Media Research Center

About: Media Research Center is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Collaborative learning & Educational technology. The organization has 491 authors who have published 950 publications receiving 28581 citations. The organization is also known as: MRC.

Emotionalization in Science Communication: The Impact of Narratives and Visual Representations on Knowledge Gain and Risk Perception

Abstract: The communication of scientific information plays an increasingly important role for scientists and scientific institutions. This is especially true of institutions in the field of biodiversity and conservation research, since the transfer of research results to the public is a prerequisite for decision-making, and the success of conservation measures often depends on public acceptance or active contribution. To have the desired impact, science communication in the context of human-wildlife interactions must enable recipients to (1) gain valid knowledge, (2) form an attitude toward the subject matter, and (3) develop an adequate understanding of the risks and dangers associated with human-wildlife interactions, which are usually overestimated by the general public. Using the topic of foxes in urban habitats, we investigated the role of emotionalization in science communication. In a laboratory experiment with 127 university students (91 females), we manipulated textual and visual features in an information brochure about foxes and examined their impact on people’s knowledge gain, attitude development, and modified risk perception. In particular, we compared a narrative presentation to a non-narrative list of facts and examined the use of photographs of young foxes. We found a positive development in all of the outcome variables from the pre- to the posttest (more knowledge, more positive attitude, lower risk perception). We also found an interaction effect of text type and visualization on knowledge gain that highlighted the importance of the fit between text type and visualization. In contrast to our expectations, we did not find any differential effects of specific treatments on attitude development. Finally, we found a main effect of text type on modified risk perception, indicating less reduction of risk perception with a narrative article than with a fact list. We discuss our findings with respect to the role of emotionalization in science communication, stressing that it is particularly important to achieve a suitable fit between textual and visual forms of emotionalization, depending on the goal of communication. We also discuss possible explanations as to why some hypotheses were not supported by the data. In our concluding statements we refer to limitations of the present study and address implications

Changing Viewpoints During Dynamic Events

Abstract: Changing Viewpoints During Dynamic Events Barbel Garsoffky (b.garsoffky@iwm-kmrc.de) Knowledge Media Research Center, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 40 72072 Tubingen, Germany Markus Huff (m.huff@iwm-kmrc.de) Knowledge Media Research Center, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 40 72072 Tubingen, Germany Stephan Schwan (s.schwan@iwm-kmrc.de) Knowledge Media Research Center, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 40 72072 Tubingen, Germany recognition (Garsoffky et al., 2004). Also as could be shown by Garsoffky et al. (2002, experiment 2) for dynamic events and by Diwadkar and McNamara (1997) for static scenes, the use of more than one viewpoint during the initial presentation leads to a multiple viewpoint representation. Nevertheless in these cases the representation does not become viewpoint independent in the sense that the representation generalizes to novel viewpoints and points in time (Garsoffky et al., 2002, experiment 3). Additionally there are hints that if several viewpoints on the same scene are realized the way of viewpoint change may play an important role: It seems that some kind of cognitive spatial updating during self movement of the observer of a static scene can lead to a viewpoint independent (Simons & Wang, 1998) or at least to an orientation independent representation (Sholl & Nolin, 1997). Sun, Chan and Campos (2004) also found that memory performance was less viewpoint dependent if the learning process was active instead of passive. In general, visual recognition is better if the observer can actively choose viewpoints in the learning phase (James, Humphrey, & Vilis, 2002; Wraga, Creem-Regehr, & Proffitt, 2004). Similarly Christou and Bulthoff (1999) found a more viewpoint independent representation, if movement was possible during the initial presentation of a static scene in a virtual environment – independent if the movement was actively controlled by the observer or managed by the program. Furthermore Christou, Tjan and Bulthoff (2003) observed that extrinsic cues (in their experiment a realistic room as background) on how the viewpoint changed between an initial learning phase and a later test phase helped during shape recognition. These results indicate that the presentation mode of a viewpoint change can become important for the development of a viewpoint independent representation at least for static scenes. But how does an observer deal with varying viewpoints? How does s/he transfer from one viewpoint to another one? There are hints from two areas: On the one hand multiple viewpoints research on static objects forces participants to think of the same object from various viewpoints and Abstract After observing dynamic events memory performance seems to be viewpoint dependent. The main idea of the experiment was if special viewing conditions could weaken this viewpoint dependency. To test that in a learning phase short clips of dynamic basketball scenes were presented. This presentation showed the whole basketball scene from one viewpoint, or the viewpoint changed during the presentation, at which the two viewpoints were connected either by a moving camera or by a cut. In the test phase visual recognition from familiar and unfamiliar viewpoints was tested. Results showed that (a) the presentation modes in the learning phase differed in the way that recognition was best after presenting only one viewpoint, and it was worst if two viewpoints were connected by a cut. (b) recognition was viewpoint dependent, and that this viewpoint dependency did not disappear when the observer was forced already in the learning phase to understand a viewpoint change. Keywords: Psychology; memory; representation. Viewpoints on Dynamic Events During visual recognition of dynamic events, a viewpoint deviation effect can be observed. That is observers will recognize an event better, if they see the initial presentation of the event and the presentation of the test stimulus from the same viewpoint. Recognition will get worse, if the viewpoints between learning phase and memory test phase differ; this could be shown for dynamic events like soccer episodes or dynamic ball scenes (Garsoffky, Schwan, & Hesse, 2002, 2004) and was also found for the visual recognition of static objects (e.g. Tarr, 1995), and static scenes (Diwadkar & McNamara, 1997). The present study deals with the question whether this viewpoint deviation effect diminishes, if the presentation of a dynamic event makes use of specific presentation strategies, thereby leading to a viewpoint-independent and therefore more flexible cognitive representation. Previous research e.g. showed, that the use of canonical viewpoints at least weakens the viewpoint deviation effect during

Visualising Multiple Data Sources in an Independent Open Learner Model

Abstract: This paper introduces the Next-TELL independent open learner model which is constructed based on data from a range of sources. An example is presented for a university course, with the learner model built from the main activities undertaken during the course. Use of the Next-TELL open learner model over a five week period is described for this group of students, suggesting that independent open learner models built from multiple sources of data may have much to offer in supporting students’ understanding of their learning, and could potentially be used to encourage greater peer interaction.

Gait Estimation from Anatomical Foot Parameters Measured by a Foot Feature Measurement System using a Deep Neural Network Model

Abstract: An accurate and credible measurement of human gait is essential in multiple areas of medical science and rehabilitation. Yet, the methods currently available are not only arduous but also costly. Researchers who investigated the relationship between foot and gait parameters have found that the two parameters are closely interrelated and suggested that measuring foot characteristics can be an alternative to the strenuous quantification currently in use. This study aims to verify the potential of foot characteristics in predicting the actual gait temporo-spatial parameters and to develop a deep neural network (DNN) model that can estimate and quantify the gait temporo-spatial parameters from foot characteristics. The foot features in sitting, standing, and one-leg standing conditions of 42 subjects were used as the input data and gait temporo-spatial parameters at fast, normal, and slow speed were set as the output of the DNN regressor. With the prediction accuracy of 95% or higher, the feasibility of the developed model was verified. This study might be the first in attempting experimental verification of the foot features serving as predictors of individual gait. The DNN regressor will help researchers improve the data pool with less labor and expense when some limitations get properly overcome.

Single SLM full-color holographic three-dimensional video display based on image and frequency-shift multiplexing.

Abstract: A single spatial-light-modulator (SLM) full-color holographic 3-D video display based on image and frequency-shift multiplexing (IFSM) is proposed. In the frequency-shift multiplexing (FSM), three-color holograms are multiplied with their respective phase factors for shifted-separations of their corresponding frequency-spectrums on the Fourier plane. This FSM process, however, causes three-color images to be reconstructed at the center-shifted locations depending on their multiplied phase factors. Center-shifts of those color images due to the FSM can be balanced out just by generation of three-color holograms whose centers are pre-shifted to the opposite directions to those of the image shifts with the novel-look-up-table (NLUT) based on its shift-invariance property, which is called image-shift multiplexing (ISM). These image and frequency-shifted holograms are then multiplexed into a single color-multiplexed hologram and loaded on the SLM, and from which a full-color 3-D image can be reconstructed on the optical 4-f lens system without any color dispersion just by employing a simple pinhole filter mask. Fourier-optical analysis and experiments with 3-D objects in motion confirm the feasibility of the proposed system.