Curation-Over-Creation Trend Fuelling Pinterest http://t.co/3acolbvF #mscel #mscidel
A_L_T: ALT and AoC one day conference on 21 May in Birmingham about large scale curriculum redesign http://t.co/uSpXeMm8
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Technology which translates sign language into text is being developed by scientists in Aberdeen as part of a small business research initiative (SBRI) managed by JISC TechDis, a leading UK advisory service on technology and inclusion.
The software application is the first of its kind in the world which can be used on portable devices and allows users to customise sign language to their own specific needs.
The technology has the potential to transform how sign language users – from the profoundly deaf to those who have lost hearing in later life – communicate.
The development of the portable sign language translator is funded by £150K from the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) sponsored by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and managed by JISC TechDis. JISC TechDis has also facilitated user testing so that the products developed are fit for purpose.
Sal Cooke, JISC TechDis director says, “The fact that BIS and TSB entrusted the project management to us is a wonderful endorsement of our expertise. Our direct links with the learners who may benefit most ensures that the end product will be fully tested and fit for purpose.”
Computing scientists at Technabling, a spin-out company of the University of Aberdeen, are behind the technology which aims to bridge the gap between sign language and more standard forms of communication.
Dr Ernesto Compatangelo, a lecturer in computing science at the University of Aberdeen, and founder and director of Technabling said: “The aim of the technology – known as the Portable Sign language Translator (PSLT) - is to empower sign language users by enabling them to overcome the communication challenges they can experience, through portable technology. The user signs into a standard camera integrated into a laptop, netbook, Smartphone or other portable device such as a tablet. Their signs are immediately translated into text which can be read by the person they are conversing with.
Did you know? The number of people in the UK whose first or preferred language is BSL is estimated to be between 50,000 (Action on Hearing Loss) and 70,000 (British Deaf Association).
The team will now work to develop an app to be used on different devices including Smartphones, laptops and PC.
The tool has the potential to be used with a range of sign languages including British Sign Language (BSL) and Makaton.
Dr Compatangelo continued: “One of the most innovative and exciting aspects of the technology, is that it allows sign language users to actually develop their own signs for concepts and terms they need to have in their vocabulary, but they may not have been able to express easily when using BSL.”
“Whilst the technology has the potential to transform the lives of all sign language users, a key target market has been identified.
Find out more about the other projects in this investment programme on the JISC TechDis website
A new JISC report shows that text mining - a complex and innovative method of searching and analysing data - has huge potential benefits for the UK economy and knowledge base, but its use is being held back by copyright law and other barriers. Read the report
Sir Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, said of the recommendations in the report: "This is a complete no-brainer. This is scholarly research funded from the public purse, largely from taxpayer and philanthropic organisations. The taxpayer has the right to have maximum benefit extracted and that will only happen if there is maximum access to it."
Text mining draws on data analysis techniques such as natural language processing and information extraction to find new knowledge and meaningful patterns within large collections.
Torsten Reimer, JISC programme manager, explains, “Text mining is already producing efficiencies and new knowledge in areas as diverse as biological science, particle physics, media and communications. It has been used to hypothesise the causes of rare diseases and how pre-existing drugs could be used to target different diseases.
“The technique was also used recently to analyse the vast amount of text produced on websites, blogs and social media such as Twitter - where copyright holders allowed - and showed that the messages exchanged on Twitter during the English riots of 2011 were not to blame for inciting riots," added Torsten.
The business benefit of text mining is in identifying emerging trends, and to explore consumer preferences and competitor developments. Text mining is particularly used in larger companies as part of their customer relationship management strategy and in the pharmaceutical industry as part of their research and development strategy.
The report shows that such techniques could enable researchers in UK universities to gain new knowledge that would otherwise remain undiscovered because there is just too much relevant literature for any one person to read. Such discoveries could lead to benefits for society and the economy.
The UK has a number of strengths that put it in a good position to be a key player in text mining development, such as the existence of good framework conditions for innovation and the natural advantage of its native language.
Professor Douglas Kell, chief executive of the BBSRC, says, “This report shows the importance of implementing the recommendations of the Hargreaves Review as current copyright law is also imposing restrictions, since text mining involves a range of computerised analytical processes which are not all readily permitted within UK intellectual property law. In order to be ‘mined’, text must be accessed, copied, analysed, annotated and related to existing information and understanding. Even if the user has access rights to the material, making annotated copies can be illegal under current copyright law without the permission of the copyright holder.
“The report also shows that text mining can add enormous value to the benefit of the UK economy, as long as the text is freely available and unencumbered. Otherwise there is a real risk that we will miss discoveries that could have significant social and economic impact.”
Torsten added, “These laws are inhibiting text mining’s wider usage and making academic institutions nervous of taking it up. Without wider usage, the potential for text mining to generate gains for the economy and society cannot be exploited and the UK economy will be less able to take advantage of its strong public research base. There is a danger that the UK may be left behind as other countries such as Japan adopt a more liberal approach that encourages text mining usage.”
The report identifies a number of barriers that we need to overcome to make best use of text mining tools in the future. Firstly, text mining is a complex technical process that requires skilled staff; secondly it requires unrestricted access to information sources; thirdly copyright can be a barrier.
The report authors conclude that more work needs to be undertaken to raise awareness of the potential benefits and value of text mining to UK further and higher education.
An event at the Wellcome Trust last night started the process of looking at how publishers, researchers and policy makers can make this happen.
Read a blog post sharing opinions on the report from the event at the Wellcome Trust
Find out how this work fits in with JISC's planned investments
@OsbertL see something similar on this programme at http://t.co/XMyHcKIz "Forget Powerpointhttp://t.co/5BKLV7MV" #mscidel
#mscel #mscidel holyroodpark blog site is down at the moment - we know about this and are working to fix it ASAP. Apols for inconvenience.
A_L_T: "Freeing our journal from the ghetto of academic library subscriptions" by @mattlingard in the LSE Impact Blog #rlt #openaccess...
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A_L_T: At the deadline >250 proposals for inclusion in the #altc2012 conference programme - more than in 2011. Stragglers still coming in.
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A_L_T: Teaching Shakespeare: Joint RSC/Warwick U appointment to develop an international online teacher-development business http://t.co/iIARybJS
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“@RobinTeigland: 5th Annual Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference #VWBPE2012 Schedule http://t.co/vuL8QaHS” #mscel #mscidel
A_L_T: A profile of Maren Deepwell, who will be Chief Executive of ALT from May 2012 - http://t.co/qUs7xlVU
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A_L_T: Sitting in a bar with a really smart friend. What can Stanford’s free computer science courses tell us about the... http://t.co/5m8kpPH4
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A_L_T: Free CMALT webinar for candidates 16 March 2012, register at http://t.co/CYDSQFhv
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MT @learningtech: Forget Powerpoint: Five Alts for Student-Published Visual Analysis & Presentations. http://t.co/5BKLV7MV < nice #mscidel
Schmoller, Seb Sitting in a bar with a really smart friend. What can Stanford’s free computer science courses tell us about the future of online learning? In: LSIS Conference "Technology for Success", 8 March 2012. (Unpublished)
A_L_T: Apologies. Link to new Wilson/Randall learning spaces article in #rlt should have been to the HTML http://t.co/eFB04Bmj not the PDF.
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A_L_T: Apologies. Link to new Wilson/Randall learning spaces article in #rlt should have been to the HTML http://t.co/eFB04Bmj not the PDF.
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A_L_T: Just published in Research in Learning Technology "The implementation and evaluation of a new learning space" http://t.co/GbwComEk
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A_L_T: ALT-C 2012 - final call for proposals: There is now only one week to go before submissions close for proposa... http://t.co/jxrQm2Dh
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A_L_T: Final call for proposals for ALT-C 2012, deadline 12 March 2012. Guidelines and link to submissions at http://t.co/st25wUvE #alt2012
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A_L_T: Free REF-related seminar 20/3 - “How can we demonstrate the impact of learning technology research?” #ltrimpact http://t.co/qynDJZ44
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• Explore the case studies to understand how others are working
• Follow @JISC on Twitter this week for new and interesting open resources
• Keep up to date with #openeducationweek and #UKOER
The case studies are examples of how institutions working in an open way can enjoy cost savings, a better student experience and make resources easier to find.
The stories come from a range of staff around the UK working in colleges and universities and in various fields including research, teaching and information services, some of whom are planning events for open education week [link to blog].
Amber Thomas, programme manager at JISC, said: “These case studies paint a rich picture of how institutions are already making use of open approaches to further their distinctive missions. JISC is supporting many academics and managers in their exploration of new ways of working and the OER Programme in particular is highlighting some really innovative and forward-thinking work.”
The case study launch marks Open Education Week which is being coordinated by the OpenCourseWare Consortium.
Mary Lou Forward, chief executive of the OpenCourseWare Consortium said: “The vision of the OER movement is to improve teaching and learning globally through free and open sharing. OER give people access to the educational content they desire, independent of time or location. Open Education Week is going to showcase projects, resources, people and ideas so more people around the world can see its potential and its benefits.”
JISC project managers from across the UK are planning various events which you can get involved in around the UK – find out more here.
RT @mafrado: Presence & Identity in Virtual Worlds - @MarkChilds 5March 9pmUKtime in #secondlife http://t.co/sEetZItj #mscidel #mscel via @EleniZazani
RT @mafrado2012Presence & Identity in Virtual Worlds - @MarkChilds 5March 9pmUKtime in #secondlife http://t.co/1D2Xy1Zy #mscidel #msc...
Presence & Identity in Virtual Worlds - @MarkChilds 5March 9pmUKtime in #secondlife http://t.co/sEetZItj #mscidel #mscel via @EleniZazani