“Mono-Gatari Project”
You may have never imagined it possible but now, objects (mono) will talk (gatari) to you! In the future, the whole neighborhood will become a museum of such objects.
What we propose is a new interface for learning. In this project, if you mount a wearable display, by just touching and grasping the object in your desired way, your wearable display will play pictures and sound. BEAT has developed a basic technology to make this possible with a “grip recognition system” (patent obtained) using an RFID (wireless IC tag).
“Oyako de Science Project”
BEAT has developed a teaching program for parents and children (oyako) to conduct science experiments. This relies on the support of mobile phones. These materials for the teaching of science have made it possible for students to comprehend the nature of “light.” Here “Oyako de Science” involves three weeks of all sorts of miniature science experiments that are conducted by parents and children at home. The key feature of these teaching materials is not the text of the experiments or the quiz function it has, but the use of mobile phones that report the child's learning progress to the parents. Mobile phones act as tools to provide parents with an opportunity to praise and think together with their children.
“Kids K-tai Project”
This is a research project on the usage of mobile phones (k-tai) in linking schools with homes. We want to investigate what changes will occur in day-to-day learning and communication with surrounding adults when the time comes that all children own a mobile phone and that it becomes natural for them to bring it to their elementary schools.
With the cooperation of Ochanomizu University Elementary School, mobile phones have been used in various situations in class and at home learning. We are studying the role that mobile phones will play if they serve to provide a link between school, home and elsewhere in extra curriculum as well as school activities.
“e-CC Project”
e-Learning for Curriculum Coordinator
Our aim is to develop an e-Learning program for teachers who are leaders in developing curricula for classes that are geared for “innovative integrated studies.”
The object is to enhance the capabilities of such teachers as class coordinators.
Coordinators who live apart from each other are learning about class curricula through electronic bulletin boards and multi-site videoconferencing.
“Skaal Project”
In this society of aging and life-long learning, the focus here is on one crucial theme, the learning activities of the elderly. We have developed a program of learning through international exchange. In our present empirical experiment, seniors of Japan and Norway communicate and study with each other. After introducing themselves using video letters, they have exchanged e-mail and held videoconferences.