A prototype Ambient Simulation-Based

Learning Experience(ASLEX)

144a Brownlow Hill

Intended useLevel 1 Bacterial Pathogens module

Pathogens: Past, Present, Future blockEpidemic typhus as a case study for Pathogens Past

Factors affecting typhus prevalence in Victorian Liverpool

Evolution of virulence in rickettsiaContemporary relevance, e.g. refugee camps, disaster

zonesMediated/augmented/virtual reality; ubiquitous

computingIntegral formative and summative feedback Examined conventionally at end of module

Context

Caveat: This is seriously unfinished concept-ware!

Typhus: why (and why here)?

Workhouse256x256 m

region

Wellcome Images ,CC by-nc 2.0 UK & NI

Affective Context Learning Model (Shackleton-Jones)Learning is best when student emotionally engaged in

advanceMemorable events (“flash bulb memories”)

Ambient Simulation-based Learning Experience Virtual world (OpenSim) via Android mobile devices Lumiya viewer (due Q4 2012; developer Alina Lyvette)Movement synchronized through real and virtual space

(GPS)Format(s)

Digital landscape vs Story-telling vs Timeline vs SimulationGroup-based but each student has own hypothesis to testLandscape provides data/evidence/tools, virtual charactersStudents operate under resource constraints

Approach

Workhouse region then and now

Courtdwellings

Fever hospital

Chapel

Brownlow Hill

Men’s Infirmary

Women’s Infirmary Piazza

Offices

Scale and location approximate In-worldprim-based building

Court dwellings

Court dwellingsPoverty, overcrowding,

poor sanitation, leading to typhus,

typhoid, cholera, TB, etc

Standard viewer

Lumiya

Reality

Inside the Infirmary

Standard client

Lumiya3D view

Samsung Galaxy Y (3” 320 x 240 px screen)

Long-touchMenuChat

UR

L

Note

Text view

Image, video, data, citation, etc

Wellcome Images ,CC by-nc 2.0 UK & NI

Non-player characters provide context, info and narrative drive

Prim or avatar, static or moving

Menu-driven interaction or scripted for AI

Located via minimap or contacts list

Virtual characters (NPCs)E

delw

eiss L

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on

t St M

ichel, S

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Native

Lumiya

Ideas for ambient toolsPubMed search tool

Genome “player”

Relevance: refugee camp

Concept build by Daden Ltd: open access on Kitely grid

http://www.kitely.com/virtualworld/Kitely-Daden/Refugee-Camp

LimitationsTech-driven or tech-enabled?GPS accuracyAndroid-only; frame rates, GPS, data planLumiya: closed source/commercial (free for edu regions);

subset of OpenSim, limited panning, avatar appearance, etcNo RL map cf AR apps: ARIS (iOS), WikitudeEthics of using virtual spaces

OpportunitiesMulti-user, mixed realityUsable on desktop without GPS

(runs from server or USB on PC)Rapid development (out-sourcing)Collaboration/reuse

Limitations & opportunities

Google Project Glass