vavoula G.N., Lonsdale P., Meek J. (2008). Cross-context learning. In L. Tallon & K.Walker (ed.) Digital Technologies and
the Museum Experience: Handheld Guides and Other Media. Lanham, MD: Alta Mira Press, pp. 147-166.

5. Toponimo– Tommy Sweeney PhD research
Location aware language learning
• See nearby locations
(from Google maps
API)
• Click on a location

6. • Read words linked to
the location, with
definitions
• Add new words

7. • Change the definition
and pronunciation
• Add photo of the
word in context

8. • Share words,
definitions, photos,
pronunciations
• Rate words for
relevancy

9. Accompanying website

10. Learning about locations
• Geology
– E.g. rock formations,
glaciation, erosion
• Land use
– Forestry, farming, wind farms,
footpaths
• Tourism
– Local history, landmarks,
literature

11. Augmented reality (concepts)

12. Augmented reality (mobile apps)
Shows sights of
interest in the
direction of the
phone screen
Wikitude
Layar

13. Google Goggles: for major landmarks

14. Beyond AR:
Compute
What am I looking at? intersection of
line of sight
Compass with terrain
bearing and Identify
tilt salient
feature
Height
above
ground
3D Terrain map

15. Zapp: Sam Meek PhD research
Island
• Capture or display
media for distant
landmarks
• 3D Terrain model
• Compute line of
sight
• On a mobile
phone Information about Not woodland
what I’m looking at
Meek, S., FitzGerald, E., Priestnall, G., Sharples, M. (forthcoming) 'Field Trip Learning'. In Kinuthia, W. & Marshall, S. (Eds). On the Move: Mobile Learning for
Development. Information Age Publishing Inc., Charlotte, NC.

16. Learning about the landscape
From simple ...
Location-
specific
acetate,
generated
from a
computer
model of the
landscape

18. ... to complex

19. What the student sees: 3D high resolution
moving display, controlled by head movement,
showing the surrounding landscape with glacier
overlaid
Student on
field trip
looking at the
surrounding
landscape as
it was in the
Ice Age

20. Learning about locations
Easy to use
‘heads-up’ interpreting the location
not
‘heads-down’ accessing information