researResearch - Télécom Bretagne

h Research
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RESEARCH
a needs analysis of project-based pedagogy, it
appears that collaborative and cooperative
learning modes are the foundation of the
pedagogic challenges. Integrating all the rich
new technological developments in pervasive
computing now allows us to envisage mobile
learning as a concrete application of the theories
of situated learning. Moreover, we hope that this
research will have a concrete impact on
improving the quality of our teaching practice.
Semantic information systems
This theme was developed in the "GET
semantics" project, financed by the Telecom
Foundation. The subject is the design of a
semantic information system to manage
research in the Telecom Institute. This is based
on semantic web technologies. The aim is to
organise and structure different categories of
information connected to research and to the
organisation of our institute. The different
categories of information are specifically : the
schools, the departments, the defining projects,
the people, competences, etc. This information is
structured according to different grids of analysis
or classifications which organise and allow
« indexing » : activity areas, activity programmes,
sectors, systems, disciplines and aspects.
Several ontologies representing the organisation
of the institute, the categories of people, the
defining projects and the classifications have
been developed. The corresponding data, present
in the institute's information system, have been
integrated into our semantic information system
demonstrator.
Access to the semantic information system is
gained through a web site based on
environments and tools such as Tomcat, Servlet,
Jsp and Ajax, along with a knowledgemanagement
system called Ontobroker. The
latter allows the management of ontologies and
of the triple « RDF » corresponding to the data
coming from the institute's current information
system. This site is structured using the
information categories available, grids of
analysis and a prototypical typology of
information search activities – which are not
exhaustive, but representative of the possibilities
offered by these types of environments and
technologies. The methodology of semantic
information system design from ontologies and
object models – for the interaction components
– allows the extension and simplified
maintenance of the system.
Thematic virtual museum
For some years, SCRIPtureS has been involved in
the theme of cultural heritage. The development
of a thematic virtual museum (on the theme of
the Annunciation) is now a reality
(www.annunciation.gr) ; the Greek version , as
the project was carried out with Greek partners,
within the framework of a national project ; the
English version is under development. This is
probably a rare, possibly unique, case worldwide
(typically current virtual museums are
showcases for museums which already in
existence; thematic virtual museums are not
easily found on the WEB). The virtual museum we
have developed takes up the research questions
which are at the heart of the SCRIPtureS project :
domain ontologies ( byzantine painting : some
30000 concepts indexed), indexing and semantic
information search, contextualisation and
adaptation to a variety of types of visitor, multiscenario
development of navigation through the
works, readings at different levels etc., extends
to questions of ergonomy, and develops
Human/Machine interaction to a level where the
amateur and the art historian can coexist
without exclusion, through interfaces which give
a view of the structure in a very intuitive way. On
the other hand, it can implement three history of
art teaching models (the work seen from a
distance, studied through its details or as an
element of a larger collection). Through this, the
research question of the virtual museum is that
of CEHL (the visit is only a journey and finally an
oblique lesson, only it is the visitor who organises
his or her navigation). SCRIPtureS intends to
continue this activity which already appears to be
attracting interest from culture professionals.
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